Rafael Miolan, spokesman for the Novo Mundo Siglo XXI, the promoters of Santo Domingo’s artificial island, has said that the estimated one million meters of landfill material would come from 160 mines in the National District. He defended the quality of initial environmental studies carried out by Spanish firm Iberinsa, and said that there would be no damage to the coastline because there is no longer any life on the seabed. The contract sent to Congress, businessmen connected to the project and the concept of the island that would replace the sea-view along the Malecon, have all been under fire locally.