Benguet Corporation fined
ASSESSMENT for the fines to be imposed to Benguet Corporation continue as the mine firm assured the structural integrity of the tailing storage facility (TSF) 3 has not been affected by the leak found at the penstock of the mine firm in Barangay Ucab, Itogon in Benguet.
During a technical conference on August 30 set by the Environmental Management Bureau - Cordillera, Benguet Corporation resident manager Antonio Buenavista explained the leak was prior to the inclement weather for the past weeks.
“In the case under consideration, it is evident that the minor leakage of the mine tailings from the penstock of the TSF 3 was caused by natural causes which the company has no control,” Buenavista stated in their written explanation.
It added the large volume of water coming from the tributaries upstream flowed down to TSF 3 into the penstock.
“The penstock remain intact, the surge of water from the continuous heavy rains weakened the lower portion of the stopper boards and created a breach,” he added.
EMB-CAR regional director Reynaldo Digamo said they will only stop the counting of penalties amounting to P10, 000 to P200, 000 every day until such time the water standard is followed.
The company was also ordered to collect water samples in the area and report to the EMB.
At least 1,653 mg/L of total suspended solids was discovered after TSF 3 leaked which is against the standard 100 mg/L for Ambalanga River a tributary to the Agno River.
A fine of not less than P10,000 and not more than P200,000 will be imposed every day for violating Sec. 28 Chapter 5 of the IRR of RA 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.
Digamo added the case will be endorsed to the Pollution Adjudication Board to decide on the case.
He also asked to permanently plug the penstock and construct an open spillway.
“Our concern is to eliminate the risk in the facility by permanently plugging the penstock," added the regional director.
Buenavista said will reconsider the inputs of the meeting and as part of their protocol to consult the matter to the higher management of the Benguet Corp.
The mining firm gears to submit its action plan to prevent scouring of the impounded tails and to protect the penstock from further damage caused by the surface run-off at the TSF 3.
The local council of Itogon also conducted an ocular inspection on the site.
Itogon Councilor Daxie Godio, who chairs the committee on environment chair said as the lower portion of the penstock of TSF 3 was damage, the initial action of the committee is to recommend to Benguet Corporation to continue their rehabilitation.
On the same day, the employees of Benguet Corp were seen repairing the damage stopper board and diverted water to minimize the discharge of tailings.
The committee also ask the MGB to closely monitor the incident to prevent more tailings discharge going to the river.
“The LGU does not want to happen what happen to Liang TSF where voluminous tailings was discharge to Ambalanga river affecting farmers of Barangay Tinongdan and Dalupirip,” said Godio referring to the 50,000 metric tons of tailings material leaked last 2016.
The TSF 3 covers a land area of 17.75 hectares and impounds tails of 5,416,720 metric tons. The total rehabilitation of the stopper boards of the penstock was implemented by the company on 2013.