Mining – India 1
1. Deaths in Maoist raid on India mine 1
2. Delay in filing mitigation report on forest loss to hit Posco project 2
3. Tata Steel moves HC against tribunal order 4
4. NTPC to acquire overseas coal blocks 4
5. Tata Steel focuses on railways, govt deals to boost sales 5
6. Tata Power plans to move SC over RPower coal diversion 5
Mining – International 6
7. Small farmers take fight to mighty miner 7
8. More inspectors for Queensland mines 8
9. Illegal sand mining still rampant in Selangor 9
10. Guinea Weighs Action Against Rusal Over Alumina Plant (Update2) 11
11. NVizcaya gov't execs conduct IEC campaign in mining village 12
12. Indigenous plants vs mine pollutants 13
13. Mining area is seeing green 14
14. Toro joins Mega in uranium mine race 16
15. Water more precious than gold: environmentalist 17
16. Uranium mine opponents seize on study 17
Other News – India 19
17. Notices against CRZ violations 19
18. 600 families encroach on Kangombe forest reserve 20
19. Public hearings should be held 21
20. `Vote for parties promising child rights’ 25
21. Extension of child labor survey process approved 26
Mining – India
Deaths in Maoist raid on India mine
Police say the Maoists are hoping to disrupt
India's upcoming elections [AFP]
As many as 11 police officers and four Maoist fighters have been killed in a nine-hour shootout at a mine in eastern India, according to police.
Dozens of armed Maoist fighters stormed a bauxite mine in the Panchpatmali area of Orissa on Sunday and held about 100 miners hostage before police regained control on Monday, officials said.
None of the workers held inside the mine were harmed said the director of the National Aluminum Company (Nalco), the state-owned mine company targeted in the attack.
The Maoists have stepped up attacks in eastern and central India ahead of the country's general election in April and May, which they are boycotting.
MM Praharaj, a senior police official, said the attackers were planning to steal large quantities of explosives used for mining, but fled without them when more police reached the area.
Praharaj said the fighters were likely trying to disrupt the upcoming national election, due to start on Thursday.
"We are trying our best to ensure that the polls are conducted peacefully,'' he said.
The Maoists, who say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers, have threatened to chop off the hands of voters if they go to polling booths.
Nalco is one of India's largest aluminium exporters and the Panchpatmali mines are the company's main sources of bauxite, the primary ingredient in aluminum.
The company said the open pit mine, with a deposit of more than 310 million tonnes of bauxite reserves, would be closed for at least a day as a result of the attack.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/04/200941364912933780.html
Delay in filing mitigation report on forest loss to hit Posco project
Bishnu Dash / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar April 13, 2009, 0:42 IST
Causing further delay in the implementation of the Rs 51,000 crore 12 million tonne integrated greenfield steel project of Posco India near Paradeep, the expert committee constituted to examine various mitigating measures to be taken up by the company to enable it use forest land for the project is yet to submit the report to the Orissa government.
Following the Supreme Court order allowing forest diversion for the project, the steel and mines department of Orissa government notified the formation of this committee under the chairmanship of S K Patnaik, member Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Government of India, to examine the mitigation measures to minimize the impact of forest loss due to the project.
The committee, which has principal chief conservator of forests (wild life), B K Singh, senior assistant inspector general of forest, ministry of environment and forests (GoI) and director, SC and ST development department of Orissa government as members, was mandated to furnish its views to the state government within 2 months from the date of notification. Though the committee was constituted on 30 October 2008, it is yet to submit the report, sources said.
This committee was set up to suggest steps to be taken by Posco to protect the area, for which the forest diversion proposal (FDP) of Posco India was approved by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). It was to suggest measures to protect the area from cyclone and other natural calamities which may be caused due to the cutting of large number of trees, especially from the coastal side.
Sources said, delay in the submission of report by the committee is likely to cause further delay in obtaining the stage-II forest clearance by Posco.
It may be noted, the Supreme Court has given the stage-I clearance for the forest diversion proposal of the company stating that the second stage clearance will depend on the fulfillment of the mitigation measures.
The project, billed as the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) of the country requires 4004.24 acres land. Out of it, forest land is about 2,958.79 acres, for which the stage-I clearance has been given to the company.
Meanwhile, the state forest department has started the assessment of the cost of wild life management, net present value (NPV) and afforestation among others to be taken up by the company. Once the assessment is over, the company will be asked to deposit the required amount with the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), GoI., sources added.
Posco signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Orissa government for setting up a 12 million tonne greenfield project near Paradip in the Jagatsinghpur district on June 22, 2005.The project could not make any headway due to the resistance of the local people who are opposed to land acquisition by the company.
Though the state government has recommended the Centre for grant of Prospecting License (PL) of Khandadhar mines to Posco, the Orissa High Court has stayed the grant of PL by Centre till 22 April. The central PSU Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) has moved the Orissa High Court against the state government’s recommendation favouring Posco, without taking a final decision on other applications.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/delay-in-filing-mitigation-reportforest-loss-to-hit-posco-project/354866/
Tata Steel moves HC against tribunal order
NEW DELHI: Tata Steel, which is planning to set up a steel plant in Chhattisgarh, has approached the Delhi High Court against an order of the Mines Tribunal, which has rejected its petition on the ground that the company has delayed in challenging state government's order.
The state government had rejected Tata Steel's claim over 4,800-hectare iron ore mining field at Rawghat.
