The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Pollution Adjudication Board (DENR-PAB) yesterday granted a request of Lafayette Mining Company’s for another 60 days to continue its test run in its mining facility in Rapu-rapu, Albay.

The PAB granted the request for the 60-day temporary lifting order (TLO) after the expiration of the 30-day test run that the government had given Lafayette last July.

DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said the PAB order was made so Lafayette can continue with stage 3 of its test run and take more representative samples to prove that it has complied with DENR standards on safe and sustainable mining.

Lafayette came under fire last year after two incidents of mine waste spills in their Rapu-rapu site. The DENR immediately closed down the Rapu-rapu facility and ordered Lafayette to first set up safeguards before resuming operation.

Reyes said, however, that the 60-day extension of the TLO was still subject to Lafayette’s compliance with the following:

• Installation of flow rate measurement system for the detoxification feed to determine cyanide loading;

• Formulation of guidelines for a proper addition of copper sulfate and sodium metabisulfite, copper sulfate, sodium hydrogen sulfide and lime;

• Monitoring of dissolved oxygen levels to ensure efficient detoxification; and

• Monitoring of redox potential to determine cyanide destruction efficiency.

The PAB also directed Lafayette to ensure that, five days after receiving the order, an update of specific actions and activities are undertaken to ensure that all conditions previously imposed by the Board are complied with.

The PAB also required the mining firm to ensure that efficiency of all environmental management and pollution control measures are achieved.

The Board also advised Lafayette to exercise prudence and caution in making press releases which might unduly preempt its (PAB’s) deliberation and decisions on the matter.

Last Monday the mining firm was forced to halt its test run operation after its temporary government operating license expired. Since then the company requested from the DENR for a 60-day extension of the TLO of the cease-and-desist Order (CDO) issued by the PAB following Lafayette’s mining spill incidents on October last year.

On filing the request, Lafayette said that results of the laboratory analysis of wastewater samples collected showed that the detoxification plant is properly functioning as shown by the cyanide level, acidity and the trace metals which are within the DENR standards when water goes into the Lower Tailings Storage Facility (LTSF).

It further claimed that the wastewater at the LTSF still passes through the field detoxification unit, Settling Pond 2, Anoxic Limestone Drain, Polishing Pond, Open Limestone Drain and wetland before it is finally discharged into the environment. (DENR Public Affairs Office)

September 13, 2006