The provincial municipality of Cajamarca accepted a $3 million payment from Newmont for indemnization tied to a mercury spill in 2000.
A Peruvian transportation company, contracted by Minera Yanacocha SRL, spilled mercury (a by-product of the mine) in the northern Cajamarca province near the town of Choropampa in 2000. Some townspeople collected the mercury, believing it had medicinal and other uses. Yanachocha paid for medical treatment, provided comensation and took other measures for the people affected. Yanacocha reviewed and significantly revised its procedures for the transportation of mercury from its operation.
