Even if New Gold loses this appeal, it would only have to re-file the document. The mine will continue to remain open. New Gold’s permits and authorizations are subject to more than 100 environmental conditions which are audited each year and have consistently been 100 per cent compliant.
Cerro de San Pedro Fact Sheet
The Mexican Federal Court’s decision does not affect New Gold’s land usage permit or in any way impact the continued operation of the mine The court has not declared New Gold’s mining operation illegal The court ruling deals specifically with a point of law related to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and this can be appealed New Gold filed its appeal Oct 28th on the grounds the court had no legal basis or jurisdiction to resurrect a previous 2004 decision nullifying the original EIS and allowing the company to apply for a replacement EIS. It has also applied for an injunction suspending the court’s order to cancel the EIS pending its appeal.
The EIS is a document that outlines a project’s positive and negative impacts and proposes mitigation measures. Even if New Gold loses this appeal, it would only have to re-file the document. The mine will continue to remain open. New Gold’s permits and authorizations are subject to more than 100 environmental conditions which are audited each year and have consistently been 100 per cent compliant.
Over the last 10 years, a small group opposed to the mine has conducted a series of challenges, appeals and counter appeals to the EIS. This is the latest in a decade of legal tactics that have yet to be successful.
There is overwhelming local support for New Gold because the local residents appreciate the benefits it brings to them and their community. Opponents to the mining operations are almost exclusively from outside of the immediate community.
Each week, the company provides free medical services, including doctor visits, ambulance service and dental care, to Cerro de San Pedro and 10 neighbouring communities. New Gold has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars paving roads, building sewage lines and flood drains to better the lives of local citizens.
Updated: November 6, 2009 Page 2
New Gold has improved the local environment and preserved the historic character of the town
- cleaned up mining waste abandoned by previous miners
- built new homes and schools for residents
- rehabilitated historic churches that had suffered from many decades of neglect
- built a new church building
- trade skills training
- equipped schools with computers
- supported cultural festivals
- provided jobs to a significant percentage of the population.
New Gold has the support of the local community, both its leaders and its residents for being a good neighbor.
New Gold has a history of operating in a socially and sustainable manner in all three countries where it has a mining presence. Resources relevant to this fact sheet including links to Mexican and Canadian government/ministry websites:
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