Santo Domingo.- In response to criticism by the Academy of Sciences on damages resulting from mining at Loma Miranda, Xstrata Falcondo senior executive Giovanni Bloise Thursday said they only await the Environment Ministry’s decision on their request and would accept any outcome whatsoever.

 He said they’re confident Environment fully weighed the studies conducted by international firms with local counterparts, and the technicians’ opinions to decide what best suits the country.

He reiterated that Falcondo’s proposed project is environmentally viable and would generate wealth for Dominicans.

Interviewed on channel 11’s Uno + Uno, with Falcondo Internal Affairs director Luis Jose Lopez,  Bloise said the quarry excavations at Loma Miranda will not affect water sources in the area, as the Academy charged, which he stressed is the main concern of the sectors which oppose the project.

 "The potential operations area is relatively small, from 370 to 400 hectares, of that we’re including in our mine plan only the part that guarantees us total control of the drains to avert affecting the watershed, especially the area main, which is the Jagüey (river)."

 He added that they made ??sure to purchase a large enough property, with an area of ??1,300 hectares, of which 900 hectares, would be converted into a private protected area.