The Deputy Environment Minister, Rene Ledesma, is urging foreign investors not to heed the advice of local business promoters who tell them that anything goes here and that environmental protections do not need to be followed if you have the right contacts in this country. El Caribe newspaper reports that Ledesma says the promoters are misleading investors and have been a constant headache to the Ministry. He said the Ministry is studying over 700 cases of businesses that have violated anti-pollution regulations. Most of them involve toxic gasses or noise pollution (from power plants or trucks) and residual water and solid waste pollution. He mentioned the recent case of a hotel company that was fined RD$1.1 million for beginning the construction of a hotel in Samana without having submitted the required environmental impact study or having a license to operate. Those interested in reporting environmental pollution, can call 221-5140 (Gestion Ambiental) or 683-2125 (Procuraduria de Medio Ambiente) for more information.