This was earlier challenged by Tata Steel before the Mines Tribunal, but it had rejected company's claim on the ground of time period under limitation.
Senior counsel and former Attorney General, Mr Soli Sorabjee appearing for Tata Steel submitted before the court that the company could not approach the mining tribunal within the specified period, as it had approached the High Court against the state go vernment's order.
“There was not any deliberate delay from our side. We had filed condonation of delay application before the tribunal but it was rejected... How could you shut down a person like it,” submitted Mr Sorabjee.
Consenting to him, the single-member Bench of Justice Mr Ravindra Bhat said, “There was an overlapping of jurisdiction.” The State of Chhattisgarh was represented by its counsel Mr Atul Jha. - PTI
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/28121807.htm
NTPC to acquire overseas coal blocks
Monday, 13 Apr 2009
It is reported that NTPC is planning to acquire coal blocks in Indonesia and Mozambique later this year to raise its generation capacity by 22,430MW in three years.
Mr RS Sharma CMD of NTPC said that “We are planning to acquire four blocks in Indonesia and two in Mozambique by the end of this year. Coal from these blocks will help us raise our capacity by 22,430MW by the end of the XIth Plan (2007-12).”
He said the company would require 225 million tonnes by 2012. It would get only 195 million tonne from Coal India Ltd and its subsidiaries.
NTPC also has entered into a joint venture with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, SAIL, NMDC and the CIL to buy coking coal and thermal coal, is also exploring opportunities in Australia, Mozambique, Indonesia and Canada.
Mr Sharma said that “This year, we will add about 3,300MW to our capacity. About 2,000MW of this will be commercially available.”
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/04/13/OTAwNzQ%3D/NTPC_to_acquire_overseas_coal_blocks.html
Tata Steel focuses on railways, govt deals to boost sales
13 Apr 2009, 0343 hrs IST, ET Bureau
KOLKATA: India’s largest private steel maker Tata Steel relied heavily on government-funded projects and the Railways in the face of a demand
downturn to boost steel sales in the last quarter of 2008-09.
“We had taken a special drive to sell more steel to government-funded projects and to the Railways in January-March 2009,” Mr B Muthuraman, Tata Steel managing director, said. These sectors have maintained their level of spending even as steel companies are facing lower spends and a consequent shrinkage in demand in other consumer sectors.
The company has also diversified its product-mix with steel sales touching 1.7 million tonne between January and March 2009. Out of this, exports alone accounted for 2, 50,000 tonne.
The Central government had earlier announced a stimulus package to boost spending on infrastructure in a bid to revive demand amidst the economic slowdown.
In the fourth quarter of 2008-09, Tata Steel managed to reduce its average inventory level. For long products, it was left with an inventory of 21 days on April 1, 2009. For flat products, inventory was down to 7-8 days by the end of the year 2008-09. While the company had an inventory of Rs 1,200 crore on January 1, 2009, it had come down to Rs 559 crore by April 1, 2009. The company also saved Rs 400 crore by renegotiating shipping contracts, he added.
Softening of global raw material prices, especially those of hard coking coal and iron ore, is expected to benefit steel producers. While prices for coking coal have settled at $128 per tonne from a peak of $300 per tonne last year, iron ore prices are likely to settle at $97 per tonne. As a result, cost of production for integrated steel producers is likely to come down by nearly $200 per tonne on an average, Mr Muthuraman said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Steel/Tata-Steel-focuses-on-railways-govt-deals-to-boost-sales/articleshow/4393343.cms
Tata Power plans to move SC over RPower coal diversion
13 Apr 2009, 1407 hrs IST, ET Bureau
MUMBAI: Tata Power plans to file an appeal in the Supreme Court
, after the Delhi High Court dismissed the Tatas’ petition on diversion of surplus
coal from blocks allotted to the Sasan ultra mega power project.
"We would be filing an appeal before the Supreme Court as we strongly believe that the issue has larger national ramifications," said a Tata Power statement.
The Delhi High Court
on Monday dismissed a petition filed by Tata Power challenging an earlier Empowered Group of Minister’s decision to allow surplus coal from coal blocks allotted to the Sasan ultra mega power project to be used by other power projects of Reliance Power.
"Tata Power strongly believes that it has raised an important issue concerning the government of India’s decision to permit the diversion of coal from captive mines allotted exclusively to Sasan UMPP to other projects of Reliance Power, after the conclusion of the bidding process," said Tata Power.
The decision will disturb "the fairness, transparency and the level playing field, and is not in accordance with the bidding documents. The issue assumes further significance in view of the PPP (public-private-partnership) model being adopted for the country’s infrastructural development. We believe that we have not suppressed any facts or provided any incorrect information," said Tata Power.
The Sasan UMPP, the largest pit head domestic coal based power project in the country, was in 2007 awarded to Reliance Power, after an international tariff-based competitive bidding process. The project has been allotted coal mines in Singrauli area to meet its fuel requirement.
Reliance Power had requested the government to allow it to use surplus coal from the Sasan mines for its other power projects.
In Aug 2008, the Empowered Group of Ministers approved Reliance Power’s request to allow optimal utilisation of coal reserves and to provide impetus to generation capacity addition in the country. This decision was contested by Tata Power which filed a petition in Delhi High court.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Energy/Power/Tata-Power-plans-to-move-SC-over-RPower-coal-diversion/articleshow/4395146.cms
Mining – International
Small farmers take fight to mighty miner
A LEGAL battle between angry farmers and the mining giant BHP-Billiton in the black-soil country of the Liverpool Plains is threatening to derail plans to develop one of the biggest new coal mining ventures in NSW.
