Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group

Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group

Mining Research Databanking Template

Title of Research Study: / Impacts of Mining in an Island Ecosystem: The Case of Rapu-Rapu Island, Philippines
Lead Research Institute : / Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research, Ateneo de Naga University
Principal Investigators: / Dr. Emelina G. Regis
Source of Funding Support: / The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE)/ Haribon Foundation
Period Covered for the Study: / Year 2005-2006
Over-all Objective/s of the Study: / INECAR aimed to assess the damage to the biophysico-chemical condition of the eastern portion of the island of Rapu-Rapu affected by the current mining activities. Specifically, the study intended to: a) determine the level of heavy metal pollution in the water (river) in and adjacent to the mining site; b) determine the level of heavy metals absorbed by the soil/sediments of the affected river and seashore; and c) ascertain the impacts of heavy metals on biological indicators. Furthermore, INECAR wanted to know the effects of the disaster on the livelihood of local communities.
Research Methodologies Employed: / Survey In-depth Interview Focus Group Discussion Others______
·  Comparative Analysis between the affected sites
·  Vegetational Analysis
·  Physico-Chemical parameters such as pH, salinity, temperature, soil/sediment color & texture , slope and water velocity were also measured/ determined
·  Responses of Bioindicators to heavy metal pollution was also determined
·  Specific locations were established by Global Positioning System using aGPS (Garmin brand)
Unit and Local of the Study: / Site 1 – Pagcolbon River, located at Barangay Pagcolbon, Rapu-Rapu
Site 2 – Ungay Creek, located at Barangay Binosauan, Rapu-Rapu
Site 3 – Mistika Creek and Look Creek of Barangays Mistika and Gogon respectively, located in the rural
area of the town proper (poblacion) of Rapu-Rapu
Findings and Recommendations
Significant Findings / Recommendations or Implications
Lafayette Mining in Rapu-Rapu caused two types of direct impacts
that generated toxic heavy metals:
·  Direct actions of the mining company resulting in the a) generation of large volumes of wastes rocks, tailings and overburden soil, and b) introduction of cyanide and other chemicals to extract the target metals.
·  Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) resulting in additional acidic creeks polluted with heavy metals causing widespread pollution to the creeks, the sediments, and the marine ecosystem.
Both impacts affected the living organisms therein, including the people and their livelihoods. AMD is the more serious of the two impacts because toxic heavy metals are continuously released through a natural chemical process that is self-generating and persistent for a long time.
Heavy metal analyses revealed a) contamination of studied river/creek (Pagcolbon & Ungay Creek) with high levels of cadmium, copper and zinc; b) contamination of riverbank sediments with high levels of arsenic, cadmium and copper, the latter exceedingly high in the shore. Copper is also exceedingly high in water at the upper and lower tailings ponds, which are located inside the mine.
The impacts on the Biological Indicators showed that:
·  Generally, the levels of heavy metals assessed are higher than the natural content with copper much higher than the critical content in both upstream and outlet of the contaminated sites. Chromium was detected high in the grass Digitaria ciliaris collected from the contaminated site. Arsenic, cadmium and copper in the brown seaweed Padina japonica are also higher in the contaminated area than in the reference site.
·  The results of analysis on pollen grain abortiveness of Stachytarpheta jamaicencis are statistically significant. Those collected from the contaminated sites exhibited higher pollen abortion than the reference site.
·  Abnormal pollen grains were observed in both contaminated and reference sites with the latter exhibiting much higher abnormal pollen. This means that a heavy metal normally present in polymetallic area is causing the abnormality. This condition however is within the normal level of 5%, thus, can be tolerated by plants.
·  The two grass indicators (Digitaria ciliaris and Cyperus kyllingia) revealed much lower starch granules in plants obtained and/or raised in soli/sediments taken from the contaminated sites than those from the reference site.
·  Heavy metal pollution caused structural changes in the cellular parts of Halodule pinifolia, especially in its chloroplast.
The above findings proved that:
ü  It is the natural capacity of the island’s rocks to generate acid through Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) that released the heavy metals.
ü  The mining operations facilitated the process of AMD.
