national

Sand mine under fire

San Miguel residents have filed a complaint of environmental destruction against a mining company.

Government officials have responded by suspending the company’s operations.

la prensa

taking the high road:The Ministry of Trade and Industry ordered the mining company Gethsa to suspend operations until it submits a plan to repair roads in San Martín. Gethsa says it already began repairing the streets, despite claims they are not obligated to do so.1134560

A complaint for “destruction of a water source [stream]” was filed with the national environmental authority ANAM against Gethsa Internacional, S.A., a company that has a sand mining concession in San Miguel, in the district of San Martín.

The complaint detailed that the gorge was destroyed as a result of “tree cover devastation and the removal of topsoil”, and adds that there remains no trace of the natural channel. Direct consequences are that “now the water rushes from the top of the hill, over exposed to clay, rock and sandstone, subsequently dragging sediment into the Pacora River.”

The complaint was filed by Milson Cornejo, a resident of one of the communities in the vicinity.

It is based on ANAM regulations that state that “the company should leave a buffer zone of at least 100 meters from all permanent natural water sources (rivers and streams)” in order to control landslides and erosion, and stabilize the slopes.

This is not the first problem the mining company has confronted with residents of surrounding communities. On Dec. 3, officials from the mineral resources branch of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry performed an inspection of the mine area to corroborate several complaints from neighbors. The report, compiled by interim chief of mines and quarries, Temístocles Velarde, confirmed some irregularities, such as the fact that “the extraction site is within 46 meters of the road.” The concession contract states that it must be 500 meters.

Moreover, the constant protests caused the Minister of Trade, Gisela Alvarez, to suspend the activities of the mine on Dec. 5 until it submits a plan for repairing streets and mitigating noise.

Gethsa replied with a counter complaint against Álvarez and the vice minister of Internal Trade, Manuel José Paredes, for abuse of authority. Gethsa's attorney, Valentín Jaén, claims that company directors were notified with a note, but should have been notified via a resolution, in accordance with the contract between Gethsa and the state.

Javier Torres, a Gethsa mining engineer, assured that the company has complied with the requirements of environmental authorities.