Geoff Brown and three fellow farmers took their fight to the mining warden's court in Gunnedah this month, challenging BHP's right to come onto their land in a search for 500 million tonnes of untapped coal reserves buried in the Caroona region. BHP bought the rights with a $99 million exploration licence from the NSW Government.
For five days in the Gunnedah court, the mining warden, John Bailey, heard arguments over the farmers' charges that BHP's drilling methods could risk contaminating the deep aquifers that help water some of the richest farmland in Australia.
"We've seen everywhere else where mining has occurred that they've destroyed the farming land," Mr Brown told the Herald from his Caroona property, where he grows soya beans, corn, wheat and chickpeas.
"The big issue up here is our water, and mining doesn't seem to regard water as very important. That's why I can't see mining and agriculture going together side by side."
The mining giant vigorously defended itself in the hearings. The Sydney barrister Richard Beasley outlined the efforts BHP makes in its drilling to avoid the risk of contaminating aquifers.
But for the first time in the fight, the farmers went to court backed by a rich fighting fund. They hired their own barrister, the Sydney silk Tony Bannon, who peppered BHP's experts with tough questions, challenging their assurances in exchanges that became increasingly heated by the end of the hearings.
A decision in the case is expected next month and the farmers say it could have serious implications for the mining industry across the state.
"The outcome is incredibly significant," said Tim Duddy, a local farmer who has been leading the charge against BHP since last year. "No matter which way it goes, it will change mining exploration in Australia."
Mr Duddy, who blockaded his property to stop BHP drilling on his land, says that if the farmers lose they will find a way to appeal. "We will go to higher authorities on it. This is huge."
BHP-Billiton and the NSW Minister for Natural Resources, Ian Macdonald, are acutely aware of the big stakes in this fight. Not only is a potential $2 billion coal project under threat but so too are exploration rights for coal and gas miners across the state. Mr Macdonald issued a $300 million exploration licence last year not far from Caroona to the Chinese state-owned coal miner Shenhua.
BHP has tried to reassure local farmers that it is narrowing its search, shifting away from farmland on the flood plain and from the deep aquifers that provide irrigation.
"We believe farming and coal mining can co-exist in the area as it has done for many years," a BHP-Billiton spokesman said. The company has attempted arbitrating with the farmers but with limited success. Mr Macdonald met a delegation of farmers last month.
"The Government will not allow the integrity of water supplies in the region to be compromised and will not approve of any mining that is likely to have an unacceptable impact on the environment," he said.
Mr Brown, who wants to obtain organic certification for his produce, say he doubts BHP can satisfy him in time that mining will not endanger the environment.
"If we can't produce good quality food for people to eat we shouldn't be in the game."
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/small-farmers-take-fight-to-mighty-miner/1484723.aspx
More inspectors for Queensland mines
Posted 10 hours 16 minutes ago
Updated 8 hours 47 minutes ago
The new mine inspectors will examine sites across the state. (ABC: Diane Bain)
The Queensland Government has appointed seven new mine inspectors to improve safety at sites across the state.
Mines Minister Stephen Robertson says the intake includes three new coal inspectors in Rockhampton, one coal inspector in Mackay, a metalliferous inspector in Mount Isa and two Brisbane-based inspectors.
Mr Robertson says Australia has a strong international reputation for high standards of mine safety.
"We need to be ever vigilant and every now and then tragically a miner will lose his or indeed her life," he said.
"But those tragedies only serve to remind us the importance of never taking our foot off the pedal when it comes to doing whatever we can to ensure our mining environments are the safest possible environments for mine workers to work in.
"These are vacancies that we've had in our mines inspectorate for some time but because the mining industry was going though such a boom period, we had trouble with recruiting to those positions.
"But we've finally been able to fill them and this is an integral part of the mine industry's drive towards zero harm."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/13/2541415.htm
Illegal sand mining still rampant in Selangor
RAMPANT illegal sand mining activities in the Kuala Langat district is costing the Selangor government millions of ringgit in losses annually.
The sand mining activity, believed to be one of the biggest in the state, is being conducted on a plot of state-owned land behind the Genting Sanyen Paper Mill, off the Banting–Nilai highway.
The mine is situated next to more than 6,000ha of forest reserve, an orang asli settlement and a brick making plant. Checks revealed that the sand theft activity was rampant and had been going on for many years in the area.
Hard evidence: When the authorities visited the site, a lorry dumped this load of sand before speeding off.
It is estimated that an average of 200 trucks daily are transporting sand out from the mine which is about 20ha in size.
The mining activity stretches to about 10km around a mining pool in the area.
According to a state government source, the extracting of sand from mining pools in the area was something that goes on until late at night.
He said the activities were particularly rampant in the evening, and on weekends and public holidays.
“Loads and loads of sand are being transported out daily,’’ he added.
In their bid to stay away from authorities, the source said the activity which started in the morning normally gained momentum after office hours.
He said the Kuala Langat District Office was aware of the activity and had conducted several raids against the culprits in the past.
He said there had been a series of enforcement raids but they had failed to stop the thieves.
“The mining activity is being operated by a syndicate which is well-organised and they provide protection for those who are involved in the theft.
“They provide cover for the trucks and the mining workers by hiring thugs including the service of tontos,’’ he said.
The source said the tontos often operated from outside the area and provided information whenever they felt the presence of the authorities in the area.
