Sorsogon City- The 30-day test run granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Lafayette Philippines, Inc. for its mining operations in Rapu-rapu, Albay will now enter its critical stage as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau prepares its assessment of the first two stages.

        MGB regional director Reynulfo Juan said his office had already prepared its assessment and validation reports of stages 1 and 2 of the test run which were completed by the Australian mining firm without a glitch.

        Juan said the reports will be submitted to the Pollution Adjudication Board chaired by DENR Sec. Angelo Reyes for evaluation and will be the basis whether or not the test run will be allowed to continue to stage 3.

        The MGB director said the stage 3 of the test run is the most critical part since the system would already be using raw materials and chemicals as if it is the actual operation.

        The purpose of this, he said, is to determine whether or not the entire system would work efficiently and safely especially the electro-mechanical system of the base metal plant.

        Juan said it would also show how the process is to be operated like the detoxification circuit, mixing of the chemicals and what would be released to the settling pond.

        The third stage will last for fifteen days, after which final assessment will be done to determine whether Lafayette was able to comply with all the requirements set by the government for its resumption of operations.

        However, a document obtained by the Bicolmail showed that Lafayette’s resumption is already a foregone conclusion as long as DENR is concerned.

        In an assessment report released before the start of the test run, DENR said that allowing Lafayette to resume full operations is the most logical thing to do inspite of the two toxic spills last year.

        Ironically, the DENR report said that allowing Lafayette to resume operation would ensure environmental safety citing its capability to run mining operation.

        The report said ejecting the Australian firm from its operation would pave the way for the entry of small scale miners which would be very difficult to regulate let alone monitor.

        “An abandoned open pit mine is not an attractive proposition as it will simply cause small miners to descend on the area and they will operate without environmental safeguards and safety measures,” the report stated.

        “Without proper decommissioning, the generation of acid mine drainage will certainly continue and worsen pollution in the area,” it further said.

        Allowing Lafayette to complete its operations would obliged the company to implement its ECC-consistent site rehabilitation and decommissioning plan before it leaves the area, the paper said.

        Meanwhile, another anti-mining rally has been scheduled by the church-run Social Action Center on August 11 here.

        The rally will be participated in by various organizations, students and schools particularly those operated by the church. Media Solutions