SubscribeMr. Michael B. Richings
Executive Chairman, CEO and Director
Vista Gold Corp.
Executive Chairman, CEO and Director
Vista Gold Corp.
Mr. Carlos Calderon
Vice President and General Manager
Minera Paredones Amarillos, S.A. de C.V.
The subscribers of this letter want to express our profound concern regarding the proposed open pit gold mine project known as “Paredones Amarillos”, to be located in the Sierra de la Laguna region, in Baja California Sur. We know that, in recent days, authorizations were given to the project to begin exploration at 4 different sites. Should this exploration yield positive results, we are concerned that Vista Gold might be tempted to rapidly move ahead with the project, without engaging in a dialogue with the community and without sufficient attention to the potential environmental and social impacts of the project.
Our fears are not without substance. The environmental and social impacts of gold mining in Mexico and elsewhere in the world have been well documented. Around the world, mines like the one proposed for Paredones Amarillos have affected local livelihoods, leeched cyanide into water supplies and caused significant impacts to local ecosystems.
These are some of the impacts we are concerned with:
- Pollution of underground water supplies, derived from the infiltration of chemicals used during the gold production process, mainly lead, arsenic and cyanide. This type of pollution is always dangerous, and it is even more so in a region like this one, where water is so scarce.
- The impacts that this pollution would have on productive activities throughout the region, including agriculture, livestock and tourism.
- The impacts of mining activity on the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important ecosystems in the state and in the whole country. It is troubling to see how close the proposed mine is to the core area of the Reserve.
- Social impacts normally associated with gold mining on all the towns and communities located within the project's influence area, including the cities of La Paz and Todos Santos.
- The need for a comprehensive closure plan, including sufficient financial means to guarantee full closure and post-closure care.
Having outlined the previous points, we wish to engage in a dialogue with Vista Gold Corp. We would like to give the company an opportunity to present its vision for the project, as well as its environmental management plan and its planned environmental and social mitigation and compensation measures.
We believe that such a dialogue is not only convenient, but a necessary step in the establishment of a healthy relationship between Vista Gold and the community of Baja California Sur.
Please direct your response to Pedro Zapata, Water Program Coordinator at Niparaja
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