He said there had been also cases of the tontos intimidating enforcement officers or those who they felt were causing a threat to their activities.
“The tontos, who operate with four-wheel-drive vehicles, will trail government vehicles that are moving towards the sand mines and will do everything possible to stop the authorities from doing their duties.
“There have been cases of windscreens being smashed and officers receiving threats from these thugs,’’ he said.
State local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu, when contacted, agreed that a lot of money was being lost through the illegal sand mining activity.
Liu issued a stay away warning to the sand thieves or they would have to face the law.
He said it was a serious offence for people to indulge in sand theft on government land.
“I advise these people to lay off with immediate effect and apply to the state for permits to extract sand from these mines.
“We are planning to open up all the sand mines in the state and issue new licences to more companies,’’ he said
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/4/13/central/3681087&sec=central
Guinea Weighs Action Against Rusal Over Alumina Plant (Update2)
By Alpha Camara and Antony Sguazzin
April 12 (Bloomberg) -- Guinean President Moussa Camara said he asked the country’s Justice Ministry to consider legal action over a 2006 transaction that gave control of the Friguia bauxite and alumina complex to United Co. Rusal.
The Guinean government was paid a fraction of the amount the company was valued at by consulting firms, Camara said on state television late yesterday.
“Guinea has to exercise its rights by getting back this factory which belongs to it,” Camara said. “It is not a question of leaving this refinery, which has to serve future generations.”
Camara took power on Dec. 23 after a coup that followed the death a day earlier of Lansana Conte, who had ruled the west African country for 24 years. Conte’s government concluded the agreement with Rusal, and Camara’s government has said mining deals made with the previous regime will be probed.
“The decision has been made to establish a commission on the privatization of Friguia, which will thoroughly study the situation and give its final conclusion,” Rusal spokeswoman Elena Shuliveystrova said by e-mail. “We, Rusal, welcome this decision because Rusal privatized Friguia legitimately and in full compliance with the legislation.”
Friguia Acquisition
Friguia has the capacity to produce 640,000 metric tons of alumina and 1.9 million tons of Bauxite a year, according to Rusal’s Web site. Bauxite, an ore, is used to make alumina, which in turn is used in the manufacture of aluminum. Guinea is the world’s biggest bauxite exporter.
Guinea agreed to let Rusal buy full control of Friguia, Rusal said in April 2006. Rusal, which had been operating the mine through a concession, bought 100 percent of Friguia from the state and acquired the 15 percent it didn’t already own in Alumina Co. of Guinea, which manages Friguia. The Russian company didn’t give a purchase price at the time.
Camara said Rusal paid $19 million for the assets, while consultants had valued it at $257 million. The president, who didn’t name the consultants, also said action will be taken against the Guineans who negotiated the transfer of the company to Rusal.
Guinean ministers arranged the sale without going through the national privatization company, Momo Sacko, a government lawyer, said today, according to Reuters.
Anatoly Patchenko, the head of Rusal’s Guinean operation, has taken refuge in the Russian embassy in the African country’s capital, Conakry, Guinea’s state-owned radio reported.
Separately, Rio Tinto Group is considering developing an iron ore mine in Guinea, while AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. owns a gold mine in the country.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aEnL3CUu63gY&refer=africa
NVizcaya gov't execs conduct IEC campaign in mining village
Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya (13 April) -- Several national and local government agencies in the province recently join local officials in this town in bringing government services closer to the villagers here.
The Runruno Multi-sectoral Mining Team(RMMT) which was recently formed to address pressing and significant mining-related issues and concerns of affected villagers in this town made its first information, education and communication(IEC) campaign in time with the conduct of the barangay consultative meeting of barangay Runruno, organized by its local officials headed by mayor Aurelio Salunat and barangay captain Dodoy Rafael.
The RMMT members who attended the IEC campaign were National Commission on Indigenous Peoples(NCIP) regional director Ruben Bastero and provincial director Gregorio Zingangan, DENR- Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau(MGB) regional director Mario Ancheta, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Robert Apigo(DENR), Police Supt. Romeo Mangwag(PNP), DENR-Environment and Management Bureau Specialist Ofelia Layugan, Patrick Pacis of the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI), Dr. Elmer Castaneto, Nueva Vizcaya State University Vice President for Administration, DENR Executive Office William Calderon, Dr. Chabeng of the St. Mary's University(SMU), Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Constante Espiritu, mayor Aurelio Salunat and Ben Moses Ebreo of Philippine Information Agency(PIA) NVizcaya.
PENRO Robert Apigo, RMMT chair said the IEC campaign is part of the numerous activities lined-up to communicate with the affected villagers of barangay Runruno in the face of the on-going exploration of FCF Minerals Corporation in the area for gold and molybdenum deposits.
"We are very optimistic that our team, together with the support and cooperation of local officials and the affected villagers will be able to understand and respect our laws so that the environment will be protected and preserved as well as the villagers can gain benefit from the mining project," Apigo said.
He said the issues raised by the villagers during the forum were the influx of new mining speculators in the area, illegal small scale mining activities, alleged flow of oily mud, drunkenness, alternative livelihood for small scale miners and the illegal occupancy of migrants on forest areas which is covered by the FCF Minerals Corporation's mining operations among others.
"All of these issues were properly explained by concerned agencies in the hope that all illegal activities will be stopped in the area," Apigo explained. (PIA NVizcaya)
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090413.htm&no=26
Indigenous plants vs mine pollutants
April 13, 2009, 5:09pm
A Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Balik Scientist recipient has proposed the establishment of a multidisciplinary research group to focus on the uses of phytoremediation in the country following his study on the capability of indigenous plants to rid soil pollution in mining areas.
