DENR grants Lafayette another 30 days to complete its test run

ISLA VERDE, Batangas City – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) granted yesterday the Australia-based Lafayette Mining Ltd. another 30-day extension to continue its test run of its facilities in Rapu-rapu Island in Albay.

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes said Lafayette sought another extension of its test run after the two recent super typhoons that hit the country delayed the completion of the testing of its facilities’ safety.

"We granted that extension because we’d rather be sure and Lafayette would want to be sure that when they’ve been given the green light (to fully operate), it’s really all systems go," Reyes told The STAR after launching the National Biodiversity Conference with President Arroyo as keynote speaker.

This is the second time that the mining firm had sought an extension of its test run before the DENR’s Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) following its closure due to two mine spills in October last year.

In its petition for an extension, Lafayette had reasoned out that the Rapu-rapu facility was not able to operate from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6 because of the power blackout caused by typhoon Milenyo.

It also said a cessation of operation on Nov. 8, the date the last extension expires, may be detrimental for the mining facility since it takes a long time to attain normal operating conditions after a shutdown.

The last 60-day extension expired yesterday.

Reyes stressed the DENR will not allow Lafayette to operate until it has shown that it has complied with all the requirements of the DENR, particularly the environment, social, and technical responsibilities saying "because we cannot take risks here."

"They can only do business until we say so," Reyes said.

He said he informed Lafayette officials that the government would rather err on the side of caution in taking it slow in allowing the mining firm to operate.

"Actually, I think we should be happy that they (Lafayette) are saying that they are not yet  ready to operate because that means they wanted to make sure the everything’s safe and complied with," he said.

Reyes said that the PAB approved the second test run to enable Lafayette to present more proofs that it has complied with DENR standards on safe and sustainable mining.

He said the extension will also give the PAB an opportunity to conduct an ocular inspection of the Rapu-rapu mining site on Nov. 14 to verify Lafayette’s claims that it has implemented all remedial measures imposed by the agency.

He said the test runs are being closely-monitored by a multi-partite group that includes members of the local community and the academe.

DENR closed down the Rapu-rapu polymetallic project after the two mine spills on Oct. 11 and 31, 2005. The department ordered the Australian-owned company to install safety facilities first before they could be allowed to resume operations. Lafayette was given 30 days to conduct a three-stage test run of its facilities.

After this expired, Lafayette was given a 60-day extension. Lafayette filed a motion for extension of the temporary lifting order last Nov. 2.

The PAB also required Lafayette to submit a copy of the assessment of the technical working group on the structural integrity of the Rapu-rapu dam and the adequacy of the measures to control the acid mine drainage.