Barrick Gold

[robbiee]

I was talking about colour of the lake: before (2012) and after Barrick (2013) (with the photos that I posted)
if the lake is back to normal in 2016, that's great news....->>>( it was normal before Barrick )

So you were there in 2012 and in the 4 years since, Barrick has done the clean up, started operations, and a drought has occurred. All of which have changed the previous environmental landscape. You are doubting that they've improved anything, only made things worse. Pichardo has provided evidence that they've improved things and recycle the water they use. Perhaps you are correct and they've laid a very good smoke screen.
You have stated in post 31 that Barrick and Pichardo are lying- your proof is?

 

[robbiee]

I see no proof of lying needed when you get two things: "corporate's/ company's responsability" and Pichardo's posts....
if you combine them together, I see even less reasons to see the "proofs"
ha ha ha

Barrick and Pichardo are lying- your proof is?

 

[Garyexpat]

post #30....god damn i am so patient on this forum, with some people, it requires that................

So tell me exactly where the photos come from. I work from my lap top I'll go check it out in person. I rarely agree with Pichardo but something tells me you are trying to sell me a bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

 

[bob saunders]

I see no proof of lying needed when you get two things: "corporate's/ company's responsability" and Pichardo's posts....
if you combine them together, I see even less reasons to see the "proofs"
ha ha ha

You might be right, except you have no evidence, so chances are you're wrong. The mine is monitored and inspected by no-corporate personnel. You probably protest the 20 ducks that died in an oil sands pond, but say nothing about the windmills that kill hundreds of birds a day.

 

[pgolivares]

You might be right, except you have no evidence, so chances are you're wrong. The mine is monitored and inspected by no-corporate personnel. You probably protest the 20 ducks that died in an oil sands pond, but say nothing about the windmills that kill hundreds of birds a day.

I'm not taking sides but I wonder who pays these 'no-corporate personnel' you speak of, Barrick ? Don't tell me that these inspectors are the same people inspecting the amount of gold coming out of the mine? Remember that issue with gold being stamped as if the gold was coming out of the US and the minerals being sealed where the DR inspectors couldn't inspect what was coming out if the country. How can you or anyone for that matter, ask us to trust the 'inspectors'? Never mind.

As I was saying... Please tell us that these inspectors are from a truly third party or better yet from campesinos from the area who can give first hand testimony to the before and after water table levels and pullotion.

Here is another question... If Barrick is such a great story, why not invite the press (not the one controlled by the govt) in, let them see the mine and let them report as they see it?

 

[robbiee]

proof, evidence ?
saying that "no-corporate personel controls" is like a joke. Reminds me of Simpsons and Mr. Burns.
what kind of "oversight" would you expect in poor, money greedy and 3rd world and corrupted country ? it's a joke.
just like recent dude ****ing into beloved Kellog's cornflakes in "best country in the world"...damn, there should be some great oversight and control over there........

You probably protest the 20 ducks that died in an oil sands pond, but say nothing about the windmills that kill hundreds of birds a day.

 

[PICHARDO]

proof, evidence ?
saying that "no-corporate personel controls" is like a joke. Reminds me of Simpsons and Mr. Burns.
what kind of "oversight" would you expect in poor, money greedy and 3rd world and corrupted country ? it's a joke.
just like recent dude ****ing into beloved Kellog's cornflakes in "best country in the world"...damn, there should be some great oversight and control over there........

The Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic (ACRD) called delicate the situation in the Hatillo dam, located in the province of Sanchez Ramirez, due to "considerable" amount of acidic water that reaches the reservoir through the Margajita stream, what endangers this important aquatic ecosystem.

In a communication sent to the director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi), Frank Rodriguez, the ACRD indicates that this situation worsens dramatically in times of prolonged drought, when the level of the lower dam and the influence of the water acidic loaded heavy metal covering a wide area in the southeastern part of the reservoir, contaminating it.

The ACRD recalled that since 1980 more than one cubic meter per minute on average of poisoned water because of previous operations of the Rosario Dominicana, run by the Margajita stream to the Hatillo dam.


