Exploitation of the Corcoesto gold mine
27.3.2013
Question for written answer E-003515-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Antolín Sánchez Presedo (S&D)
On 2 May 2012, the Official Gazette of Galicia published the resolution of the Galician regional government of 20 April 2012 under which information about the mining project, environmental impact study and restoration plan was made public with a view to authorising a mining project in the mining basin across the municipalities of Ponteceso, Cabana de Bergantiños and Coristanco in the province of A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). The project was put forward by Edgewater Corporation, a Canadian undertaking which is the parent company of Corcoesto Gold Mines. The resolution opened a public consultation period of 30 working days whereas Community legislation establishes a public consultation period of six months for this kind of project, and also calls for a strategic environmental impact assessment to be undertaken.
On 15 December 2012, the Environment Ministry of the Galician regional government issued a favourable report on the Environmental Impact Assessment on the gold mining.
Various environmental organisations have warned that the mining will have harmful effects. It will result in more than 400 hectares of open-cast mine per kilo of gold, the consumption of 128 kg of cyanide in the process, the generation of 4 000 tonnes of residual waste and rubble which will contain 250 kg of finely milled and highly soluble arsenic, 20 million cubic metres of mining tailings and 100 000 tonnes a year of mining tailings treated with cyanide-caustic soda-hydrochloric acid which will solubilise the arsenic in the rocks as well as the gold. Twelve tonnes of cyanide could accumulate in the leachate pools.
Can the Commission clarify whether the procedure followed for the exploitation of the Corcoesto gold mine complies with Community legislation?
If not, will the Commission adopt urgent measures to ensure compliance and avoid the risks to the natural environment of the area and human health which could result from this mining activity?
OJ C 12 E, 16/01/2014