Newmont's dumping site will be reexamined under ERA methodology
Thursday, September 21 2000 - 03:30 AM WIB
The North Sulawesi chapter for the government-sanctioned environmental impact management agency (Bapedal) has asked State Minister for Environmental Affairs to immediately carry out the reassessment of the environmental impact on the dumping ground operated by PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in the province, Tempo Interaktif reported on Thursday.
The head of the province's Bapedal S.A. Kindanden said in Manado on Wednesday that the reexamination of the United States-based mining company would be conducted under Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) technology.
He said that he had written a letter asking the Minister for Environmental Affairs to immediately start the reassessment of the company's controversial dumping ground.
North Sulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh had earlier asked the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to follow up the plan to reassess the impact of the company's marine dumping site in the Buyat Bay.
The office of the State Minister for Environmental Affairs and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources have agreed to coordinate the planned examination of the dumping ground. The reassessment works will involve non-governmental organizations and Newmont.
The company's marine dumping site, which receives tons of tailings, mineral waste, from the company's gold mine in the Minahasa regency has caused a widespread controversy. Local people and environmental activists have demanded the company to close the dumping site. According to them, the dumping site had caused a heavy pollution and, it is feared, in long term it will not only destroy the marine species but also causes a health problem to the local people. (*)