Sand and gravel worries

[NewsWhore]

Environmentalists are worried about the language being used by the new Minister of the Environment, Omar Ramirez on the issue of the ban on extracting sand and gravel from the country's river beds. According to Luis Carvajal, a member of the UASD University Environmental Team, the being language used by the minister is "not entirely clear" when referring to the mining operations. Carvajal said that, "the minister doesn't have to study anything. All he has to do is to guarantee the fulfillment of the decree in the strictest manner possible." He was referring to Ministry of the Environment resolution 16-2007 that calls for an end to all mineral extractions from riverbeds within 90 days, a period that ends in October. According to Carvajal there are more than 63 sites for sand and gravel extraction that are not located in rivers. These sites have been identified by the UASD and the Dominican Academy of Science Environmental Team. These organizations have challenged the extractor's claim that there would be any increase in the price of sand and gravel as a result of the ban.

More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)