Impacts of Lafayette Mining in the Island of Rapu-Rapu, Albay Resulting

from Cyanide Spill and Acid Mine Drainage

by

EMELINA G. REGIS, Ph. D.

Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR)

Ateneo de Naga UniversityResearch Grant provided by the FPE

August 6, 2007

July 12, 2001 – Lafayette was granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)

July2, 2005 – Lafayette started its operation

January 2000 – involvement of Ateneo de Naga University upon request of the 2 Bishops (Bishop Sorra and Bishop Quiambao) of the Diocese of Legazpi for assistance from Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J., President of Ateneo de Naga University

October 11 and 31, 2005 – Cyanide spill and fish-kills

Some Background

May 2000 – Januay, 2001 – research in Rapu-Rapu by INECAR and other volunteer offices

Source: DENR-PAB Case No. 05-00744-05

Collecting Station Date of collection

Cyanide level in mg/L

% Exceed-

ance

DENR Standard

(DAO 34) mg/L Pagcolbon creek – spills point of discharge

Oct 11, 05 6.42 12,740 0.05

Mouth of Pagcolbon creek

Oct 11, 05 9.95 19,800 0.05

Ungay creek DS Nov 4, 05 0. 468 836 0.05 Ungay creek DS Nov 5, 05 0. 244 388 0.05 Hollowstone creek DS Nov 4, 05 15.28 30,460 0.05 Hollowstone creek DS Nov 5, 05 17.82 35,540 0.05 Pagcolbon creek – spills point of discharge

Nov 4, 05 0.084 68 0.05

Ungay creek offshore (sea)

Nov 4, 05 0.095 90 0.05

Polishing pond (effluent)

Nov 4, 05 52.00 25,900 0.20

Polishing pond (effluent)

Nov 5, 05 19.28 9,540 0.20

Cyanide spill

Effects of the cyanide spill and siltation of the sea

- fish-kill due to cyanide

- loss of livelihood in fishery in the island and adjacent municipalities at the eastern coast of Sorsogon

- various ailments experience by the people, possibly due to the spill incident

- fish-kill due to silt that injures the gills of fishes as a result of abrasive action of silt to gill tissues.

- toxic heavy metal accumulation in aquatic organisms and people that would cause a variety of illnesses

c) ascertain the impacts of heavy metals on biological indicators.

Objectives of the studyTo assess the damage to the biophysico-chemical condition of the eastern portion of the island of Rapu-Rapu affected by the cyanide spill and fish-kill from 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 adsorbed by soil/sediments of the affected river and seashore; and

BA

C

D E

Study Site 1 (Pagcolbon) with sampling stations* A, B, C; and

Study Site 2 (Binosauan) with sampling stations* D and E

Site 1

Site 2

Lafayette Mining Site

*determined by GPS

Lafayette Mine in Rapu-Rapu

F

G H

Study Site 3: Control/ Reference site showing the sampling stations* F, G, H

*determined by GPS

Sources of heavy metal and other pollutants

1. Cyanide that spilled into the surroundings

2. Cyanide that facilitated the released of heavy metals during extraction process

3. Heavy metals in the processing area and the settling pond that overflowed

4. Tailings, Mud, Silt carried by rainwater downslope towards the sea

5. Acid mine drainage that released heavy metals from Tailings dump and processed water

Source: EMB V

Source: Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission

Source: Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission

The Spill1. Cyanide spill including other heavy metals

causing fishkill since October - December

2. Settling pond overflowed due to destroyed rim

Red arrow – direction of spillBlack arrows – affected plants

Contaminated Tailings, Mud, Silt carried by rainwater by run-off and river/creeks downslope towards the sea

Pagcolbon outlet

Pagcolbon upstream

Contaminated Tailings, Mud and Silt that flowed downslope towards the sea (Ungay and Hollowstone)

Acid Mine Drainage in Pagcolbon river and seashore

Heavy metals in soil/sediments of riverbanks

As Cd Cr Cu Hg Natural 1 - 20 0.1 - 1 5 - 100 30 0.01 - 1

Standard by Kloke, 1981 Max tolerable 20 3 100 100 2

* PIPAC analysis; the rest by UPNSRI

Site 1 Pagcolbon

River Bgy Pagcolbon

Site 2 Ungay Creek

Bgy Binosawan

Site 3 Looc/Mistika Creek

Town (Control)

Heavy Metal

Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor Arsenic (As)

