- The measure is dictated in the context of the Rescue and Relocation Plan that the company develops and that would not be providing certainty about the protection of the species. Chinchilla chinchilla.
- The measure, which has the authorization of the Illustrious First Environmental Court, is related to the temporary suspension of carrying out dismantling activities of rock rock No. 3.
Atacama, June 5, 2024. The Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) ordered a new Urgent and Transitory Measure (MUT), prior authorization from the Illustrious First Environmental Court, regarding the project “Environmental Impact Study Salares Norte Project”, of the company Minera Gold Fields Salares Norte SpA, rated environmentally favorable on December 18, 2019 (RCA N°152). The measure is related to the temporary suspension of the dismantling activities of rock rock No. 3 -located in the mine-plant area sector- for 120 consecutive days, counting from June 5 of this year.
Said measure was ordered, after analyzing the background information presented by the company in compliance with the provisions of Exempt Resolution No. 737, dated May 14, 2024, which had also ordered the prohibition of the dismantling of rockery No. 3, and confirm that there is no certainty of the absence of specimens of the species Chinchilla chinchillawhich is classified as “Critically Endangered”.
Due to the above, the company would not be complying with the Rescue and Relocation Plan for this species, as established in its Environmental Qualification Resolution.
The measure will be verified through the presentation of documentation that proves on a weekly basis (every Friday) that the release of rock rock No. 3 did not continue to be carried out. Among said documentation, at least dated and georeferenced photographs must be considered.
It should be considered that the execution of new campaigns – starting in September 2024 and with the objective of correctly complying with the rescue and relocation plan – must be carried out in accordance with the methodologies indicated in the Environmental Qualification Resolution of the project.
The Superintendent of the Environment, Marie Claude Plumerpointed out that “The renewal of the measure is justified by the fact that the owner has not given certainty to the Superintendency regarding the absence of a population of chinchillas in the place where the dismantling of rockery No. 3 will be carried out. This species is classified as Critically Endangered, so any operation must be carried out guaranteeing its protection. This, also considering that its protection is part of the measures that were committed by the owner within the framework of its environmental evaluation.”.
Furthermore, he added that “It is important to remind project owners that environmental compliance is an obligation and part of the rules of the game.”.
It should be noted that the Salares Norte Project is located 180 km northeast of the commune of Diego de Almagro, Atacama Region, at an average altitude between 3,900 meters (camp) and 4,700 meters (pit) above sea level. . The project aims to process approximately 2 million tons of mineral per year, for the production of doré metal (gold and silver).
This project has a sanctioning procedure that began in December 2021, among whose charges are “the deficient implementation of rescue measures in rocks” and non-compliance with Urgent and Temporary Measures ordered in 2020 due to the impact of individuals from Chinchilla chinchilla.
*For greater details of this case, you can access the file of urgent and transitional measures in the National Environmental Control Information System (SNIFA): https://snifa.sma.gob.cl/MedidaProvisional/Ficha/469
