Olgo Fernandez, the director of the Dominican Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), has confirmed that it is up to the Ministry of the Environment to decide on the potential environmental impact of Falcondo’s proposed mining in Loma Miranda.
During a meeting with the Senate committee that is studying a proposal to declare Loma Miranda a National Park, Fernandez said his responsibility was only to manage water sources. The Ministry of Environment has been open to Falcondo’s proposal, despite the widespread opposition from the environmentalists.
According to Fernandez, mining in Loma Miranda would not affect the water sources that supply the Rincon dam, which then supplies water to the province of San Francisco de Macoris and other areas.
Committee chairman Senator Rafael Calderon said that they would speak to the Minister of the Environment again next week to hear his thoughts on the matter. The committee expects to make its findings available to Congress before Christmas.
The Academy of Sciences and environmentalists, as well as community leaders in La Vega and Monsenor Nouel provinces led by the Catholic clergy oppose the proposed mining because of Falcondo’s previous track record in other areas of the country.
El INDRHI dice le toca a Medio Ambiente decidir si afecta o no explotación Loma Miranda