The mining of calcium carbonate (chalk) from mountains surrounding Lake Enriquillo in the southwest of the country poses a threat to the marine ecosystem, according to environmentalists. This claim is being denied by the company engaged in the mineral extractions, Caribbean Minerals\/Niva. El Caribe reports that UASD ecologist Renato Rimol? has warned of danger to the waters that feed the saltiest lake in the America, the fragile ecosystem and its biodiversity. The mining operation has run into opposition from local communities such as La Descubierta since the 1990s. Calcium carbonate is used as a component in the paint, ceramics and whitening products industries. Celestina Dotel, deputy mayor of La Descubierta, says that the company has ?demolished half a mountain? since its work began in 1996. The municipal authorities have managed to secure an agreement with the company, which now pays a toll for each ton of material extracted. Jos? Peralta of Caribbean Minerals rejects the notion that the water table is adversely affected, explaining that the extraction takes place in a dry area where there is no water source. Peralta further defended the destruction of the mountain, saying that other companies such as La Rosario and Falconbridge do the same thing and that ?there is nothing of value there anyway.? For their part, community leaders in La Descubierta report cases of respiratory illness that they link with dust clouds generated by the extraction. Renato Rimol? accuses the Environment Ministry of not taking charge of the situation and of neglecting the local community. According to him, the extraction has destroyed a large part of the dry-forest vegetation in the area, which reduces the soil?s capacity to retain water. This is an area of very low rainfall. ?No environmental impact assessment has been carried out, nor a study on the prehistoric heritage of the area,? said Rimol?, as he reminded that the area was part of a biosphere reserve declared by UNESCO in 2002.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The mining of calcium carbonate (chalk) from mountains surrounding Lake Enriquillo in the southwest of the country poses a threat to the marine ecosystem, according to environmentalists. This claim is being denied by the company engaged in the mineral extractions, Caribbean Minerals\/Niva. El Caribe reports that UASD ecologist Renato Rimol? has warned of danger to … <\/p>\n