Santo Domingo. – The Energy and Mines Ministry and the goldminer Barrick Pueblo Viejo on Wednesday agreed on a plan to mitigate liabilitiesand the environmental cleanup of pollutants left by the previous miner, RosarioDominicana.
The announcement comes just one day after the Chamber ofDeputies asked the Environment Ministry to investigate the alleged pollution atHatillo dam and the Yuna river by the gold miner Barrick Pueblo Viejo, near thecity Cotuí (central).
Mines minister Antonio Isa Conde and Barrick Pueblo Viejo presidentManuel Rocha signed the agreement, in compliance with the provisions of thelease of the mining rights at Barrick’s site in central Sanchez Ramirezprovince.
Among the priorities figure the elimination of the dam thatholds the toxic residues at Mejita, where the retaining wall will be shored upand the water drained, to eliminate environmental risks, Isa said, stressingthat the announced measures should have started in 2009, but delayed due to extensivediscussions and studies required.
"Let’s remember that the mining rights lease agreement,as amended, stipulates that the Dominican State is responsible for managing andremediating the historical environmental issues arising from the operation ofthe mine at Cotuí since the time of Rosario Dominicana."