Peru declares state of emergency for rainforest

Industries have long used developing countries as pollution grounds because of loose sanctions and government grease palming, but Peru is fighting back after dangerous levels of barium, lead, chrome and other petroleum-based contaminates were found in rainforest soil.

Pluspetrol has been using oil fields deep in the Peruvian rainforest since 2001 and the pollutants have seeped into the soil. The contamination is so bad that that high levels of lead and cadmium has been found in the blood of children and that was more than seven years ago. The indigenous people of the area have complained for years about the pollution, but the government lacked the laws and authority to do anything...until today.

A recent law provides environmental quality standards that the government can enforce and their sights are squarely set on Pluspetrol. The environment ministry gave the company 90 days to clean up their mess and declared an environmental state of emergency for the area.

The company is the largest oil and natural gas company in the country and took over the site from Occidental Petroleum who had been drilling since 1971. The contamination goes all the way back to the '70s and the company has had several fines levied against including an $11 million fine for failing to clean up an oil block. The company has appealed each and every fine and left a wake of contaminated soil, water and people.

Needless to say, the big corporation isn't commenting, but what their next move is going to be is anyone's guess. A company with a history of not heeding government warnings is not likely to change its stripes anytime soon.

The government admits that it hasn't done enough in the past and the laws are the first step toward making amends. It also blames the companies for being irresponsible with the waste disposal.

Photo courtesy of eBiz Latin America