ü  The mining operations aggravated pollution through the addition of cyanide in the extraction process.
ü  The mining operations worsened pollution through the generation of large volumes of dumped overburden soil, contaminated wastes rocks and tailings that also brought about landslides.
ü  It is not the length of time of exposure to the toxic metals that destroyed the productive capacity of the living organisms, the land and the sea. Rather, it is the level of toxic pollution brought about by the mining that caused the damage.
ü  Pollution has also affected the nearby coastal municipalities of Sorsogon.
ü  The geophysico-chemical conditions in the island of Rapu-Rapu also facilitated the process and progress of pollution and related destructions.
Lafayette mining operations have impacted the ecosystems by causing the dispersion of toxic heavy metals in the terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems as well as causing death to marine life due to cyanide spill. / It is therefore recommended that mining must be stopped, the permits associated with the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of Lafayette Philippines, Inc. must be cancelled and no mining must ever be conducted in Rapu-Rapu again.
The environmental problems currently being experienced in Rapu-Rapu as a result of mining will continue for years to come. For this reason, additional studies must be done in the island and adjacent impacted areas. Topics of concer are heavy metals existing in the island that have been brought to the surface by the mining operation, and their impacts to the productivity of the land and the sea as well as on the health of the people in local communities, Thus, the following specific recommendations must be done:
The government must...
·  Cancel all the mining permits associated with the granting of the ECC to Lafayette Philippines, Inc.
·  Concerned government units must not anymore give mining permits in the island of Rapu-Rapu, now and in the future.
·  Rehabilitate the degraded ecosystems, especially the newly formed acidic creek in Malobago, Pagcolbon and Binasauan.
·  Make extra efforts to provide expert assistance to the health problems experienced by the local people. Heavy metal accumulation does not end with the cyanide spill and fish-kill. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) will continue to release heavy metals from the open pit and tailings dump through runoff, the Pacolbon river and the newly formed acidic creeks.Thus, toxic metals can enter the food chain and eventually affect the health of the people in local communities.
·  Provide agencies responsible for evaluating mining projects and those giving permits, with more comprehensive trainings to improve their capability for assessing pollution generated by mining operations as well as for rehabilitating degraded areas especially in places with acid generating capacity.
For the people of Rapu-rapu and Sorsogon, they must...
·  Continue to care for their environment that gave them sustainable livelihood
·  Prohibit activities that cause destruction of the ecosystems which also affect their livelihood
·  Be vigilant in allowing activities and projects that destroy sustainable livelihood
·  Be knowledgeable through continuing environmental education for better understanding of their ecosystems and impacts of unsustainable use.
If possible, additional research must be done in Rapu-Rapu and adjacent areas especially on the following topics:
·  A more complete assessment of heavy metals existing in the island of Rapu-Rapu and the surrounding marine environment.
·  Further research on the responses of bioindicators to chromium and other heavy metals existing in Rapu-Rapu. This is particularly helpful in areas where laboratory services for assessing heavy metals are limited.
·  Responses of bioindicators specific to particular heavy metals and influence of other factors such as pH.
·  Specific forms of chromium existing in the island and their accumulation in plants, animals and in people.
·  Impacts on marine organism at the outfall of the waste water and/or slurry coming from the mining operations.
·  Cyanide residues on land and in the marine environment
·  Tracer studies on the dispersion of heavy metals surrounding the island of Rapu-Rapu especially during the seasonal monsoon (Northeast and Southwest).
·  Financial losses to the community as a result of fish-kill and cyanide spill.
·  Health studies such as assessing the level of heavy metals accumulated in tissues of children and adult.
Finally, our government must learn to value renewable natural resources and understand the principle of sustainable utilization of resources. Only when this level of awareness is achieved, can our country prosper for many generations to come.
Submitted by: / INECAR, Ateneo de Naga University
Date Submitted: / April 15, 2015
Contact Details of the Research Institute: / / (054) 473-8447 loc. 2217