Dr. Augustine Doronila, a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia, said it is worth studying the various aspects of phytoremediation, which uses living plants to mop up pollution in the environment like metal contaminants in the soil, and restores ecological balance in a mining area.
DOST’s Balik Scientist Program started in 1975 under which Filipino scientists abroad are encouraged to return to the country and conduct trainings, seminars, lectures, projects and evaluation for the benefit of the Filipino scientific community.
Last year, a total of 38 Balik Scientists heeded the call and came back to their native country.
Doronila proposed the establishment of the research group, to be called the Philippine Metalophyte Research Consortium, to be based in the Ateneo de Manila University with a mission of determining the botanical, chemistry, biological, geological, ecological, and anthropological aspects of implementing phytoremediation.
According to Doronila, there are endemic plant species in the country that can help restore mine-damaged soils. His research on phytoremediation revealed that it can “help clean tainted environment.”
Doronila discovered a possible new nickel hyper accumulator that belongs to the Euphorbiacea family during a recent visit to Zambales.
“Tropical hyper accumulator plants are most likely found on ultramafic or serpentine rock formations,”
he said, explaining that ultramafic soils often contain high concentrations of magnesium and some toxic metals.
Wastes from mining activities, particularly the extraction and processing of mineral resources, are laden with heavy metals and chemicals that can seriously contaminate soil and water. Exposure to these contaminants affects people’s health and livelihood.
“Once the soil is restored, earnings can go up as high as P165,000 net per hectare,” Doronila said, basing his figures in an actual phytoremediated base-metal smelter in South Africa.
The Philippines is one of the world’s biggest producers of copper, nickel, chrome, zinc, gold and silver. The mining industry contributed an estimated $1.4 billion in the gross domestic product (GDP) last year
http://mb.com.ph/articles/202231/indigenous-plants-vs-mine-pollutants
Mining area is seeing green
Oologah High School students plant 1,000 trees and learn a lesson in conservation.
Holly Tober, 16, an Oologah High School 10th-grader, digs a hole for a bald cyprus tree during the reforestation of the Kelly Ranch Coal Mine. SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World
By RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer
Published: 4/13/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 4/13/2009 3:34 AM
NEW ALLUWE — Maneuvering her shovel around a cypress seedling, Oologah High School sophomore Holly Tober paused recently to reflect on the goodness of her actions.
"It's nice to help the world by planting trees," she said.
Tober had plenty of company.
About 170 Oologah High School students planted roughly 1,000 trees last week as part of daylong outreach program. The project was part of the reforestation of lands at the Kelly Mine, an active surface mine in Craig and Nowata counties, about 48 miles northeast of Tulsa.
Partners in the project were the Tulsa field office of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Phoenix Coal Co. of Vinita, Brakefield Equipment of Vinita, and the Oklahoma departments of mines, wildlife and agriculture and forestry.
With the droning of heavy equipment in the distance, students, as well as about 14 teachers and parents, received hands-on lessons at six stations. Experts in their field educated their audiences on tree planting, hydrology, soils identification, revegetation with grasses and legumes, global positioning systems and related technology, and fish and wildlife.
With the country battling a recession and high unemployment, Wednesday provided students a close-up look at potential careers, said Jeff Zingo, a regulatory specialist for the Office of Surface Mining.
"That's one of the things we're trying to get across here," Zingo said. "It's not just about natural resources and being outdoors. But
these are things you can do in college and get jobs later, and here's a little sample."
Created in 1977 when Congress enacted the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, the Office of Surface Mining works to ensure that land is restored to beneficial use when mining is finished. It does that by promoting initiatives such as planting more trees and establishing wildlife habitat.
Among the instructors was Rick O'Daniel, a forest technician with the Oklahoma Department of Forestry.
"It's pretty important for them to understand conservation and things like that," O'Daniel said. "Reclaiming a site like this, where they've mined they've taken all the trees off it. So the trees need to be replaced. It's going to hold the soil so it doesn't erode and it's going to protect this lake here also."
Shovel in hand, freshman Forrest Long stood just feet away from a lake.
"It's a big place," he said. "It's pretty exciting to be here. I'm learning a lot. Replanting all these trees, it's good to know that we're doing this."
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090413_12_A13_HollyT788241
Toro joins Mega in uranium mine race
Monday, Apr 13, 2009
Toro Energy has joined Mega Uranium in the race to become WA’s first uranium producer after lodging a mining lease application over its Wiluna project.
The application covers the Lake Way deposit, which forms part of its 100 per cent-owned Wiluna uranium project where it has a 23.9 million pound resource.
Toro managing director Greg Hall said the lease application was intended to provide certainty of tenure, with the company still needing to apply separately for a formal mining licence if it decided to develop the mine.
The move comes after Mega made history earlier this year by lodging the first mining lease application over a would-be uranium project since the State Government lifted the controversial six-year ban on mining the nuclear fuel in November.
Mega hopes to develop its Lake Maitland project in the Eastern Goldfields, which is the fifth-biggest known in WA.
The deposit is thought to be worth between $1.3 billion and $4.6 billion, depending on the uranium price.
It also follows talk that BHP Billiton may be accelerating development of its Yeelirrie uranium project in the Goldfields after it met local stakeholders this week to discuss any concerns they might have.
