Peru: New Soil Pollution Laws and Remediation Timelines
Peru is mining nation. It is one of the world’s top producers of gold, silver, copper and even oil. For decades these extractive industries have operated with little to no environmental regulations leaving behind thousands of contaminated sites in its wake. Peru is beginning to take the necessary steps to ensure its resources boom does not leave the environment and Peruvians with an irreparable toxic legacy. The government recently introduced some of Latin America’s first soil quality standards, which will regulate toxic releases from extractive industries and provide a legal framework to begin remediating contaminated sites.