SANTIAGO (Reuters) -Chile’s environmental regulator has filed a charge against state-run miner Codelco over alleged emissions violations at its Potrerillos copper smelter in the Atacama region.
The Superintendency of the Environment said in a statement that an audit showed Codelco had not implemented a monitoring system for sulfur dioxide emissions and other procedures in accordance with SMA standards at the facility.
The SMA labeled the charge as “serious,” the second of three levels of offenses, and said it could lead to a fine of about 4 billion pesos ($4 million), as well as possible revocation of the environmental permit, or closure.
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“The audit concluded that the system has not been implemented. Based on all these antecedents, and after legal analysis, the Superintendency of the Environment charged non-compliance by the owner,” the statement said.
Codelco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The company has 10 days to submit a compliance plan, and 15 days to present a defense.
($1 = 981.6000 Chilean pesos)
(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Brendan O’Boyle; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon and Alistair Bell)