23. 2 35 25.7 0.4*-19.7 14.1 ** 0. 2*-17.9 7.4 ***

Cadmium (Cd)

< 2 10. 9 6.3 ND*-<2 <2 **

ND*-<2 <MDLa ***

Chromium (Cr)

33 31 30. 2 23 25 ** 89 108 ***

Copper (Cu)

400 442 990 18*-20.8 145 ** 74*-78. 2 60.4 ***

Mercury (Hg)

- - - ND* - ** 0.03 - ***

Heavy metals in water of river/creeks

As Cd Cr Cu Zn Hg DENR Standard WHO** Standard 0.05 0.01 0.05 (Hexavalent) 1.0** 5 – 15** 0.002

* PIPAC analysis; the rest by UPNSRI

Site 1 Pagcolbon River Bgy Pagcolbon

Site 2 Ungay Creek

Bgy Binosawan

Site 3 Looc/Mistika Creek

Town (Control)

Heavy Metal

Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor Upstrm Outlet Shor Arsenic (As)

- - - ND* - - - - -

Cadmium (Cd)

1.48 1.42 0.284 0.018* 0.035* <MDLa <MDLa <MDLa <MDLa

Chromium (Cr)

<MDLb <MDLb - - <MDLb - <MDLb <MDLb -

Copper (Cu)

48 46.3 7.5 1.40* 3.08 0.0085 0.0065 <MDLc <MDLc

Zinc (Zn) 41 38 - - 4.4 - <MDLd <MDLd - Mercury (Hg)

- - - ND* - - - - -

a) contamination of water in Sites 1 and 2 with high levels of cadmium, copper and zinc

b) contamination of riverbank sediments with high levels of arsenic, cadmium and copper, with the latter exceedingly high particularly at the shore; also Hollowstone Creek with copper

c) Chromium was detected highest in Site 3 but below the standards at the upstream and slightly higher than the standard at the outlet.

d) Copper is also high in water and in sediments at the Upper Tailings Pond which is located inside the Mine.

Summary of heavy metal pollution of water and sediments

Impacts on Biological Indicators

1. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis – pollen grain response

4%0.6%Abnormal

7.76%20.89%Aborted

88.24%78.52%Normal

Site 3Site 1Pollen response

Natural abortiveness of plants in general = 5%

Results of statistical analysis = significant

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Normal pollen grain

40µ

Aborted

Abnormal

Digitaria ciliaris Cyperus kyllingia

Control

Contaminated

2. Effects on Digitaria ciliaris

Results: Statistically significant

Control

Contaminated

Digitaria ciliaris

Control

Contaminated

3. Effects on Cyperus kyllingia

Results: Statistically significant

Cyperus kyllingia

Contaminated

Control

Site 2 Binosawan

Site 3 Reference

site

Reference level* Heavy metals

mg/kg mg/kg Natural Critical Arsenic (As) 16.6 9.9 1 20 Cadmium (Cd) 0.6 <MDL 0.4 5 Chromium (Cr) 4.0 7.7 < 1 30 Copper (Cu) 15 9.0 30 > 30

4. Effects on Padinajaponica

5. Effects onHalodule pinifolia

Halodule pinifolia

A

B C

A: Site 3 (Control site)

The chloroplasts of epidermal cells are pointed by arrows

B: Site 1 (Pagcolbon)

C: Site 2 (Ungay)

Impacts of Heavy Metals on Living Organisms

(based on published literature)

Metal Effects on Plants Arsenic (As)

Root plasm olysis; death (necrosis) of leaf tips and m argins; inhibits seed germ ination; reduced growth

Cadm ium (Cd)

Toxic; Accum ulates in the body; Brown m argins of leaves; W hitening of leaves (chlorosis); Early leaf senescence (aging)

Loss of starch grains; Stunted growth; Inhibits pollen tube germ ination; No fertilization of egg, thus, fruits do not develop

Chrom ium (Cr)

Toxic; Plasm olysis, causes wilting of various crops; Affects photosynthesis; Affects plant growth and developm ent Accum ulation interferes with uptake of Fe, S, K, Mg, Mn, others

Copper (Cu)

Accum ulates in roots and leaves, reduces calcium and phosphorus uptake; reduces uptake of water by the plants

Leakage of ions such as phosphorus and potassium in roots Dam ages the chloroplast lim iting m em brane; Chloroplast

decrease; Inhibits photosynthesis, Starch grains disappear; Reduces leaf size; Prom ote early leaf senescence (aging)

