Environmental Superintendence approved the compliance program of Teck Quebrada Blanca
Sanction proceedings against the mining company are called off
Environmental Superintendence (SMA for its acronym in Spanish) approved today the Compliance Program submitted by Teck Quebrada Blanca after the SMA filed charges against the mining company in February 2013 for a number of non-compliances in connection with the Environmental Qualification Resolution.
Now with the approval of the Compliance Program that sets the actions and goals to be achieved in order to fulfill the environmental regulations the mining company had failed to comply with, the sanction proceedings against Teck Quebrada Blanca, the controlling company of Quebrada Blanca mine located in Tarapacá region, are called off.
Now the SMA is to supervise for the Program to be fulfilled in the term of six months.
The main purpose of the Compliance Program is to minimize the effects of the oil leakage occurred in the waste water treatment plant in Quebrada Blanca and reducing at the utmost the effects of the containment and housekeeping works. Measures in the amount of CH$1,500 million are considered which include the following:
1. Cleaning and transplantation of hydrocarbon-contaminated flora and fauna specimens.
2. Improvements in wastewater treatment plant to secure quality of discharge waters to the Quebrada Blanca ravine.
3. Certification of fuel facilities.
Thus the SMA proceedings against Teck Quebrada Blanca are called off until all measures are verified to be in compliance within the agreed term.
Should the company fail to comply with the Compliance Program, SMA may restart the sanction proceedings and the mining company may be accountable for a fine that may even double the original fine, in which case it could reach 10,000 ATU (Annual Taxable Units)
Source: Diario Financiero