BHP restarted work on the project after the ban was lifted. Yeelirrie, between Wiluna and Leinster, is the biggest calcrete deposit in the world.
Toro, which kicked off a preliminary drilling campaign at Wiluna this month, said it would continue to drill its Lake Way and Centipede deposits to boost the project’s resource.
Toro expects to make a decision about whether to start a definitive feasibility study in the second half of this year. The company has suggested it could be ready to start mine construction as early as the second half of 2010. Shares in Toro climbed 1.5¢ to 17¢ on Thursday on the news.
http://www.yourindustrynews.com/toro+joins+mega+in+uranium+mine+race_29286.html
Water more precious than gold: environmentalist
Posted 8 hours 41 minutes ago
Updated 8 hours 42 minutes ago
Concerns have been raised about the effect a proposed open cut mine could have on water supply in the south-east of New South Wales.
Capital Mining Limited has submitted a development application to build a $7 million gold, zinc and copper mine at Chakola, just north of Cooma.
Local environmental campaigner, Gratton Wilson, says he is concerned about the company's plan to pump water from the Numeralla River.
He says water is scarce in the region, with irrigators often unable to irrigate because of insufficient flows down the river:
"There are so many concerns about the Murrumbidgee catchment system and the rivers below the Murrumbidgee that to contemplate drawing more water out of the river for a mine I find quite incredible," he said.
Mr Wilson says any water license granted to the mining company would need to be offset against existing irrigation licenses.
Mr Wilson says water is scarce and maintaining the River's flow needs to take priority.
"I would have thought water is more important than gold or base minerals at the present time and probably into the future," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/13/2541507.htm
Uranium mine opponents seize on study
By Jordan Steffen
Weld County residents opposed to the proposed uranium mine near Nunn are still not convinced their groundwater will be protected from contamination.
Two weeks ago, Gov. Ritter signed legislation to protect groundwater from contamination as a result of leach uranium mining. House Bill 1161 requires that companies using leach uranium mines restore all affected groundwater to the condition it was in before mining.
A new study, however, shows that these types of regulations may not prevent all groundwater contamination. Weld residents now are using this information as their primary argument against the uranium mine.
Powertech Uranium Corp., a Canadian firm, is continuing to collect samples and apply for permits. President and CEO Richard Clement said all the work applications should be completed by mid-summer. The applications take about a year and a half to process.
The mine should stay on schedule, Clement said. He said the mine will provide a long-term economic opportunity through providing clean energy. There is very little environmental concern, Clements said.
Bruce Darling, president of Southwest Groundwater Consulting of Austin, Texas, compiled a study of uranium mines in Texas. The study examined the condition of the groundwater once the mining was complete.
Darling, who holds a Ph.D in geology (hydrology), said the types of regulations found in HB 1161 are not always set in stone and often become relaxed.
Many Texas mines receive relaxed groundwater restoration standards, allowing the firms to leave the groundwater in a worse condition than originally required.
In Darling’s study, he argues that he has found no evidence to support the idea that mining firms are able to meet many standards of restoring groundwater.
“None of it paints a rosy picture,” Darling said.
Howard Williams, a landowner near Wellington, said this report is what residents need to make a point about their concerns.
“We are turning handsprings out here about the report,” Williams said.
Once you begin to tamper with the chemical composition of the groundwater, the changes are nearly impossible to reverse, Williams said.
“Unless you they have some sort of ‘beam me up Scotty’ transporter, it is not going to work,” Williams said.
Jay Davis, a landowner near Fort Collins, said he does not think Darling’s report will persuade the state to prevent the mine. Instead, he said, it will help ensure that the maximum safety measures are taken.
Davis said many states that may face the same situation are waiting to see Colorado’s reaction.
Until a decision is made, Davis plans to continue to bring awareness to the issue, he said. Through town information meetings or promoting a petition that has about 11,500 signatures, keeping people informed is the best approach to the matter, Davis said.
Even more concerning is the number of people who are not aware there is an issue at all, he said.
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090413/NEWS/904129878/1002/NONE&parentprofile=1001
Other News – India
Notices against CRZ violations
Staff Reporter
________________________________________
‘Construction of hotel at Maradu a violation of norms’
Destruction of mangroves to be probed
________________________________________
KOCHI: The Coastal Zone Management Authority has issued notices in a few cases of violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone guidelines in the State.
The Authority has also directed the Ernakulam district administration to intervene in the case of a luxury hotel that is coming up near Kundannoor in Maradu Panchayat.
“The construction of the hotel complex at Maradu is in total violation of the CRZ guidelines and the district administration has been directed to intervene. Notice has also been issued to the Maradu village panchayat in this regard,” said E.P. Yesodharan, chairman of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority.
The Authority has also decided to form a two-member inquiry committee to look into the allegation that large tracts of mangrove vegetation were destroyed at the Fisheries College, Panangad, by the college authorities. The Forest department had booked a case against the college authorities on charges of destruction of mangrove vegetation. However, the college authorities contended that they had only removed weeds from the area and had not touched any mangrove vegetation. Regarding the observation that large-scale violations of CRZ guidelines were taking place in Maradu panchayat, Dr. Yesodharan said that it may be because the panchayat was lying adjacent to Kochi city which was witnessing a development boom. The Maradu panchayat is now in the Zone III of the CRZ Act where there are restrictions on construction activities. The panchayat may get a relaxation if it is moved to Zone II, which would be a laborious process, he said. Maradu panchayat authorities denied that CRZ violations were rampant there. The panchayat had been strictly imposing the laws without fail, said K.A. Devassy, president of the panchayat. In case of the building near Kundannoor, the application was forwarded to the Greater Cochin Development Authority and permission was issued as per the directives of the State authorities, Mr. Devassy said.
