Danube Delta

Need to establish a legislative framework for the protection of the site (issue resolved) 

The Ministry of Waters, Forest and Environmental Protection informed the Centre on 15 September 2000 that the accidental cyanide pollution (Baia Mare, 30 January 2000) did not bring any modification in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve ecosystems. The pollution wave crossed the site from 26 February to 1 March 2000 during which the cyanide concentration remained over the maximum limit admitted by Romanian standard of 0,01 mg/l. The monitoring of the pollution wave had been made in sections and in some control sections the cyanide ions concentration reached 0,043 to 0,049 mg/l. The report concludes that the cyanide pollution does not have any obvious effects on the flora and fauna of the Delta’s ecosystem. This conclusion was confirmed by a statement from the Permanent Delegation of Romania dated 8 September 2000, which informed the Centre that the reopening of the mining activities on 13 June 2000 concerned only technical verifications for the new exploitation scheme.  IUCN informed the Centre that it is understood that upgrading projects for the Aurul gold smelter in Baia Mare will include the construction of a new dam with a capacity of 250,000 cubic metres to act as an emergency buffer in case of overflows caused by excessive rains. The installation of a permanent cyanide detoxification unit, independent power generators as well as new pipelines for an open circuit system to bring waste water to ‘normal quality’ are also to be included in the upgrading. Aurul is now carrying out technical tests by operating at 60 percent of its capacity, with experts closely monitoring the tailings re-treatment operation.

IUCN urged caution in relation to future mining operations, in view of the fact that there have been four spills of cyanide and heavy metals from three mine sites in Romania in the period from January to July, 2000. The impacts of such activities on World Heritage values need to be kept under careful review and past experience in this area, and in Doñana National Park, Spain, has demonstrated the importance of mining companies having clear and effective disaster mitigation plans.