Colet Mines Presents 'Clear and Present Danger'

Colet Mines Presents 'Clear and Present Danger,' Mining Engineer Says

Contrary to its statement two weeks ago, Colet Mining and Development Corp. (CMDC) exploration and eventual mining operations present a "clear and present danger" to communities and the environment of Sipalay, Negros Occidental, asserts Efren Fabila, a long-time mining engineer and convenor of Defend Patrimony, a broad alliance against large-scale mining.

BY KARL G. OMBION, Bulatlat, Vol. VI, No. 13
May 7-13, 2006

BACOLOD CITY - Contrary to its statement two weeks ago, Colet Mining and Development Corp. (CMDC) exploration and eventual mining operations present a "clear and present danger" to communities and the environment of Sipalay, Negros Occidental, asserts Efren Fabila, a long-time mining engineer and convenor of Defend Patrimony, a broad alliance against large-scale mining.

"It is typical for consultants like Mr. Lincoln Drilon who have not made a thorough field investigation of the situation to easily dismiss the findings of the Environmental Investigation Mission (EIM) conducted by Defend Patrimony in the area," Fabila said.

Fabila explained that the water from these two creeks registers a high acidity pH of 3.2. The upstream water of Sipalay River on the other hand where the two creeks meet registers a basic pH of 8. These waters flow along the same rich mineral area, yet there is a big difference in the pH reading. Fabila said it is because Mantuboy and Caiwanan Creeks are active depository sites of CMDC's drillings.

Fabila also said rich mineral deposits in their natural state do not cause high water acidity. The phenomenon of acid mine drainage happens when sulfide ores are exposed - in this case, allegedly due to extensive earthworks activities by Colet - and oxidized. The leaching process then starts and the water turns acidic.

The Mantuboy and Caiwanan Creeks exemplify biologically dead creeks with no living aquatic organisms and the wilting of coconut trees along the creeks indicates a high level of water pollution of the waters, Fabila added.

Fabila also said the construction of road networks and drill pads by CMDC has resulted in massive land slide and bank erosion in some sections, which became the source of silt. In a flooding early this year, a one-hectare paddy downstream owned by a certain "Geori" was devastated due to silt deposition. The sediment ponds constructed by CMDC in their drilling sites are inadequate to mitigate siltation as most of the structures are already full which renders it a useless system, he said.

Defend Patrimony viewed CMDC's "reforestation project" as a "hypocritical public relations gimmick" which attempts to "soften the impact" of destruction, while projecting a "benevolent" corporate image of itself. The photographs taken around the area during the ocular survey indicate that reforestation was not extensive enough to effectively decrease the runoff in directly affected areas. Large track of open and barren lands still dominate the area.

"CMDC should have recognized that the value of reforestation lies in the reduction of runoffs and consequently mitigation of flashfloods," Defend Patrimony added. "It should aim to reforest 100 percent of the disturbed areas including the road network established. A high percentage reforestation of the total disturbed areas should have reflected the company's sincerity to protect the people downstream against expected catastrophe.

It also said that Drilon's claim that only 100 hectares out of the more than 2,000 hectares of the company's mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) is polluted is "not enough assurance" to dispel the apprehensions of affected downstream populations.

"Mining pollution knows no boundaries," Defend Patrimony said. "(The) CMDC plans to use the open-pit mining method which will generate large volume of mine wastes. Assuming for the sake of discourse that once it operates, mine waste generated will reach 104 MMT, excluding mine tailings. Where will these mine wastes and tailings go? Certainly, the impacts will not be limited to 100 hectares."

The engineer further said that the Sipalay River is the major drainage way of the area in question. "It steadily drains into the alluvial fans and floodplains of Sipalay, outstretching towards the river delta which it finally settles, and eventually into the coastal areas," he said. "In fact, the delta and coast is the last most effective deposition area of sediments coming from the upstream section of Sipalay River."

"As the phenomenon of periodic river bed loading occurs in succession, surface soils are buried with silt and in parts colluvial material that hardens and renders agricultural lands a desolate landscape," he said. "In any eventuality, we are looking at a future cropland and wetland ecosystem of compacted sediments."

Fabila stressed that the construction of siltation and tailings pond does not guarantee that sediment deposits in the low lying areas can be mitigated, as exemplified by previous experiences of dike failure such as breaching and overtopping. "Drilon should learn from the experience of Maricalum Mining, which experienced dam failures way back in 1982 and 1996, of which the environmental and social impacts remain until today a legacy to the affected communities," he said.

Finally, Fabila said, the claim of CMDC allocating 10 percent of the $20-million investment for its environmental program has remained to be seen concretely. Mining companies are notorious for not paying the required fees. Maricalum mining for instance still owes the Sipalay City government more than P20 million ($388,274.12 based on a $1:P51.51 exchange rate as of May 5) in tax arrears and unsettled financial obligations to its terminated workers.

Fabila said mining operations, once decommissioned, leave behind unpaid financial liabilities to the workers, local government units and the national government, while the communities bear the brunt of social and environmental havoc caused by their mining operations.

The Mining Act of 1995 allows 100 percent repatriation of profits to foreign investors. Under such liberalized policy, mining companies tend to make super profits and leave immediately when situations get tougher. Placer Dome of Canada divested its share and interests in the Philippines right after the Marinduque mining disaster in 1996.