[5] The economic activities of the mine represent 2% of the Dominican Republic’s gross domestic product[6] and Pueblo Viejo is the largest corporate taxpayer in the country.

[7] The mine has generated an environmental conflict, because pollution from the tailings dam and windblown particulates have contaminated rivers and killed local livestock who ingested the toxins.

[8] Local communities say that the mine has ruined their lives and caused many health problems: skin lesions are common;[9] children are sickened by chemical vapors;[10] and agricultural land is no longer productive.

The company proposed to expand the mine in 2019, meeting with fierce resistance from communities in Yamasá who would be impacted by the expansion.

[17] In 2006 Placer Dome was acquired by Barrick who subsequently sold 40% of its stake in Pueblo Viejo to Goldcorp, creating the PVDC joint venture to operate the mine.

[20] It became the largest environmental clean-up in the history of the Dominican Republic and the water quality rose to meet regulatory standards in the aquifers around the site.

Six nearby villages comprising about 450 families (around 2,000 individuals) have reported drastic changes in the environment since PVDC began its operations around 2012.

After the mine opened, children were sickened by chemical smells and teachers were forced to close schools.

[13] The Environment ministry found that water in the Margajita river downstream from the mine was highly acidic,[22] and had contaminants that exceeded legal limits.

[13] Testing has revealed high levels of lead, sulphur, cyanide and zinc in the blood of local residents.

[24] In 2014, high levels of cyanide and other heavy metals were found in the blood and urine of residents in four local villages.

[13] Experts have said there is not adequate historical water quality data to scientifically determine the cause of contamination in the local rivers.