Huánuco residents shut down city, urge Raura Mine to comply with its environmental cleanup plan

Thousands of Huánuco residents took to the streets Wednesday, demanding that the region’s Raura Mine get back on track with its environmental cleanup plan, which it has postponed since 2002. “We’re tired of all these years of pollution,” said Abner Falcón Dávilla, mayor of San Miguel de Cauri. “We urge the central government to defend [...]

Junín residents demand solution to grave environmental contamination in the region and city of La Oroya

Representatives of Junín’s Environmental Association delivered a 9,548-signature petition to Peru President Alan García on Wednesday, demanding a solution for the severe environmental contamination in the region, and especially in La Oroya. Residents have also demanded that Doe Run Peru, which runs the poly-metallic smelter in La Oroya, comply with its environmental clean-up plan, and [...]

Decontamination of Rimac River to cost more than $100 million

A thorough and complete cleanup of Peru’s heavily polluted Rimac River could potentially cost more than $100 million and take up to five years, said Chaclacayo mayor and President of the Rimac River Mayors’ Association, Alfredo Valcárcel Cahen. Because of the environmental and health risks, Valcárcel’s association has prepared an integral cleanup plan, which is [...]

Huancapetí mining company fined $767,000 for contaminating Santa River

The Huancapetí mining company, a small metals producer in the Cordillera Negra in Ancash, has been fined $767,000 for dumping large quantities of mine tailings into the Santa River, a 200 kilometer−long tributary that emerges from Laguna Conococha and snakes down the western slopes of the Andes, reported daily El Comercio on Monday. “This is [...]

Peruvian authorities seize more than 6,300 tons of highly toxic mine tailings in Juliaca

Peruvian Tourism and Ecological Police in Juliaca, the largest city and capital of Peru’s highland San Román province, have seized more than 6,300 tons of highly toxic mine tailings in 2008, said Juliaca Police Chief Andrés Apaza Machaca. “We have worked hard and well this year and that is why we have seized this large quantity [...]