Jamaican News

Dominican Republic lawmakers back park in area where Canadian company seeks to mine

Dominican - Canadian Mine

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic _ Lawmakers in the Dominican Republic have approved a plan to create a national park in an area where a Canadian company has sought to expand mining operations.

The Senate ratified the project Wednesday a day after the Chamber of Deputies approved it. President Danilo Medina has not said whether he will sign the bill into law over the objections of Toronto-based Glencore Xstrata PLC.

Loma Miranda National Park would be on 16 square miles in the Bonao region north of Santo Domingo.

Glencore Xstrata has mined for nickel in the area and was seeking permits to expand its operations on about 3,400 acres (1,380 hectares).

U.N. experts had determined the project would threaten an environmentally sensitive area.

The company says seizing the property would violate the Dominican constitution.

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