Newmont Goldcorp responds
...Several studies were endorsed by a local politician during 2017/18 allegedly looked into the environment and human health. The reports concluded there was some water contamination and health impacts. The last study completed was related to “health effects in Cedros Ejido members due to lead concentrations in blood.” An independent reporter from Zacatecas conducted an investigation into the report. The reporter found that the clinic that conducted the analysis did not have equipment capable of analyzing samples nor the expertise to conduct such studies. The referenced reports contain a number of inaccurate statements based on these Newmont Goldcorp Peñasquito studies which clearly lack scientific rigor, utilized inappropriate analytical instruments and drew false conclusions and statements.
The Peñasquito mine is regularly audited by Federal and State government regulatory agencies and is fully compliant with naturally occurring background conditions and Mexican regulations. The mining operation is certified under the International Cyanide Management Code and complies with the Voluntary Principle on Security and Human Rights.
During 2016, the company supported the establishment of an independent, third party participatory water monitoring program with the aim of ensuring water quality. Community members receive technical training and participate in the sampling process and samples are analyzed by an independent laboratory and shared with the participating communities and regulatory authorities on a quarterly basis...