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Subsoil Jurisdiction Archives

2011 Administrative Appeal to declare Siria Valley a Health Emergency

On 13 December 2011, the National Coalition of Environmental and Organisational Networks and the Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) submitted an administrative appeal to the Ministry of Health, requesting that the area of Siria Valley be declared a health emergency, that the Ministry immediately attend to those affected by heavy metals, carry out new medicalContinue reading “2011 Administrative Appeal to declare Siria Valley a Health Emergency”

2011-2013 Criminal charges against Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) members

In 2011, 17 members of local grassroots organization Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) faced criminal charges, including obstructing a forestry management plan in 2010 in the community of Tepalitos, in the municipality of El Porvenir. In July 2011, CAVS spokesperson, Carlos Amador, and another activist were temporarily detained on these charges, then released on bailContinue reading “2011-2013 Criminal charges against Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) members”

2007-2010 Community Complaint to Environmental Prosecutor

In 2007, the Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) filed a complaint with the Environmental Prosecutor against Entre Mares and Goldcorp regarding water course contamination and health impacts resulting from the San Martín and its closure process.  In August 2007, the Forensic Medicine at the Criminal and Forensic Sciences Laboratory carried out blood and urine samples onContinue reading “2007-2010 Community Complaint to Environmental Prosecutor”

2000 Community complaint to Environmental Prosecutor

In 2000, the Siria Valley Environmental Committee (CAVS) filed a complaint with the Environmental Prosecutor, accusing Glamis Gold Ltd. (then owner of the San Martín mine) of environmental crimes. The Prosecutor conducted a 10-month investigation and sought arrest warrants for three officials of Minerales Entre Mares de Honduras, S.A., a Glamis Gold wholly owned subsidiary.Continue reading “2000 Community complaint to Environmental Prosecutor”

2004-2007 Investigation into water contamination leads to fine against company, overturned by court on appeal

In 2004, a study was ordered by the then Directorate for the Promotion of Mining (DEFOMIN) into contamination of water supplies near San Martín mine. This found that there was evidence of arsenic poisoning in the water supply to the community of Nueva Palo Ralo, a hamlet that had been forcibly relocated by the San MartínContinue reading “2004-2007 Investigation into water contamination leads to fine against company, overturned by court on appeal”

2013- Proposed National Consultation Law

In May 2018, the Honduran government presented a final version of its proposed national consultation law to the National Congress. This proposed law is intended to “codify Honduras’ international legal obligations to respect indigenous peoples’ rights to free, prior, and informed consent (“FPIC”)”, including the rights guaranteed under the  International Labour Organization Convention concerning IndigenousContinue reading “2013- Proposed National Consultation Law”

2007- Municipalities Declare Territories Free of Mining [San Martín]

Between 2013 and 2015, approximately 20 municipalities across Honduras declared themselves “territories free of mining” by holding public referenda (cabildos abiertos) in which communities voted on whether to allow mining operations where they lived. These municipalities included, among others, Sabá and Balfate in Colón; Danlí and Teupasenti in El Paraíso; El Negrito, El Progreso andContinue reading “2007- Municipalities Declare Territories Free of Mining [San Martín]”

2006-2017 Constitutional Challenges to Honduran Mining Laws

In 2006, a constitutional challenge was brought on behalf of 20 Honduran citizens, including representatives of the Honduran Association of Environmental and Agro-Forest Journalists (AHPAAF) and the Committee for the Defense and Development of the Gulf of Fonseca Plant and Wildlife, against the 1998 Mining Law. The Court found that 13 of the legislation’s provisionsContinue reading “2006-2017 Constitutional Challenges to Honduran Mining Laws”

2006-2009 Draft Mining Law proposed by civil society organizations

In 2006, the Civic Alliance for Democracy (ACD), a network of 35 social organizations in Honduras working to defend the interests of communities against mining companies, submitted a proposal for a new mining law that, among other things, ended the use of cyanide and other toxic substances, prohibited open pit mining, required community consultations/referendum priorContinue reading “2006-2009 Draft Mining Law proposed by civil society organizations”