Environmental impact Goldcorp

1 environmental impact

1.1 san martin mine, honduras
1.2 marlin mine, guatemala
1.3 pueblo viejo mining project, dominican republic

environmental impact

goldcorp has been working improve approach environmental stewardship. company publicly reports on environmental performance on annual basis , has been member of international council on mining , metals (icmm) since 2009. company’s el sauzal mine in mexico first mine in world decommissioned in accordance international cyanide management code (“icmc”).

despite this, environmental, economic , human impact of company’s latin american mines has been controversial topic number of years.

san martin mine, honduras

a study italian activist flaviano bianchini in 2006 found dangerous levels of arsenic , lead in blood of hondurans living downstream goldcorp s san martin mine, located in siria valley. while people living in valley had equated health problems mine s operations since opened in 1999, both company , honduran government disputed study s findings. honduran authorities, company said, took water samples during 3 visits in 2008 , ph measurements normal. reviewed , approved mine s closure plan.

in 2009, 2 studies commissioned uk-based advocacy group cafod have found company s methods extract gold low-grade deposits releases other toxic heavy metals such arsenic, mercury , lead, contaminating streams , groundwater. first study newcastle university detected acidic mine drainage, whereby sulphides in rock exposed oxygen , water , produce sulphuric acid, can have devastating effects on animals , plants. follow-up study same university found evidence of severe contamination in form of highly acidic , metal-rich water mine site flowing stream used villagers agriculture , domestic purposes.

since closure of san martin mine in 2008, 1,500 hectare former mine site has been reclaimed agricultural farmland , former camp facilities remodeled ecotourism hotel. these developments have since provided employment, skills training , new investment area.

marlin mine, guatemala

an investigative report ctv television network s w5, published on website on april 17, 2010, reported criticism human rights workers damage believe mining companies doing people, land, , culture of guatemala. same news program ran four-part documentary entitled paradise lost explored of controversy surrounding goldcorp s marlin mine operation, , investigated economic, environmental, , social costs , benefits of canadian mining operations in central america.

at request of goldcorp shareholders, independent human rights impact assessment (hria) conducted external auditors in 2010. goldcorp has since implemented recommendations hira, including publishing of official human rights policy in 2010.

on july 14–15, 2012 self-organized international peoples’ health tribunal, panel of twelve judges backgrounds in science, health, ecology, , human rights met in guatemala hear testimony relating effects of goldcorp s south american mines. after two-day tribunal, panel found goldcorp financially liable health , ecological damages communities near mines in honduras, guatemala, , mexico. self organized tribunal, panel findings carry no legal bearing, however, company did voluntarily secure financial bonds ensure responsible closure.

the marlin mine has since been lauded model of responsible mine closure , named 1 of 21 socially responsible companies in central america el economista (the economist) magazine.

pueblo viejo mining project, dominican republic

pueblo viejo mining project takes place in dominican republic , operated barrick pueblo viejo, firm owned barrick gold , goldcorp. 25 years of operation scheduled project, raise exports of dominican republic clearly. project accused of having caused contamination , illegal logging. illegal logging has since been attributed local village people. in 2012, barrick gold opened water treatment plant has since rehabilitated contaminated area.