Greenstone, Citinickel resume mining operations The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) recently lifted the Cease-and-Desist Order (CDO) given to Greenstone Resources Corporation (GRC) and the Suspension Order imposed on Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation (CMDC) following separate mining incidents in the past two years. Greenstone Resources Corporation On June 6, 2013, GRC was issued a CDO due the tension crack found on the embankment of its Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) No. 4. It was directed to implement remedial/corrective measures to restore the stability and integrity of its storage facility certified by a third party expert and validated by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). After a series of joint validation conducted by the MGB and EMB and based on the recommendation by the third party expert GHD Pty. Ltd., MGB ruled that the lifting of the CDO of GRC depends on the full implementation of the following: a) Construction of a new HDPE-lined TSF for additional storage and strength; b) Installation of thickener and cement mixing facility for production of a dry product with greater residual strength; and c) Modifications of TSF Nos. 3 and 4 for accommodation of the new thickened cement tailings. MGB found that the aforementioned conditions were substantially complied with by GRC following an inspection of the companys ongoing rehabilitation measures on November 21-22, 2014. Thus, MGB recommended the lifting of the CDO. MGB Assistant Director Elmer Billedo, as authorized by Director Leo L. Jasareno, signed the lifting of the CDO on December 18, 2014 granting GRC the consent to resume its gold ore mineral processing operation in Tubod and Mainit, Surigao del Norte. Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation On December 22, 2014, MGB lifted the Suspension Order of CMDC allowing the company to resume its mining operation in Sofronio Española, Palawan. MGB Regional Office (RO) No. IV-B issued the Suspension Order on June 10, 2014 following a siltation incident on June 5, 2014. Field validation revealed that CMDC complied with all the conditions set by the Multipartite Monitoring Team Rapid Reaction Team (MMT RRT). Thus, the MGB RO No. IV-B and the MMT RRT recommended the lifting of the Suspension Order. The conditions for lifting of the Suspension Order include the improvement of the companys pit bottom no. 1; completion of installation of coco matting and/or planting appropriate grass/vine cover on the outer slope embankments/walls of siltation ponds; and completion of removal of the top soil, dredged silt materials and cut tree debris from the active mine area. In compliance with the Suspension Order of the Pollution Adjudication Board, CMDC also paid the amount of PhP3,000,000 to EMB as an environmental obligation for 14 days of pollution of a water body. Mines and Geosciences Bureau, January 13, 2015 By: Mining Environment and Safety Division
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 09:47:57 +0000
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