Lead (Pb) Accum ulates and tends to rem ain fixed in roots Leaves becom e white (Chlorosis); Inhibits photosynthesis; Stunted growth;

Zinc (Zn) Disruption and dilation of nuclear m em brane, cell organelles disintegrate, cytoplasm becom es structureless

Heavy Metal

Effects on Animals

Arsenic (As)

Accumulates in the body especially of seafoods; High Toxicity;

Terratogenic, Birth defects; Promotes cancer Death to earthw orms and other animals

Cadmium (Cd)

Binds w ith a protein and accumulates there Binds w ith other heavy metals such as copper,

zinc, and silver Accumulates in shellfish; Builds up in animal

milk and fatty tissues Chromium (Cr)

Terratogenic; reproductive and developmental effects in animals

Delayed hardening of the bones Birth defects, hydrocephalus, cleft palate Necrosis (death) of some tubules in kidney

Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), & Cd

Toxic to marine organisms such as Copepod Reproductive effects Death to marine organisms

Most Heavy Metals

Poison to many animals Inhibition of the thyroid gland function, Stunted

grow th Reduced production of antibodies Lowered resistance to diseases

M e ta l E ffe c ts o n P e o p le ’s H e a lth Arsen ic

(A s ) P o iso n ; L o w le ve l ex p o su re ca u se s n a u se a , vo m itin g , d ia rrh ea an d d a m a g e to b lo o d ves se ls P ro m o te s a ll typ e s o f c an c er s u ch a s live r, k id n ey, b lad d e r, sk in , an d lu n g s S k in co n tac t a lle rg en s ; D eve lo p m e n ta l e ffe c ts (te ra to g e n );

T h ic ken in g a n d d is co lo ra tio n o f th e sk in ; H e arin g im p a irm e n t; D a m a g e to th e n e rvo u s s ys tem

C a d m iu m (C d )

R e n a l to x ic ity; D is ru p tio n o f fu n c tio n in g o f k id n ey an d live r, m ay b e co m e irrevers ib le

C a d m iu m p n e u m o n itis ; E m p h yse m a – w h e n a ir ce lls in th e lu n g s b e co m e d ila ted an d c au s e d iff ic u lty in b rea th in g

A n o s m ia (lo ss o f s en s e o f s m e ll); Ita i-ita i o r o s te o m a lac ia – p a in fu l b o n e d is ea se D e a th fro m ex ce ss ive flu id lo ss d u e to vo m itin g an d d ia rrh ea A ffec ts tas te s , im m u n e s ys te m a n d c a rd io vas c u la r s ys te m

C h ro m iu m (C r)

D a m ag e to lu n g s , k id n ey, live r, sk in , an d im m u n e sys te m S evere d e rm atitis o f th e s k in an d u lc e rs , a lle rg y Irrita tio n o f th e res p ira to ry trac t; C au s es ca n ce r es p ec ia lly

lu n g s ; B o d y ca vities & tiss u es re ta in to o m u ch flu id (E d e m a) H yd ro ce p h a lu s – es p ec ia lly in ch ild re n , f lu id a cc u m u la te s in th e

b ra in an d c au s e m en ta l re ta rd a tio n . P o te n tia l e ffec ts o n rep ro d u c tio n a n d d eve lo p m e n t

C o p p er (C u )

Irrita tio n o f th e n o se a n d th ro a t w h e n h ig h le ve ls a re in h a led C a u se s n a u se a , vo m itin g an d d ia rrh e a w h e n in g es ted V ery h ig h leve ls ca u se d a m ag e to th e live r a n d k id n ey C a n ca u se d e a th

Z in c (Z n ) A lte red iro n fu n c tio n , re d u ce d im m u n e fu n c tio n ; h ig h le ve ls ca u se se ve re n au s ea , vo m itin g , s to m ac h c ra m p s , an e m ia , n e rvo u s s ys tem d is o rd e rs a n d d am a g e to th e p an c re as .

Effects to Sorsogon

The direction of the flow of contaminated silt is pointed by an arrow which is towards Sorsogon. Photo taken in February, 2006. Rainfall measured at that month was only 363.6 mm.

1 2 k m

P t o . D i a z

R a p u - R a p u

Distance between Rapu-Rapu and Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon is only 12 km.

