To the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, Special Commission on San Ignacio Lagoon:
There is growing concern that creating a salt mining facility at San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California may endanger the natural habitat and wildlife of the region. I believe this project is incompatible with protecting wildlife in and around the Sebastian Viscayano Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site of which San Ignacio Lagoon is a part. An important part of this Biosphere Reserve is the Lagoon where gray whales enjoy a safe refuge for mating and giving birth. I object to the salt mine for a number of reasons:
1. History has proven that major industrial activities have long-term environmental impacts beyond the borders of the industry's boundaries and that these impacts are often unpredictable. A relevant example is the salt works at Guerrero Negro, Baja California where gray whales come to mate and give birth. The industrial facility, owned and operated by Mitsubishi and the Mexican government, has an abysmal environmental record. From 1995 to 1999 there have been 298 environmental violations, of which 79 have been considered serious threats by the Mexican Government. These involved the release of hazardous wastes, including PCBs and, as of May 1999, 134 of the violations required clean-up that had not been corrected. I was particularly saddened to learn that the illegal release of salt brine caused the death of 94 sea turtles in 1997.
2. Of all the bays and coastlines in Mexico, to select one of the gray whales' mating and calving grounds for a major industrial activity is incompatible with Mexico's stated concern for the environment, particularly when there are other much less sensitive sites where salt can be produced.
3. The construction of evaporation ponds, which will flood 116 square miles, is likely to have environmental impacts on the salt flats and associated biota, ecologically productive and diverse mangrove ecosystems and other natural habitats. Of particular concern are the Ferruginus hawk, golden eagle, osprey, white ibis, bobcat, desert cottontail, and endangered peninsular pronghorn antelope. The ponds and machinery involved in operating the facility will add to the environmental impact, through alteration of the lagoon's hydrology, create noise which may impact the fauna and create air pollution. Changes in water flow may decrease water temperature and salinity in the lagoon. It is not known whether this might have an impact on birthing whales or the calves.
4. On the coast, outside the mouth of the lagoon, a 1.25 mile pier for the loading of salt will pose an obstacle to gray whales entering and leaving the lagoon. This pier may be particularly dangerous for juvenile whales as boats will be docking and departing from the pier.
5. The presence of large ships may pose a particular hazard for migrating whales as they may collide with whales. They will certainly increase sound levels and are likely to create oil spills and other waste discharge.
6. The salt mining operation will involve considerable infrastructure which means more people, more waste released to the environment and more human impact on both the land and sea. This impact would predictably involve recreational and artisinal harvest of fish and shellfish, cutting of mangroves and thus loss of vital habitat for resident and migratory species of fishes and birds. Since there are almost no terrestrial trees in the region, the mangroves will become a source of material for light construction and firewood. In addition to the planned community, there will be the unplanned community as people seeking work and offering services are attracted to the intensity of economic activity. Although projections state there will be 200 employees, in fact, when these people bring their families and when the unplanned community develops the area will likely experience a population increase of 1,000 to 2,000 people. I have seen this in many parts of the world and, in spite of all environmental safeguards created for the planned community, the unplanned community is likely to have a heavy impact on the environment.
Having been involved in this issue for some years, I am gratified to see how many other thoughtful people have spoken out to prevent this destructive project. The Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) has recently unanimously passed a resolution entitled: "Protection of the Gray Whale and Laguna San Ignacio." Former Japanese Minister of the Environment, Senator Wakako Hironaka, has said she is against the plan and intends to do everything she can to work inside Japan to prevent the development. When people of the stature of Dr. Roger Payne, Dr. James Watson, Edward O. Wilson, Sylvia Earle, Paul Ehrlich and Jared Diamond speak out against such a project, I feel we should take heed. Statements about there being no scientific objection to this project are obviously completely false.
The fact that there are industrial activities at other lagoons where gray whales come to mate and calve does not mean that ALL of their breeding sites should be developed. Personally, I believe there should be parts of the planet where other species are insulated and protected from human activities. Our species is overwhelming nature and undermining the vitality of the planet's life system and I believe other life forms with whom we share the planet deserve a few refuges protected from human dominance.
Truthfully, I cannot predict the consequences of this proposed development on whales and on the environment in general -- no one can. Having personally witnessed many examples of well laid plans to protect the environment by developers ultimately go awry and considering the environmental record at the salt works at Guerrero Negro, I conclude that major developments are incompatible with protecting wild places and species and preserving a World Heritage site. Consequently, I respectfully but strongly urge the Mexican Government to abandon its plans and reject Mitsubishi's proposal to develop a salt production facility at San Ignacio lagoon in the interest of the environment and in the interest of future generations.
President, Ocean Futures Society
