Honduras: Fears of "serious pollution" at mine

Elena Rosemary & Maira Lisette from Palos Ralos, which was relocated to make way for the Entre Mares goldmine [Annie Bungeroth]

CAFOD and Canada’s Development & Peace demand action from mining giant Goldcorp as villagers fear gold mine is poisoning people and the environment in Honduras

Catholic aid agencies CAFOD in the UK and Development & Peace in Canada are calling on multi-million pound mining giant Goldcorp to ensure their San Martin mine in Honduras does not leave a toxic legacy when it closes at the end of 2009.

The San Martin mine in the Siria Valley is the largest opencast gold mine in Honduras, run by Entre Mares, a Honduran subsidiary wholly owned by the Canadian-US company Goldcorp Inc.

Consistently disputed

The company has consistently disputed test results confirming the presence of arsenic and cyanide in water sources flowing from within the mine boundaries.

Last month 24 dead cattle were found on grazing land near the mine; while large numbers of the local population, including children, have been suffering skin conditions.

Local people believe this is a result of pollution caused by the mine. Goldcorp denies this has any connection with their operation.

Legislation regarding mining in Honduras is weak, and the government has done little to ensure the rights of affected communities are protected.

Sonya Maldar, CAFOD’s extractives policy analyst said: "Despite repeatedly raising our concerns with Goldcorp, and on the basis of the evidence we’ve seen, the company has yet to live up to its social and environmental responsibilities at San Martin.

"With the mine due to close at the end of 2009 and all the signs showing there is serious pollution at the site, Goldcorp must act now to ensure they do not leave behind an environmental disaster in Honduras."

The mine, which began full operations in 2000, has caused controversy from the start, with local people claiming they were not fully consulted about the project.

Love Saint-Fleur, advocacy officer for Development & Peace said: "Pollution from gold mines can continue for hundreds of years after closure - unless strict measures are put in place to counteract it.

"If the company is not willing to act in a socially responsible manner, the Honduran government must protect the rights of its own people by ensuring Goldcorp cleans up the San Martin mine site and prevents the poisoning of water sources."

During the mine’s period of operation, the company used the controversial cyanide heap-leaching method to extract gold from low grade deposits.

This means piles of crushed gold ore are soaked in a solution of cyanide which filters down leaching out the gold deposits and releasing other toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury and lead.

Without careful management, these pollutants can seep into streams and contaminate groundwater. This practice is banned in some US states.

For media enquiries and interviews, contact Pascale Palmer ppalmer@cafod.org.uk +44 7785 950 585

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The San Martin mine in the Siria Valley (32.36 kB) The issues we are campaigning on with Development & Peace in Canada to ensure multi-million pound mining giant Goldcorp does not leave a toxic legacy at their San Martin mine in Honduras when it closes at the end of 2009

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