The need for SEA of Metal Mining in Argentina

PIRILLO, ERNESTO; MURGUÍA, DIEGO; CURA, OMAR; RAMATI, PABLO

Porto

Conferencia; Energy Future. The Role of Impact Assessment; 2012

International Association of Impact Assessment

Investments in the large-scale metal mining industry have been booming in Argentina. Projects have multiplied promoted by high minerals market prices and based on large mineral reserves, an attractive mining potential due to undiscovered resources along the Andes Mountain Range, a series of fiscal incentives and a permissive legislation. Project leases are granted through the performance of Environmental Impact Assessment studies, which is the common legal requirement in Argentinean provinces for the environmental permitting. Nevertheless, these studies are not enough and have not become efficient tools to protect natural ecosystems or prevent social conflicts. Furthermore, to date, no legislation, regulations or guides of procedures exist demanding the application of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA). This tool requires urgent implementation in the Argentinean territory as it enables better evaluating the sustainability of the activity, analyzing operation and technology alternatives, cumulative impacts, technological transferences, citizen participation, regional development, conflict prevention, among other benefits. In this study we briefly examine the weakness of the current legal environmental requirements, pressure on natural resources, transference to the communities, conflicts associated and outline the benefits such assessment tool would provide in improving the sustainable management of minerals.