The report summarizes an environmental investigation of two large-scale mining operations in Nueva Vizcaya province. Testing found copper contamination in rivers near the Didipio mine, with copper levels exceeding safe levels for organisms. Near the Runruno mine under construction, heavy metals like copper in impacted rivers exceeded thresholds harmful to aquatic life. Both operations negatively impacted the local environment, biology, water quality, and livelihoods. The report recommends suspending mining, further assessments, ongoing monitoring, and reviewing relevant policies to address the impacts.

1. Environmental Investigation
Mission
on the Impacts of Large Scale
Mining in Nueva Vizcaya
Results
Nueva Vzcaya
November 11, 2014

2. Outline
• Background
• Methodology
• Results
– Biophysical characterization
– Heavy metal analysis
– Socio-economic impacts
• Conclusion
• Recommendations

3. Background
The two mining operations in two municipalities
with a total area of 17,280.84 hectares.
– The Oceana Gold Philippines, Inc.:
Didipio Gold Copper in Kasibu – started
commercial operation in May 2013.
– The FCF Minerals Corporation:
Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project currently at
the construction phase, targets to start
commercial operation before the end of 2014.

4. Objectives
Evaluate the impacts of the mining operations
to their immediate environment. Specifically,
1. To assess the impacts of the two
mining operations on the biological,
chemical and physical aspects of the
riverine ecosystem
2. To correlate the impacts of the mining
operations on the lives and livelihood of
the communities affected

5. Research Design
Selection of Sampling Site
(Community Mapping)
Biological
Parameters
Sensitivity
Biodiversity
Physico-
chemical
Parameters
pH
Temperature
Turbidity
Conductivity
Turbidity
Heavy Metals
Analysis
Sediment
Water
In Situ

6. RESULTS
Operation of OceanaGold in
Brgy. Didipio, Kasibu

8. Physico-Chemical Parameters
pH Temp (°C) Conductivity
(µS/cm)
Turbidity
(NTU)
Velocity
(m/s)
Surong (n-
im)
7.53 27 9.67 9.43 2.87
Dinaoyan
(im)
7.83 24.33 24.67 44.93 4.2
Didipio
River
(conf)
7.8 27.67 24 658.6 1.43
Standards 6-8 25-31 2-100 1-50 ---

9. Brgy. Didipio:
Water Color
1. Surong Creek:
Non-Impact Area
2. Didipio River:
Confluence Area
3. Dinauyan River:
Impact Area
1
2
3

10. Brgy. Didipio:
Sediments
1. Surong Creek:
Non-Impact Area
2. Didipio River:
Confluence Area
3. Dinauyan River:
Impact Area
1
2
3

11. Biological Parameters: Brgy.
Didipio
Parameter Surong River
(N-Im)
Didipio River
(Confluence)
Dinauyan River
(Im)
Flora/Vegetatio
n
Grasses, ferns, sun
flowers
Shrub, Ferns, Small
trees, grasses, gabi,
large trees farther
from the bank
Shrub, Ferns, No
aquatic plants
visible, grasses
Fauna
Snails, dragonflies,
fishes, butterflies,
moth, small crab
Flies, Butterflies,
Water striders,
spiders, black ants,
flies
Water striders,
Snails, Moth

12. Heavy Metal Analysis: Sediments
• Cu concentration
is 6.5 – 7.4 times
greater than the
severe-effect level
for benthic
organisms, which
is 110 mg Kg-1
Severe-
effect level

13. Heavy Metal Analysis: water
• Water from Didipio
river has twice the
copper conc.
permitted for
irrigation use and
• 8x the maximum
level for the survival
of organisms
maximum level for
survival of organisms
maximum level for irrigation
use

14. Socioeconomic impacts
• Use of violence and intimidation by the
mining company
– Employment of private securities
– a military detachment is located near
Barangay Dinaoyan.
• Lack of compensation

15. RESULTS
Construction of FCF Minerals in
Brgy. Runruno, Quezon

17. Physico-Chemical Parameters
pH Temp (°C) Conductivity
(µS/cm)
Turbidity
(NTU)
Velocity
(m/s)
Lintungan
River(n-im)
8.0 25 14.33 1.33 2.4
Sulong
River (im)
7.9 27.33 30.33 656.7 2.1
Confluence 7.97 26 24.67 218.9 1.93
Standards 6-8 25-31 2-100 1-50 ---

18. Brgy. Runruno:
Water Color
1. Lintungan River:
Non-Impact Area
2. Lintungan-Sulong-Kinalabasa
Rivers: Confluence Area
3. Sulong River:
Impact Area
1
2
3

19. Brgy. Runruno:
Sediments
1. Lintungan River:
Non-Impact Area
2. Lintungan-Sulong-
Kinalabasa Rivers:
Confluence Area
3. Sulong River:
Impact Area
1
2
3

20. Biological Parameters: Brgy.
Runruno
Parameter Lintungan River
(N-Im)
Lintungan-Sulong
River
(Confluence)
Sulong River
(Im)
Flora/
Vegetation
Asters, small trees,
large trees, kapok,
coconut, ipil-ipil,
shrubs, grasses,
cyprus, creeping
vines, periphyton
visibles
Vines, small trees,
creeping vines,
grasses, fire trees,
coconut, cypers, no
aquatic plants
No vegetation on the
river and near the
banks. Present
farther from the
banks:gabi, pomelo,
bamboo, palm trees,
creeping vines,
gmelina, mango,
ferns, banana
Fauna
Snails, fishes, flies,
water striders,
dragonflies, snails,
crabs
Water striders, ants,
flies bess,
dragonflies, flies
Water striders, ants,
dragonflies

21. Heavy Metal Analysis
• Copper, Arsenic and
Lead and Mercury
ave. concentration in
sediment from Sulong
river exceeded the
Severe-effect level
(SEL)
• SEL is an approximate
level at which presence
of certain contaminants
severely affect the
health of benthic
organisms

22. Heavy Metal Analysis
• Copper in water samples
from the impact site (Sulong
river) exceeded the safe
level of copper for the
survival of benthic
organisms, which is 50 µgL-1

23. Socioeconomic impacts
(a)forced demolitions without prior notice and
with the presence of uniformed and armed
men;
(b)some small-scale miners lost their jobs
because the mining company ordered them
to stop while some are threatened to lose
their jobs because of threats of land
grabbing and forced demolitions;
(c) some residents were also working for the
mining company with 250 per day as their
wage; and

24. Conclusions
1. There is copper contamination in both impact and
confluence for Didipio mining.
2. For Brgy. Runruno, the construction stage already
showed impact of mining brought about by massive
soil disturbance and the removal of vegetation.
Heavy metal such as copper in the impact area has
exceeded those in the non-impact site.

25. Conclusions
3. There are confirmed adverse impacts to
the civil, economic, social and cultural
rights

26. Recommendations
1. Immediate suspension of mining operations
2. Comprehensive assessment of the impacts
3. Regular monitoring of the qualities of both
sediment and water samples

27. Recommendations
4. Review of local and national mining,
environmental, land and other policies
related to the resulting impacts
– Clean Water Act
– Pollution Control Law
– Mining Act 1995
5. Capacity-building of local communities

28. Advocates of Science and
Technology of the People
Address: 127-B Scout Fuentebella St. Brgy. Sacred Heart, Kamuning, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 998 4226
E-mail: secretariat@agham.org
www.agham.org