The strict implementation of the CRZ guidelines would hamper the development of the panchayat which has immense growth potential. As there is little scope for development in Kochi city, entrepreneurs are looking at Maradu as the next development destination, he said.
The Authority is also thinking of forming a panel of lawyers specialised in CRZ laws for conducting its cases. The panel of legal experts would help the authority to pursue the cases effectively, Dr. Yesodharan said.
According to B. Madhusoodana Kurup, member of the Authority, the local bodies where the CRZ laws are applicable, should take note of the CRZ guidelines too while issuing building permits.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/13/stories/2009041358730300.htm
600 families encroach on Kangombe forest reserve
Sunday, 12th April, 2009
By Ismael Kasooha
Over 600 families have been discovered in Kangombe Forest Reserve in Kibaale district.
A team of security and National Forest Authority officials led by the district internal security officer, Arthur Mugyenyi, discovered the families in Mugarama and Bwamiramira sub-counties recently following a tip-off from residents of the surrounding villages.
“These people have already established a trading centre within the forest reserve. I am surprised as to how they settled here,” said Mugyenyi.
He said the encroachers had constructed houses and churches, planted crops and built a primary school for their children.
Addressing residents at the newly-created Kyabinyansi trading centre inside the forest, Mugyenyi said the encroachers would be re-located from the reserve.
“I know you marry several wives and produce many children and when you are arrested, you will leave them to suffer,” Mugyenyi pointed out.
The families in the reserve claimed that most of them came from Kabale and Kyenjojo districts.
Others came from neighbouring Rwanda.
They appealed for help, saying they lacked water and health services.
The acting district forest officer, Wilson Kyamuhondire, warned that any person who destroyed forest reserves would be arrested and charged according to the National Tree and Planting Act of 2003.
“We met with the environment minister last year and agreed that any person who violated the law would be arrested and charged,” Kyamuhondire said.
The officials were escorted by heavily armed Police officers.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/18/677791
Public hearings should be held
Published Monday April 13th, 2009
Re: Crown Lands and Forests Act
Enlarge Photo
While the people of New Brunswick should be happy that amendments to the Crown Land and Forests Act have been made to allow for the possibility of community-based forestry, they should also be concerned about the lack of public involvement in the decision-making process for Crown lands.
Bill 39 has the potential to give way to co-operative forestry management and help New Brunswick break free from the industry monopoly on its Crown lands. However, this new amendment does not include any direction concerning who will be able to manage Crown lands in the public interest.
This opens the door for companies that do not operate mills in New Brunswick or hold any stakes in the province to become licence holders and export all profits made from our resources.
This is an issue that can be solved if the Department of Nature Resources and Minister Wally Stiles would clearly outline in Bill 39 who should be considered licence holders.
Priority should be given to community-based organizations or groups which will exercise forest management that benefit the community, while respecting ecosystems and addressing other environmental concerns.
It is frustrating to see that a progressive change to the Crown Land and Forests Act could still have severely negative impacts on our public lands.
Public hearings should be held in order to ensure that input from the citizens of New Brunswick is taken into consideration.
Jessica Gallant
St. Thomas University student intern with the Conservation Council of N.B.
Ferries are needed
Re: Recent newspaper editorial
Farewell to the Ferries.
This was the headline of the March 28, editorial of the Telegraph Journal.
Why bother to write anything more?
Nowhere in the editorial was it written that people use the Gagetown ferry to travel to the doctor, the credit union, Service New Brunswick and a grocery store.
The three ferries destined to be cancelled provide invaluable links to the communities on both sides of the St. John River for commerce, agriculture, safety and health care.
It is interesting that no mention was made of the large sums of money the province pays each year in shadow tolls for the Trans-Canada Highway. Also absent was any mention of the $1.2 million given to the wetlands.
The lower St. John River system is our Kings Landing.
Patricia Stewart
Gagetown, N.B.
Looking for answers
Re: Provincial government efforts to attract doctors
Could you tell me what financial incentives you are offering doctors to come to New Brunswick?
You are completely wrong if you don't think that money is important to doctors. They come out of university with huge student loan debts.
Are we competitive in relation to what other provinces are offering? Every province is vying for the same medical students, so you have to be financially competitive.
Offering a $25,000 incentive when other provinces are offering up to and over $100,000 will not cut it.
Which province would you accept working in if you had a choice between those two?
I am one of the 1,000 patients left high and dry when my GP terminated her practice.
With over 3,000 people already on the waiting list for a new GP, it will take years before we get another one and this is unacceptable.
We are seriously considering leaving this province because of the state of healthcare here. I've lived in Ontario and Nova Scotia and realize that other provinces are undergoing similar challenges but not to the extent that this province is.
The few walk-in clinics in the Fredericton area are only open for a few hours each day and cannot meet the patient demand.
In Ontario, walk-in clinics are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the doctors can do follow-ups, unlike the physicians here.
In the same facility, clinics have an x-ray and blood lab unit where you can walk right in to get your tests done, no appointment needed.
Here, we wait weeks to get a letter from DECH to notify us of our test appointment and weeks more for the appointment itself. It's ludicrous.
