Santo Domingo.- Environmental Protection Service (Senpa) director Omar Gitte Mejía on Wed. said 234 aggregate mines and 48 illegal sawmills in different parts of the country were closed in the last 15 months.
He said that from August 29 to November 7, Senpa retained 2,256 vehicles, and levied fines of RD$13.9 million.
The official said the agency closed and incinerated about 3,000 coal furnaces that had been operating across the country, and seized wood, as the result of illegal lumbering.
Mejía said that most of the closed sand mines were operating illegally in the South and East areas of the country.