by KAROL ANNE M. ILAGAN

CLOSING DOWN a mine is not just a matter of giving employees their walking papers and putting a padlock on the door. Indeed, when a mine ceases operations, a full-blown cleanup (plus sometimes an orderly dismantling) follows. Or at least that is what should happen.

	Black Mountain mine facility in Tuba, Benguet. [Photo courtesy of Tetra Tech EM Inc.]

Over the last three decades, several large-scale mines in the country have been shut down because of economic loss, labor disputes, or a rejected mining application. But none of these mines was rehabilitated right after closure; unfortunately, government regulations at the time lacked the provision to enforce remediation. Those regulations came in 1996, when guidelines on mine rehabilitation and decommissioning were set in the implementing rules and regulations of the Mining Act of 1995.

To date, though, only one abandoned mine is undergoing rehabilitation. And while Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) officials say a few other idle mines have attracted lease applications (and presumably would be checked and fixed up at some point), there is no question that these and others like them pose health and environmental risks – and will continue to do so until their various problems are addressed.

In fact, a 2001 report by Tetra Tech EM Inc. on 20 abandoned mines across the country had observed that all pose risks at varying degrees. Noted the U.S.-based environmental consultancy firm: “Land and water media are impacted with chemical contaminants, which may harm human health and the aquatic, terrestrial and wild lives. Unless proper mitigation and corrective actions are undertaken, the surrounding population and receiving environment will be continuously exposed to both chemical and physical risks.”

MGB had tapped Tetra Tech to help it draw up a list of mines that needed the most attention. In its report, Tetra Tech said that most of the 20 mines it was asked to assess failed to meet the official criteria for total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and the measure of acidity or alkalinity (pH). Most also failed to comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency standard for freshwater sediments, indicating the accumulation of metal contaminants in the receiving bodies of water.

Previously, MGB had conducted a similar study, but that one assessed 44 abandoned mines.

MGB pinpointed six mines from the Tetra Tech report that it said would take priority in rehabilitation efforts. These had been run by the following companies: Philippine Pyrite Corp. in Bagacay, Western Samar; Palawan Quicksilver Mines in Puerto Princesa City; Basay Mining Corp. in Negros Oriental; Consolidated Mines Inc. in Marinduque; and Thanksgiving Mine/Benguet Exploration Inc. and Black Mountain Inc. in Benguet.

	Heavily-rusted mine facilities at the Benguet Corporation-Dizon Copper/Gold Mines (BCD) in San Marcelino, Zambales. [Photo courtesy of Tetra Tech EM Inc.]

From the earlier study, it selected the mine operated by Western Minolco Corp. in Benguet for the last slot in its priority list. Among other things, the MGB said that the mine had caused the destruction of aquifers, while toxins were found in surrounding bodies of water.

IT IS the Philippine Pyrite mine in Bagacay that is now undergoing rehabilitation. Yet while it says it will still use the Tetra Tech study as a reference point, the MGB has started re-evaluating and revising its priority list of abandoned mines for rehabilitation, based on an entirely new set of criteria and processes.

For sure, even Tetra Tech had confessed having difficulties over what constitutes an “abandoned mine.” Abandoned areas usually refer to areas with no claimant at all, but the firm noted that although many mines had ceased operations, several still have owners and even managers.

A case in point is the controversial Marcopper mine in Marinduque, which has not been in use since it had a monumental mine-tailings spill in 1996. The company that owns it still exists, and guards remain there to secure the premises. The MGB also says that it did not include it in any of its risk assessment studies primarily because of ongoing court proceedings.

At least there is an action plan for the Marcopper cleanup, although that has been on standby for the last three years. Besides that of Philippine Pyrite, the rest of the mines the MGB had on its old list have neither that nor the chance of being rehabilitated anytime soon — unless new owners step in and do the cleanup themselves. That means a wait that may not be welcome to the communities living within or near the six other former “priority” mines, since they will bear the brunt of any calamity coming from these sites. (see Table 1)

Table 1: Risky Group — MGB’s First List of Priority Abandoned Mine Sites Source: Semi-Detailed Assessment of 20 Abandoned/Inactive Mine Sites In The Philippines, Tetra Tech EM Inc. (2001) Information on Western Minolco Corp. is based on previous published reports. Notes: n.a. — not available Rate of risk is based on the Risk Based Prioritization Strategy. Refer to Table 2.
PROJECT/COMPANY	COMMODITY	LOCATION	PERIOD OF OPERATION	RATE OF RISK (%)	PHYSICAL HAZARD
Philippine Pyrite Corporation	Pyrite, Copper	Bagacay, Hinabangan, Western Samar	1956–1992	82.53	Dilapidated mill and laboratory facilities may collapse and cause harm. Steep slopes in Mine Pit #1 are unstable and may cause erosion. The walls of tailings ponds 1, 6, 7 and 8 may collapse and cause spillage of its contents. The remaining walls of tailings ponds 2,3,4 and 5 may give way and cause landslides, flash floods and mudslides. The continuing discharge of tailings is causing siltation of the drainage systems.
Palawan Quicksilver Mines	Mercury	Tagburos, Puerto Princesa, Palawan	1953–1976	80.23	No observed physical hazards
Basay Mining Corporation	Copper	Bgy. Maglinao, Basay, Negros Oriental	1978–1994	79.79	The tailings ponds are unstable. Unstable slopes are prone to erosion and landslides. Potential accidents may happen in the abandoned mine and mill facilities due to unstable structures.
Consolidated Mines Inc.	Copper	Ino and Capayang, Mogpog, Marinduque	1977–1979	61.93	The open mine pit is water-filled. Metal and iron scraps, spent/unused chemicals, corroded drums, roofing and wall panels, including equipment and machinery were left scattered in the mill plant area.
Black Mountain Inc.	Gold	Tuba, Benguet	n.a.	59.86	No observed physical hazards
Thanksgiving Mine, Benguet Exploration, Inc.	Gold	Camp 6, Kennon Road, Tuba, Benguet	n.a.	59.86	No observed physical hazards
Western Minolco Corp.	Copper	Atok, Benguet	1974–1982	n.a.	n.a.

In truth, having families near the mine sites had been one of the key factors on which MGB based its selection of the seven mines for priority rehabilitation. Thus, even if Tetra Tech had ranked others higher in terms of risk, those mines were excluded from the MGB list because they were deemed far enough from any household for the dangers they posed to have immediate impact.