Environmental regulators crack down on unauthorized extraction in Mexico and Chile

Environmental authorities in Mexico and Chile have taken enforcement actions against unauthorized resource extraction and land modification projects.

In Mexico, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) ordered the total temporary closure of a stone material extraction site in the Santa Isabel River, Chihuahua. The inspection revealed that activities were being conducted on 0.5 hectares of the federal riverbed without the required environmental impact authorization from Semarnat. Profepa seized machinery and initiated administrative proceedings to determine potential sanctions and corrective measures.

In Chile, the Superintendency of the Environment (SMA) has ordered Rellenos del Maipo S. A. to submit its “Recuperación de Suelos Pozo El Huite” project in Buin to the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA). The agency found that the company modified its project—specifically regarding the leveling and filling of pits with construction debris—without undergoing the legally required environmental evaluations. This action follows multiple complaints regarding unauthorized aggregate extraction and the dumping of debris.