The communication stresses that the Hatillo dam plays multiple social functions and environmental services, since it obtained the support more than 350 fishermen and their families; It generates eight megawatts of power; supplies several aqueducts; more than 500,000 jobs irrigated land; It is a central place for recreation and water sports and other activities.

Despite this importance, the ACRD warns that Hatillo is seriously threatened by mining activities taking place in its surroundings; industrial effluents, "we are gradually becoming a dumping ground."

It recognizes that before mining operations carried out by the Dominican Rosary, the Arroyo Margajita was a stream of crystal clear water, abundant fish, crabs, shrimp, and other species.

However, today its waters are highly acidic, with an average pH of 1.8 to 2.2, with a load of highly toxic heavy metals such as iron, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, among others.

"It is the prototype of a dead stream pollution was so high and intense died of the water all life. This ecological crime has been going on for over 20 years, under the indifferent gaze of the entire Dominican society, "the ACRD in his letter to Indrhi.

Given the detailed situation, the Academy of Sciences understands that is more than enough for the treatment of acidic waters of the brook Margajita begin to prevent this source of contamination time.

zoom lens
proposals
The Academy proposes that in periods of low rainfall, maintain levels above 87 or 88 meters, so that the height of the bridge over the Margajita, fresh water represen acidic, facilitate dilution and heavy metals precipitate in the mouth of the creek and pollution is kept in a confined space. In addition to the authorities ask the mining company Barrick Gold decontaminate this stream.
- See more at: https://translate.googleusercontent...LPbYlZrJOjvjoCls91Nv7kJw#sthash.slGJqeCB.dpuf
http://lamataarroceros.blogspot.com/2012/07/academia-dice-es-delicada-situacion-de.html

 

[PICHARDO]

This is the water level BEFORE Barick even started the mine:

 

[PICHARDO]

 

[PICHARDO]

Hatillo on 10/2014 on the onset of the drought.

 

[PICHARDO]

Hatillo when water levels have risen enough that side port is open and floods the bed in front of it, on the old river course.

 

[PICHARDO]

What lies in the gist of the matter is that groups want to make money out of the drought afflicting the Hatillo Dam.

Barrick draws water from Hatillo, which is always less than 1% of the water present at any given point in time within the same.

Not only that! But Barrick ONLY draws water AFTER the dam gets replenished from the contributory streams after rains.

The water drawn from Haiti is USED at Barricks for mine operations and then it's recycled, until a point when it would be too costly to recycle to reuse one again. The water is then treated and brought to the level of potable uncontaminated drinking water, before it's release again to the Dam.

The amount of water returned is 89% of that taken and the cycle is repeated.


This is about money and false pretenses. Nothing more.


They claim things that are not on Barrick's plate. For example, aside from the contamination of the Margajita stream from previous Rosario Dominicana operations (which Barrick cleaned-up) there's also contamination coming from other streams that end up at Hatillo causing the same problems as was the Margajita stream. They want to force Barrick to clean it up, because the gov won't do it.

It's that simple!

They want to portrait something that is far from reality. Including the politicians of the place, who want the gov to give them a direct payment cut from Barrick's taxes and payment for water usage to the state.

That's why all this about Barrick behind the drought at Hatillo. Before Barrick the water at Hatillo was not even drinkable. There were no fishes there due to the contamination levels.

This is all about MONEY and sticking it to the foreign company as usual in the DR.

That's why Barrick made the deal to have a third party monitoring the practices of the Mine in the DR 100%.

[video=youtube;V7ngcnws9d4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ngcnws9d4[/video]

 

[pgolivares]

What lies in the gist of the matter is that groups want to make money out of the drought afflicting the Hatillo Dam.

Barrick draws water from Hatillo, which is always less than 1% of the water present at any given point in time within the same.

Not only that! But Barrick ONLY draws water AFTER the dam gets replenished from the contributory streams after rains.

