zwilzric, "Increases the risk of floods and leaks from the tailings pond." that's a major concern with all mines, in the past decade or so improvement in engineering with regards environmental policy and Sound environmental management have mostly elimenated any issues, SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's leading engineering company, the Venezuelan goverment has given them large infustructure contracts recently, MIBAM has approved the technical, economic and financial Feasibility Study for the Las Cristinas, MinAmb approved Las Cristinas Environmental Impact Study, these approval surely would have taken everything into account, they did take their time on it, if there is any company that deserve an environmental permit it's KRY and I think they will eventually get it.