LEGAZPI CITY (18 July) -- Lafayette Philippines started last on Monday, July 10, its 30-day trial run to test the sufficiency and adequacy of remedial measures and environmental safeguards it has instituted and installed at its mining project in Rapu-Rapu, Albay following the tailings spills in October last year.

The test run coincides with the Order dated July 9, 2006 issued by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Angelo T. Reyes who ordered a go-signal to the test run during his visit to the mine site on July 7.

The July 9 Order took cognizance of Lafayette compliance to stringent pre-conditions set in the DENR Secretary's earlier Temporary Lifting Order (TLO) issued on June 13, 2006.

It will be recalled that the June 13, TLO set the following pre-conditions among others: (1) For Lafayette to pay the P10.4 million initial fines before the test run; (2) Extend the validity of Lafayette surety bond; (3) Completion of environmental safeguards and instrumentation; (4) Collect baseline data on mercury, pH, AMD and other heavy metals to determine impact of mining operation; (5) Submit schedule of dam build-up; (6) Secure Waste Water Discharge Use of Cyanide and Milling Operation Permits from the DENR; (7) Execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc. (RRPi) and Rapu-Rapu Minerals Incorporated (RRMI) identifying their responsibilities and accountabilities; and (8) Conduct of 3-stage test run each stage with strict pre-conditions that must be completed.

The success of the test run may warrant the permanent lifting of Lafayette's suspension by the DENR.