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KEY QUESTIONS
Click below for more information
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Q: WHAT WAS THE MINE'S IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH?
A: THREE AGENCIES HAVE DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO HARMFUL HEALTH IMPACTS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF BUYAT BAY: THE INDONESIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH; THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON MINING, ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH JAPAN'S INSTITUTE FOR MINAMATA DISEASE.
Key findings:
MINISTRY OF HEALTH:
- No evidence to conclude that the prevalence of several diseases (neuropathy, lipoma and dermatitis) in the study area was caused by the heavy metals mercury, arsenic, and antimony.
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Click here for press release
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR, MAY 9-10, 2005
- There has never been any scientific evidence showing that environmental pollution has occurred.
- o The quality/condition of seawater in Buyat Bay waters when linked with the contents of heavy metals does not show any indication/level that harms marine biota.
- o Coral reefs in Buyat Bay waters have grown normally.
- o Concentrations of heavy metals (Hg and As) in fish in Buyat Bay waters are below the WHO standard limit, which means that the fish are safe to be consumed by the community.
- o The average concentrations of all heavy metals examined in the bodies of the residents of Ratatotok, Buyat Pante, Buyat and Belang are below the tolerable concentration value/limit (WHO-IPCS).
- o The Buyat controversies have, to a great extent, been triggered by a social and economic gap in the region.
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Click here for International Seminar Conclusions
WHO:
- "The hair mercury levels are similar to those in the Japanese population." [p.8]
- "The mercury levels in fish were within the normal range." [p.8]
- Mercury levels are found to be lower at the seashore, than in the rivers, "indicating that a large gold mining company is not contributing greatly to mercury contamination in Buyat Bay." [p.9]
- "Results suggest that both of the areas are not polluted by cyanide." [p.9]
- The villagers were tested for 17 metals [Table 7, p.21], including arsenic.
- "All of the metal concentrations in hair of villagers living near Buyat and Totok Bays showed within normal levels." [p.9]
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Click here for the Full WHO Study
In August 2004, Manado University of Sam Ratulangi (UNSRAT) conducted a Comprehensive Survey on Health of Buyat bay residents.
The Medical Sciences Faculty diagnosed the residents' health issues were linked to poor nutrition and poor sanitation practices.
Click here for the UNSRAT seminar
Click here for Dean's Letter (English version)
Click here for Dean's Letter (Indonesian version)
Click here for additional findings (PowerPoint file)
Local Doctor diagnosed pulmonary infection in sick Buyat bay child
Click here to read response letter from Dr. Sandra J.L. Rotty
For additional Public Health facts on Indonesia, Click here
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Q: ARE THE FISH SAFE TO EAT?
A: THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND JAPAN'S INSTITUTE FOR MINAMATA DISEASE FOUND FISH WITHIN NORMAL LEVELS FOR MERCURY.
Click here for the Full WHO Study
Key findings:
- The World Health Organization and Japan's Institute for Minamata Disease studied the fish and found "The mercury levels in fish were within the normal range." [p.8]
- All metals tested, including arsenic, found at normal levels by WHO
- "All of the metal concentrations in hair of villagers living near Buyat and Totok Bays showed within normal levels. These results suggest that both of the people living in these areas are not polluted to the toxic levels by the metals." [pp. 9 and 21]
- The WHO finds Buyat Bay and Totok Bay are not polluted by cyanide.
- "These results suggest that both of the areas are not polluted by cyanide." [p.9]
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Click here for the Full WHO Study
Environmental Quality Assessment of Buyat Bay and Totok Bay report finds fish have safe mercury levels
"The data on fish collected by the integrated field team found that total mercury in fish is below the standard prescribed by the World Health Organization." [p.3]
Click here for Environmental Quality Report
Environmental Quality report finds inorganic arsenic levels low in fish
"The data also shows that the level of inorganic arsenic (10% of the total arsenic) in fish is below the standard prescribed by the food standard of Australia and New Zealand." [p.3]
Click here for Environmental Quality Report
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Q: HOW DID THE MINE IMPACT THE WATER AND SEDIMENT?
A: ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REPORT FINDS WATER IS NOT POLLUTED
- "Data shows that the water in Buyat Bay is not polluted. All the parameters of water quality are well below the standards." [p.3]
- "The concentration of total arsenic in the sediment where the tailings are discharged in Buyat Bay is high compared to the sediment in Totok Bay and the control points. However, it appears that the arsenic in the sediment is in a stable form because the level of dissolved arsenic in the water of Buyat is lower than the standard." [p.3]
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Click here for Environmental Quality Report
Click here for the Full WHO Study
Click here for CSIRO Report, Part 1 (Pages 1 - 25)
Click here for CSIRO Report, Part 2 (Pages 26 - 52)
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Q: WHAT IS SUBMARINE TAILINGS PLACEMENT (STP)?
A: TAILINGS ARE THE GROUND ROCK AND LIQUID LEFT OVER WHEN THE GOLD IS SEPARATED FROM THE ROCK IN THE PROCESSING PLANT.
Click here for more information
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Q: IS STP LEGAL ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING THE USA?
A: YES.
- Click here for MMSD Report.
- Under the Clean Water Act, all discharges to water bodies require a discharge permit from the EPA or a state agency. Use of tailings requires an exemption by the EPA from the New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) applicable to mining operations. The Clean Water Act does not bar EPA from issuing STP permits where the impacts are deemed acceptable. Because little mining is conducted in the coastal regions of the USA, the method is not currently in use.
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Q: WHY DID THE COMPANY USE STP IN INDONESIA?
A: BOTH LAND AND SUBMARINE PLACEMENT WERE PROPOSED IN THE PERMITTING PHASE. THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT CHOSE STP
Click here for the AMDAL, Executive Summary
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 1 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 2 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 3 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 4 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 5 of 5
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Q: DID PTNMR HAVE PERMITS?
A: YES.
Click here for the AMDAL, Executive Summary
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 1 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 2 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 3 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 4 of 5
Click here for the AMDAL, Part 5 of 5
Click here for the STP Permit
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Q: WHAT IS PTNMR's CLOSURE PLAN?
A: PR NEWMONT MINAHASA RAYA CEASED OPERATIONS ON AUGUST 31, 2004.
Click here for mine closure plan
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