DENR tells Carmen Copper to stop using tailings pond

CEBU - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has ordered Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City to temporarily stop using its Emergency Tailings Pond after no less than Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional director Roger de Dios found out that the pond is leaking.

A Cease and Desist Order was issued against Carmen Copper on September 29 but De Dios said a verbal order was made on September 28, the day after the leak was discovered. The leak reportedly caused tailings spillage to the nearby Sigpit creek.

De Dios said he made an unscheduled inspection at the area of Sigpit creek when he noticed the creek water’s “unusual turbidity.” He then reportedly called Rodrigo Cal, resident manager of Carmen Copper, to stop the operation of the ETP.

Since Carmen Copper started test runs on its concentrator last September 22, preparations for the final mill operation were reportedly smooth until the leakage in the pond was discovered last September 27.

On September 30, members of the Multipartite Monitoring Team composed of personnel from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environment and Management Bureau, and Carmen Copper conducted an initial investigation on the leak.

The real cause of the leakage is yet to be determined but the initial probe revealed that the penstock of the ETP is undergoing repair and that there is an ongoing construction of its barricade and gate at the inlet of the tailings Sump Box. Since the gate is closed, it reportedly allows the tailings to flow towards the ETP.

It was also found that slurry coming from the ETP that passes through the penstock drains towards Sigpit Creek near the spillway where considerable amount of tailings was noticed. Water samples taken from the spillway is at pHp 7.00, which passed DENR standards in terms of pH reading.

Cal said the spill is not toxic and major impacts would be felt only if it comes in large amounts.

Nevertheless, De Dios said Carmen Copper still committed violations of non-disclosure of information, especially to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Carmen Copper’s ETP facility was reportedly not mentioned in its Environmental Protection Program earlier presented to the bureau, thus, the bureau was not able to monitor it.

“An investigation team composed of MGB7 technical personnel will be dispatched to find out the soundness of the structure, the real cause of the failure of the pond, extent of the impacts of the leaking and other possible violations of the company,” De Dios said.

A budget from Carmen Copper’s Monitoring Trust Fund of P150,000 will be allotted for investigation. Separate fund would also be used to compensate for whatever damage the leakage might have caused. — Jessica Ann Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)