From monti@irn.org Wed Nov 14 11:33:49 2001
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 08:27:05 -0700
From: Monti Aguirre 
To: irn-biobio@netvista.net
Subject: LS: EIA of Alumysa Receives Criticism

CHIP NEWS
October 22, 2001

         --  ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF ALUMYSA RECEIVES
CRITICISM.  The National Commission on the Environment
(Conama) and the Catholic University (UC) carried out an
analysis of the Environmental Impact Assessment presented by
the Canadian company, Noranda, for its Alumysa project in
Region XI.
         The university's pre-evaluation of the EIA detected a
series of problems.  First the EIA does not consider the risk
of the Hanta virus, which workers may be exposed to.  It also
does not address the problem of excessive fluoride exposure for
the region's population.
         The UC experts said it is irresponsible that the company
has not recognized the obvious impact the project will have on
the region's air quality.  The plant will increase air
pollution because of emissions such as nitro-oxide and carbon
monoxide that occur when fossil fuels are burned.  The pre-
evaluation also revealed the presence of pollutants such as
aluminum, calcium coke and aluminum fluoride.
         Noranda representatives said the EIA reveals a series of
environmental impacts that the construction and the operation
of the plant may cause.  Included in this list are temperature
change, increased noise and vibration levels and changes to the
local landscape.  The plant's construction and operation will
prompt the loss of 9,600 hectares of soil, vegetation and
forest.  Additionally, changes and reduction in the flow of
local rivers and alterations in aquatic flora and fauna
habitats are expected.
         The Alumysa plant is the largest foreign investment
project being considered in Chile and calls for the
construction and operation of the aluminum processing plant,
three hydro-electric centers, and loading docks in Chacabuco,
Lago Condor, Rio Blanco and Rio Cuervo.  The project requires
an investment of US$2.75 billion.
*


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