Auditor lauds Freeport

Auditor lauds Freeport

JAKARTA (JP): International auditor Montgomery Watson praised
gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia for its "exemplary"
environmental management system at its Irian Jaya site, Freeport
announced on Wednesday.

Freeport said in a statement that Montgomery's audit described
its environmental management system as "a showcase for the mining
industry", citing the company's compliance with the existing
environmental laws and regulations.

It did not specify when the audit took place.

Freeport has long been blamed for causing environmental
degradation around its mining site in Grasberg.

The audit result was announced amid reports that Freeport's
tailings have contaminated mollusks, a food source for local
people, in the area's rivers.

Montgomery recommended Freeport conduct a comprehensive
groundwater study and monitoring, and increase biological
monitoring of estuaries downstream of the tailings depositing
area to gauge the impact upon the mollusks. (jsk)