The water drawn from Haiti is USED at Barricks for mine operations and then it's recycled, until a point when it would be too costly to recycle to reuse one again. The water is then treated and brought to the level of potable uncontaminated drinking water, before it's release again to the Dam.

The amount of water returned is 89% of that taken and the cycle is repeated.


This is about money and false pretenses. Nothing more.


They claim things that are not on Barrick's plate. For example, aside from the contamination of the Margajita stream from previous Rosario Dominicana operations (which Barrick cleaned-up) there's also contamination coming from other streams that end up at Hatillo causing the same problems as was the Margajita stream. They want to force Barrick to clean it up, because the gov won't do it.

It's that simple!

They want to portrait something that is far from reality. Including the politicians of the place, who want the gov to give them a direct payment cut from Barrick's taxes and payment for water usage to the state.

That's why all this about Barrick behind the drought at Hatillo. Before Barrick the water at Hatillo was not even drinkable. There were no fishes there due to the contamination levels.

This is all about MONEY and sticking it to the foreign company as usual in the DR.

That's why Barrick made the deal to have a third party monitoring the practices of the Mine in the DR 100%.

[video=youtube;V7ngcnws9d4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ngcnws9d4[/video]

Very good report. I stopped watching at minute 6.50. Don't know if anybody can dispute the local guy who was calling it like he sees it: 1)Water level goes up and down depending on time of the day (this kinds of supports what the Barrick people are saying ... They pump water out and put it back in when done); 2) water is contaminated by way of pollutants and noise hence why fish are dying (Barrick states they clean/filter the water before dumping it back in but obviously not good enough).

Does anybody have import info from Barrick on the quemicals (types, quality and quantity) and filtering materials/parts (needed to maintain the existing system) they are bring in? Here is what I'm thinking ... Barrick might be ''clean' the water but maybe they are not maintaining the system up to par. Transparency is the name of the game.

 

[PICHARDO]

Very good report. I stopped watching at minute 6.50. Don't know if anybody can dispute the local guy who was calling it like he sees it: 1)Water level goes up and down depending on time of the day (this kinds of supports what the Barrick people are saying ... They pump water out and put it back in when done); 2) water is contaminated by way of pollutants and noise hence why fish are dying (Barrick states they clean/filter the water before dumping it back in but obviously not good enough).

Does anybody have import info from Barrick on the quemicals (types, quality and quantity) and filtering materials/parts (needed to maintain the existing system) they are bring in? Here is what I'm thinking ... Barrick might be ''clean' the water but maybe they are not maintaining the system up to par. Transparency is the name of the game.

Neither of your assessments are right.

Barrick pumps water and the water doesn't drop but 1.5 inches ( if you understand what less than 1% means on water levels)

When Barrick sands water back (not pumped as it does it by gravity) it does it by feeding it to the Margajita River directly and thus enhancing the echo-system of the river itself (much like running water on a water filter).

The impact on level is even lesser than when the water was pumped out. The actual impact is a positive one for the oxygenation of water that flows in the river and then feeds the Dam.

The water send back by Barrick is at higher grades of quality than the one flowing in the Margajita stream. That's why it has such a positive impact on the overall health of the river than before.


The fish are dying because the levels of oxygen in the dam keep dropping due to lack of fresh water pouring in due to the drought. Also the levels of contaminants on the other tributaries of the dam are still too high, when compared to that of the Margajita today.

Transparency? Go visit in person the Margajita stream and take samples and then take samples of the dam water to a lab. You'll lean a thing or two about what reality is in the DR.


Barrick went beyond their contract in cleaning the Margajita and keeping their water usage to a minimum to that of past or present mining operations around the world.

Water used in chemical extractions can only be recycled so many times, before they required a more stringent (and more expensive/time consuming) decontamination process.

That's why Barrick only recycles the water they use to the optimum point of reuse.

The damage to the streams and ecosystem in the DR, comes at the heels of what's happened to Haiti for the past 500 years = Predators of nature.

