BHP And Ok Tedi Science Review

• The report highlights the following major gaps or deficiencies.
• It shows the importance of stopping dumping waste into the Fly river (in contrast to BHP's stance that the differences are small).
• Quotes that drive home the extent of the problems are here.
  

BHP and Ok Tedi hired 5 international scientists to review the Ok Tedi studies and damage. Known as the PRG (Peer Review Group) their report highlights the scale of the problems at Ok Tedi. The scope is hard to comprehend. Their report emphasises issues which are substantial concerns and risks.

The report also takes the companies to task for not stopping waste dumping. Every day 80,000 tonnes of waste is added to the Ok Tedi river. There is an opportunity to make a significant difference.

Expected forest death is now "likely to spread further, possibly exceeding 2,000 km2". For fish "further decreases and possibly even a total collapse". In addition the document shows how much is unknown about impacts in the lower part of th e Fly river. People living at the mouth of the river are already reporting substantial problems, like their sago forests dying and lack of fish.

Taken together with the substantial issues raised by the World Bank report the two paint a very bleak picture. This emphasises the need for BHP to commit to the people and environment of PNG's western province for as long as the damage caused by its mine lasts.

The Full report is here >>> The mine has caused "extensive forest dieback (>500 km2) which is likely to spread further, possibly exceeding 2,000 km2" more >>

"There are very few fish to be found in the Lower Ok Tedi (an approximate 90% decrease in fisheries biomass). In the middle Fly River, there has been an approximate 75% decrease in fisheries biomass and some species are no longer found in this stretch of the river. Further decreases and possibly even a total collapse of the fishery are possible..." more >>

"The other major threat to the fisheries is ARD that, if it occurs on more than a localised basis, has the potential to totally eradicate the fisheries either through direct toxicity or indirectly by toxicity to sensitive food chain components" more >>

Acid Rock Drainage needs to be fully assessed "and methods to prevent this, as well as reason(s) for the fisheries decline (which may provide insights into how to ameliorate this or at least prevent a catastrophic collapse). more >>

"the consequences of forest dieback .. are not dealt with appropriately and .. a far more positive outcome is suggested than is likely." more >>

"there are several statements in the Executive Summary (as well as later in the text) concerning the eventual state of the terrestrial vegetation that are incorrect and likely to be misleading to readers who are non-scientists. Specifically, these sta tements may convey the impression that after mine closure the vegetation will eventually revert to the pre-mine state, and/or that replacement of one vegetation type by another that is functioning normally, represents a new state of acceptable normality in the system." more >>

• The risk of Acid Mine Drainage (ARD) "is not resolved and is essentially not considered" more >> Also the report devotes a full section to ARD here >>
  
  
• The relative risks of filling the river with sediment "in the lower Middle Fly is unknown but is potentially very serious. This is a real issue ..." more >>
  
  
• "The loss of biodiversity due to forest dieback is unknown and could be large." more >>
  
  
• "The potential benefits and risks of dredging are not well understood." more >>
  
  
• "The risk to humans is poorly examined..." more >>
  
  
• There is no "reliable prediction of the likely extent of dieback" for the entire Fly River. This includes lower parts of the Fly river and "may lead to great ecosystem decline" more >>

The report highlights the major differences that would probably occur if waste dumping was stopped or the mine shut. This section is a call by the scientists hired by BHP/OTML for action.

BHP is currently (April 2000) back in court for breach of the 1996 out of court settlement. The company undertook to implement 'feasible' tailings disposal. This has not happened. Read the section here >>

ARD - Acid Rock Drainage which has the potential to cause irreversible and long term major damage above and beyond the damage already expected by the mine waste
HERA - Human and Ecological Risk Assessment
DLRA - detailed level risk assessment
PRG - Peer Review Group