Once more, the issue of what is technically called “fly ash” is in the news with an announcement by Environment Minister Max Puig that the clean-up operation will be finished within the next two weeks. The minister also announced the completion of other public works totaling RD$90 million. The public works projects include a rebuilt wharf, three kilometers of rural roads, a primary school, a primary health care center and two churches.
The stuff called “rockash” by the local press was removed and the different public works projects were built thanks to a US$6 million fee paid by AES as part of the settlement issued by a US court. In Arroyo Barril, Samana province, some 55,000 tons of fly ash were dumped in 2002.