THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. (MMDC) to shut down its mining operations in Surigao del Sur after it was found to be operating outside the approved area.

In a telephone interview, Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) director Leo Jasareno said that a multi-disciplinary team found three major problems with MMDC’s operation – including the extraction of mineral resources outside its concession area, unsystematic operations and massive siltation to waterways.