 

[pgolivares]

I believe you I believe you Pichardo. . Just pump the water where you found it and how you found it. How that we can clearly measure the before and after if the water is dump on a running river. I can hear it now 'I swear mister I dumped all 2 mil gallons in the river as you asked its just that it can't be measured because the river just keeps running'. I get it.. What's that famous scarface line 'Frank Lopez: Lesson number one: Don't underestimate the other guy's greed!'. I'm on your side P. I would probably raise the same argument as you if would be getting paid to represent the establishment.

Suggestion to the monitor ... Close this thread because we not getting anywhere. Barrick is just one company in one country. This story is repeated many times over all over. Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico just to name a few in our hemisphere.

 

[Ecoman1949]

Pichardos comment about the fish dying because of low oxygen levels during periods of drought is correct. They also die when the low water levels cause a spike in temperature. I've responded to numerous fish kill reports when I worked with Environment Canada. Invariably it came down to depleted oxygen levels due to a rise in temperature due to low water conditions. Rarely were industrial pollutants the cause.

 

[PICHARDO]

Pichardos comment about the fish dying because of low oxygen levels during periods of drought is correct. They also die when the low water levels cause a spike in temperature. I've responded to numerous fish kill reports when I worked with Environment Canada. Invariably it came down to depleted oxygen levels due to a rise in temperature due to low water conditions. Rarely were industrial pollutants the cause.

He doesn't know much about fish and water anyhow you check...

 

[Abuela]

Having started this thread I have been reading with interest the various points of view and did a bit of research. Since photos were part of the analysis,these photos beg the question of how people in Cotui feel about this third party monitoring.
http://notimundord.com/2015/11/la-b...aldicion-para-cotui-el-gobierno-no-dice-nada/

 

[PICHARDO]

Having started this thread I have been reading with interest the various points of view and did a bit of research. Since photos were part of the analysis,these photos beg the question of how people in Cotui feel about this third party monitoring.
http://notimundord.com/2015/11/la-b...aldicion-para-cotui-el-gobierno-no-dice-nada/

Again, the source is none other than the same people lining up to demand from Barrick what was damage caused under the DR state and Rosario Dominicana.

The description of Barrick operations as open sky mining couldn't be any further from the truth.

All the gold that was deposited even close to the surface, was stripped bare from the rocks by Rosario and the after-multi partners during the extreme extractions of the left over from the dore.

Again the depositing of fault on Barrick, when rain hits the surrounding lands adjacent to the mine, all that prior run off from the same rocks before still is embedded in the grounds.
The result is that these contaminants and acids run into the nearby waters and causes the problems.

As much remedy as Barrick has carried out, the people want to reuse the reclaim lands too early and haven't understood that it takes a lot more time for the land to heal.

The properties that once were abandoned due to the same concerns, now are being reclaimed because thy think them safe enough, which they aren't.

There are three adjacent old mining operations to the mine operated by Barrick that the Dominican state was supposed to clear and rehabilitate, but never did nor will it.

You can spin it anyway you want, but a simple visit to the mine and the surrounding can confirm 100% the clear operations of Barrick on Pueblo Viejo.

Same with the monitors.

 

[pgolivares]

These are my arms pointing to the guilty party ... <--=--> can we blame Trump? Jk.

I know is not easy. The pollution, abuse of the river systems, mismanagement of the land, misappropriation of budget, etc. are all part of the problem. Is not just the mining companies but also the politicos, engineers, inspectors, special interests, etc.

I wonder if a baseline was taken of the region, including the dam and rivers in question, prior to Barrick coming in? Maybe Rosario contributed to the situation we have today ? Maybe monies was allocated to clean up the area and who knows if or how that money used ? Maybe the lake and river water level was low prior to Barrick? Maybe deforestation in the area and dredging of the rivers had something to do with this?

Maybe this is like a workers compensation case... If a worker aggravates an old injury at work the present employer's insurance company gets stuck with the bill. In other words, the region was sick prior to Barrick but Barrick is that last one here hence Barrick is stuck the problem.

Good night kids.