Ecobreves – CHILE:: Cellulose Plant Remains Closed

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PUERTO MONTT, Feb 14 2005 (IPS) - The Chilean regional environmental commission, COREMA, resolved to maintain the closure of the Arauco Constitución cellulose plant in Valdivia, in southern Chile, until it complies with four requisites for preventing contamination of the Carlos Anwandter Nature Sanctuary. The requirements are: an external audit, on-line monitoring, disabling a duct that connected production waste to water supplies, and a contingency plan for dealing with temperatures, acidity and oils beyond the authorized limits.

Moving the factory is ''the only viable solution for ensuring that the nature sanctuary recovers and the return of the swans and other species affected,'' Gonzalo Villarino, Greenpeace Chile director, told Tierramérica.

The yearly average of black-necked swans in the sanctuary has long been 6,000, but in January there were just 942 counted, according to the national forestry agency.