Mining exploration flights on island, lack of gov’t transparency denounced

By The Star Staff

Since 2023, the United States Geological Survey has been conducting mining exploration studies in Puerto Rico, without the island government or the federal agency providing public information about them, former Rep. Mariana Nogales Molinelli charged Tuesday.

“We demand that the federal agency in charge of the geological survey and the government of Puerto Rico clearly report on these investigations,” Nogales said in a written statement.

The former Citizen Victory Movement lawmaker said the studies include aeromagnetic and aeroradioactive flights over regions such as Utuado, Adjuntas and Lares, with the goal of identifying deposits of minerals, metals and rare earths. The information was obtained through a request under the federal Freedom of Information Act.

The study, commissioned by the Federal Geological Survey, is called Earth MRI and was carried out by the companies Terraquest and Fugro USA Land. Nogales said the data analysis will be completed this month.

Environmental scientist Neftalí García and ecologist Ariel Lugo warned that some of the areas studied have been the target of previous mining attempts, and there are fears that interest in them could be revived. García pointed out that communities managed to halt open-pit mining in Adjuntas, Lares and Utuado decades ago.

Nogales questioned the fact that, although the Geological Survey stated in March that it no longer has active studies or contracted flights, similar flights continue to be detected, which could indicate independent activities by private companies interested in mineral resources.

The study has also covered other areas of the island, she said, such as the Sierra Bermeja, Monte La Tiza, the northern valleys, and sectors of the southwest, where potential for gold, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, platinum and other rare minerals considered key to the technological and military industries has been identified.