"Chile starts sanction process against Los Pelambres copper mine", 01 June 2022

...Chile's environmental regulator initiated a sanction process against Antofagasta Minerals' Los Pelambres copper mine for deficiencies associated with tailings management...

The Environmental Superintendent (SMA) filed one minor and two major charges for improper use and deficiencies in emergency tailings pools, as well as deficiencies in the communication protocol for incidents and contingencies.

...[T]he SMA said the case began due to citizen complaints and made recommendations for managing particulate matter emitted by miners...

In a statement released after the announcement, Antofagasta said corresponding protocols were activated and water measurements were carried out both by an external laboratory and authorities after runoff from a pool was detected in a local community last November.

"All these measurements ruled out alterations in the water quality in the Camisas estuary," the statement said.

The company said it is reviewing the scope of the sanctioning process to determine its next steps.

The firm has 10 business days to submit a Compliance Program detailing how it will improve and 15 business days to formulate its arguments...