The spill happened at the start of the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan

Impacts to Rapu-Rapu and Sorsogon

3. Tourism as a livelihood is low - Loss of potential tourists

2. Loss of livelihood in fishing - People from the area and adjacent areas, i.e. Legazpi and Sorsogon Cities, etc.are afraid to buy fish coming from the affected coastalbarangays

5. Break-up of families and loss of stability

1. Fishkills - Continued fishkills (Malasugi, shark, squid, octopus, etc) in Rapu-Rapu in December and January after heavy rains and in some northern and part of western coast of Sorsogon

4. Possible health effects to several people who felt some forms of illnesses during the fishkill

Impacts to the ecosystem

1. Aside from Pagcolbon River, three (3) additional creeks became acidic due to Acid Mine Drainage, which was facilitated by the mining operations. These are Alma Creek, Ungay Creek and Hollowstone Creek.

2. The dispersion of heavy metals into the surroundings affected the productivity of plants (terrestrial and marine) by destroying the capacity of their chloroplasts to produce food

3. Cyanide solution aggravated heavy metal pollution in the affected river/creeks and marine habitats and caused fish-kills

4. Fishing suffered from destruction of the sources such as the seagrass beds and coral reefs

5. Huge amounts of tailings resulting from the mining operation continue to generate AMD and are also threats to human safety as well as to the terrestrial and marine habitats specially during the rainy season.

6. The diseases and other ailments experienced by the local communities in Binosauan and in the municipality of PrietoDiaz indicate probable cyanide and heavy metal contamination from mine wastes that were brought to their places due to proximity or through surface waves driven by the northeast monsoon. Such experiences happened only during the cyanide spill and fish-kills.

Acid mine drainage (AMD)AMD occurs in iron sulfide rocks that are exposed to oxygen and water and cause the following reaction:

2FeS2 + 702 + 2H20 = 2H2SO4 + 2FeSO4

H2SO4 = sulfuric acid FeSO4 = red orange iron sulfate precipitate that coats rocks and sediments

Massive iron sulfide rocks with acid-generating capacity or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

Heavy metals released from Tailings dump due to acid mine drainage (AMD)

Tailings dump of the mine Rock barrier with no AMD (Dec 12, 2005 picture)

Formation of AMD in the same rock barrier (February 6, 2006)

AMD

Conclusion

It is the introduction of cyanide that facilitated the released of toxic heavy metals that were released into the surroundings and polluted the surroundings of the mine, the associated creeks, and the adjacent sea that also caused the fish-kills

It is the huge amount of tailings, waste rocks and overburden soil generated by the mining operation that caused the fish-kills

It is the natural capacity of the land for generating acid through the process of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) that worsened pollution. The geophysico-chemical conditions of the island simply facilitated this process

Thus, it is the mining operations of Lafayette Philippines, Inc.that caused the cyanide spills and fish-kills that affectedRapu-Rapu and the coastal areas of the province of Sorsogonand destroyed the ecosystem of the land and sea that will persist for a long, long time. AMD will continue for hundreds of years.

It is not the length of time of exposure to the toxic metals that destroyed the productive capacity of the land and water but the level of toxic pollution that mining operation brings to the environment that caused the damage

It is the rainy climate, the steep slope and the typhoons that regularly visited the area that resulted in a wider dispersion of the toxic pollutants and the loosened silt in the eastern part of the island of Rapu-Rapu and the coastal areas of Sorsogon

Mining must be stopped. The government must cancel the permits associated with the issuance of an ECC to Lafayette Philippines, Inc.

No mining must ever be allowed in Rapu-Rapu again.

Recommendation

The government must rehabilitate the degraded ecosystems, especially the newly formed acidic creek in Malobago, Pagcolbon and Binosauan

Expert assistance to the health problems experienced by the local people must be provided

Government agencies responsible for evaluating mining projects and those giving permits, must be given more comprehensive trainings for assessing pollution generated by mining operations and for rehabilitating degraded areas especially in places with acid generating capacity.

There are alternatives to mining metals because metals can be recycled. There is no need to open up new areas in order to extract the metals for the needs of our country.

The process of obtaining these materials makes people poor and the marginalized, poorer.

Rich nations have minerals of their own. Why destroy the beautiful land with high biodiversity, the natural wealth that God gave us?

Let us all remember that God created minerals and metals to support our

NEEDS, and not our GREED.

Mining in Rapu-Rapu must be stopped. Lafayette mine must be closed; its various permits in connection with, and the ECC

must be cancelled.

Only our love for God, for our Country, and for our people can

free us from this misery.