Precedents

Regions and countries where the use of cyanide in mining has been contested, regulated or banned outright

Source: Rainforest Information Centre

1) Montana - In 1998 a citizen's initiative banned open-pit cyanide leaching in gold and silver mining at new mines and mine expansions.

2) Colorado - Five counties have banned open pit cyanide heap and vat leach mining. On 27 January 2004, Commissioners of the Summit County voted to ban cyanide to protect the future public health and safety from this controversial mining process.

3) Wisconsin – On 5 November 2001 the Wisconsin State Senate approved two mining-related environmental bills – one to ban cyanide at all Wisconsin mines to have "No Special Treatment" for the mining industry.

4) Turkey - In 1997 the Turkish State Council decided not to allow gold production through cyanide leaching, on the basis of article 56 of the Turkish Constitution which guarantees the right of people to live in a healthy environment (nr. 1996/5348, decision nr. 1997/2311).

5) Turkey – On 17 November 1994, the European Parliament ruled against gold mining projects near the archaeological sites of Pergamon and Adramyttion, Turkey (ABL C 341, December 5 1994, page 1696)

6) Honduras - In March 2001, seventy-five people representing 15 communities located adjacent to 8 mines attended a meeting in Honduras to launch a national anti-mining campaign called "Honduras Is Worth More Than Gold." The meeting took place on March 9 and put forward several goals, including the prohibition of the use of cyanide in mining operations, the prohibition the expropriation of farming and indigenous lands , and the strengthening of mining and environmental laws,

7) Czech Republic – In August 2002, the Czech Parliament voted a ban for any metal mining using the cyanide heap leach method on Czech territory.

8) Argentina, 9 February 2003 - The Esquel City Council passed ordinances that ban the use and transport of cyanide within city limits; revoking a city ordinance that accepts national laws on mining investment. They equally call for a referendum on the proposed Esquel gold mine owned by Canadian Meridian to be held. Argentina’s Chubut Province passed a moratorium on open-pit cyanide-leach mining in 2003.

9) Germany passed a decree in 2002 prohibiting cyanide-leach mining.

10) Costa Rica passed a moratorium on open-pit cyanide-leach mining in 2002.

11) Peru: On 8 September 2004 over 4,000 Peruvians marched through the northern town of Cajamarca, demanding a ban on a gold exploration project which they claim is contaminating and drying up their water supplies. The strike shut down banks, markets and public transportation in Cajamarca, 535 miles (856 km) northeast of Lima.

12) The European Union's "Baia Mare Task Force" recommended that cyanide and other toxic substances such as heavy metals contained in tailings from the production process should be removed before disposal and that waste disposal facilities and tailings ponds of inadequate capacity or lacking emergency drainage systems for excess water should be forbidden. (Report of the International Task Force Assessing the Baia Mare Accident, presented in Brussels, 15 December 2000).

13) Philippines: In April 2002 the island province of Oriental Mindroro placed a 25 year moratorium on all mining projects in the region

14) In January 2005 in response to mining threats, Alaskan village and traditional councils as well as village corporations began to pass strong resolutions in opposition to mines that they believe are a) environmentally unsound b) foreign owned c) in conflict with their desired future vision for their communities and d) a threat to their traditional way of life.

15) Argentina: On 21 July 2005 the Rio Negro legislative chamber passed a bill banning the use of cyanide and mercury in mining.

16) Argentina: On 4 October 2007 the lower house of congress in Argentina's La Pampa province has approved a law banning the use of hazardous chemical substances like cyanide and mercury to treat or industrialize metallic minerals, according to the province's official gazette. The law also prohibits open pit metallic mining, the report said.