Calica’s Mining Ops Halted Over Environmental Damage

Calica has been barred from mining operations in Quintana Roo due to environmental damage. The company, Calizas Industriales del Carmen (Calica), is part of the American conglomerate Vulcan Materials. It has faced another legal hurdle in its attempts to resume operations at its extraction plant in Quintana Roo. Calica's appeal against a temporary partial shutdown of its facilities, ordered on July 17th, was unsuccessful.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) issued the extension of the suspension order against the plots known as "La Rosita", “El Corchalito" and "La Adelita". The case includes protection order 36252144 from the Fifth District Court of the entity, which refused a provisional suspension on August 16th.

Calica, now operating under the name "Sac-Tun", was denied precautionary measures. The Second Collegiate Court of the Twenty-Seventh Circuit rejected the request as it was submitted too late. The continuation of the closure was confirmed by the summons agreement PFPA/4.1/2C.27.5/00041-24/009/2024 on July 17th, prohibiting any commercial activities.

The safety measure against mining and extraction of limestone below the water table was imposed on bodies of water identified as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The court ruling denied constitutional protection as environmental inspectors found no evidence of adequate measures to mitigate and compensate for environmental impacts.

The federal judge prioritized societal interest to prevent a potential environmental disaster, which should take precedence over private interests. Continuing the extraction process poses significant risks, with the goal being to prevent further harm to the ecological environment.

The mining company is accused of causing slope erosion due to contact with exposed water from the lower chambers of the water table. The head of Semarnat, Alicia Bárcena, stated that Calica had destroyed at least three cenotes on its property. She emphasized the company's role in causing significant environmental damage and severe ecological imbalances in the Quintana Roo region.