Toxic wastes produced by the Rosario gold mine in Cotu? are contaminating rivers that flow into Hatillo Dam in the Northeast. The contamination is the result of years of government negligence. The reasons why the governmented aborted the privatization of the Rosario gold mine, which would have been crucial to putting an end to contamination problems, have not been made known. El Siglo newspaper reported that hundreds of fish planted by the Ministry of Agriculture as part of a fishery program have died due to the contamination.
