Goldcorp's Cerro Blanco a "threat" to human rights, El Salvador govt body says

El Salvador's human rights defense attorney general (PDDH) has asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) to intervene to prevent potential contamination from Vancouver-based Goldcorp''s (TSX: G, NYSE: GG) Cerro Blanco gold-silver project in Guatemala. Development of a mine at Cerro Blanco, which is close to the El Salvador border, would pose a "slow but sure threat to human life, vegetation, fauna and water resources" in both countries, Óscar Luna, head of PDDH, told news website La Información. Luna has asked the CIDH for a special hearing to discuss the potential issues, and requested the commission recommend measures to "protect the human rights" of people who he said could be affected. No one from Goldcorp was immediately available to comment. In November, Goldcorp CEO Charles Jeannes told BNamericas Cerro Blanco could be too small to fit the company's profile. At the end of 2011, Cerro Blanco registered indicated resources of 2.52Mt grading 15.6g/t gold and 72.0g/t silver, or 1.27Moz contained gold and 5.8Moz contained silver. Inferred resources are 1.35Mt grading 15.3g/t gold and 59.6g/t silver, or 0.67Moz gold and 2.60Moz silver. Goldcorp is among the world's biggest yellow metal producers, with 2012 guidance set at 2.35M-2.45Moz. The company has producing assets in Canada, the US, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Argentina.