At least extend the walk-in clinic hours to cope with the backlog of people without a family physician.
Marilynn Kirchgessner
Nasonworth, N.B.
What happened to the bylaw
Re: Bicycles on sidewalks
With spring comes the annual problem of cyclists on city sidewalks.
In the past 10 days, I've had two occasions where I could have been knocked down by a cyclist approaching me from behind with no warning. No bell, no shout, no whistle, no "nothing."
On both occasions, had I moved any more than an inch to either my right or left I would have been flattened as a bike whizzed past me, going fast enough to cause my scarf to wave in the wind as it sped by.
There is a city bylaw with a $25 fine for cyclists using the sidewalk and, while I can't blame some folks for not using the street, considering the way some of the motorists in this burg drive, there is still no excuse.
We now have bike lanes on some of our streets so, obviously, the word is out that bikes are to stay on the road.
My question, therefore, is it is going to take someone being hit, injured and the city's being sued for failure to enforce its own bylaw before cyclists get the message to stay off the sidewalks.
Hank Williams
Fredericton
Planet is under siege
Re: Global warming and economic woes
Our planet is under siege from escalating economic turmoil, overpopulation, global warming, poverty, inequality and violence against women.
It is hard to believe that three billion global citizens exist on less than $2.50 a day.
We also have over one billion children living in poverty - that results in 25,000 deaths each day from starvation.
Pope Benedict has spoken out about debt relief for poor countries, along with radical distribution of wealth and resources, while also championing a greener planet, which is essential in the fight against poverty, drought, starvation and the creation of a more stable and peaceful world.
The brutal winter in the Arctic and other areas of the world gives us hope that global warming might be easing.
World economic co-operation and the recent stock market surge might be an indication that our economic recession is slowly turning around.
We have many Canadian and world philanthropists who are heroes because they make the difference in the lives of millions.
Harold Phalen
Fredericton
Concerned about blood centre
Re: Moving centre to Nova Scotia
Having the Blood Centre in Saint John is bad enough.
I am guessing that already only about a third of New Brunswickers are within an hour's drive of the current location, but then I am a fuddy-duddy driver.
Moving our blood supply more hours away is murderous. If the move occurs, I can only advise NBers to warn the nearest hospital at least three hours before having an accident requiring transfusions.
Stuart Mills
Fredericton
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/633556
`Vote for parties promising child rights’
Express News Service
First Published : 12 Apr 2009 03:05:00 AM IST
BHUBANESWAR: With all political parties giving child rights issues a miss, an alliance of people’s organisation, NGOs and intellectuals has urged people to vote for those candidates who promises to safeguard the cause of the children.
The alliance — Voice for Child Rights Orissa (VCRO) — which works to build a mass movement for the protection and promotion of child rights has also appealed to the parties to include in their respective manifestos child rights and wider issues relating to the uplift of the status of the children in Orissa.
Issues like uniform and quality education (teacher-student ratio, use of mother tongue and local culture, sufficient infrastructure) for all children must be addressed.
Calling for an enhancement of budgetary provision for primary education by 10 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), they also called for legislation to stop child labour and also stall unplanned development projects
throughout the State where the children are to suffer the most as they are always at the receiving end.
VCRO advisors Bharat Bhusan Thakur and Dillip Kumar Ojha called for declaration of State’s children policy following a debate involving civil society groups working on child rights, adding a need to amend the Commission for Protection of Rights of Children Act, 2005, so as to provide for timely penal action against the violators of the children’s right and interests. They also demanded another amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act as amended in 2006 to provide penalty clauses against the public servant found guilty of violation of the law.
VCRO convener Uday S. Thakur also called for upward revision of the quantum of financial assistance available to child care institutions including the government grant-in-aid orphanages in the State. He also requested the authorities concerned to ensure proper functioning of Anganwadi centres, mid-day-meal scheme, Janani Surakshya Yojana and care and protection of children with HIV, AIDS and proper health-care services for the needy and poor children.
AS the development initiatives are ending up with loss of land, forests, water resources and livelihood, the VCRO members also urged the Government to put emphasis again on the agricultural practices by giving more assistance to farmers and thus help the families and the children thereby. They also demanded reintroduction of the public distribution system to help bring down prices and assure food for the poor and marginalised people.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=%60Vote+for+parties+promising+child+rights%E2%80%99&artid=C2cftqQOwEs=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=Janani+Surakshya+Yojana,+VCRO,+Bharat+Bhusan+Thaku
Extension of child labor survey process approved
Extension of child labor survey process approved
[12 April 2009]
SANA'A, April 12 (Saba)- A meeting headed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi held on Sunday approved extension of the child labor survey process in the rural areas and cities.
The meeting also approved forming a committee of concerned bodies to determine the deficit in the process to be covered by the government and donors.
It also discussed a report on the outcomes of meetings were held between the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) and the mission of International Labor Organization (ILO) that discussed the process of child labor survey.
In the meeting, al-Arhabi affirmed the importance of the survey in building the decisions and plans of future development in Yemen, making reference to the social surveys of child labor achieved by (CSO) is a main step in building a data base for the Yemeni labor children.
For her part, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Amat al-Razzaq Humad said that her ministry depends on the survey to carry out its plans, programs and strategies. She talked over the problems that face the poor children due to their works in the farmers, factories and streets.
She confirmed that Yemen has passed an affirmative step to reduce the children labor and mentioned the governmental efforts supported by (ILO) and UNICEF.
TD/AM
Saba
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news180800.htm
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