Chile regulator charges Anglo American mine over environmental violations

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile's environmental regulator has filed three charges against miner Anglo American's local unit over alleged violations at its El Soldado copper mine in the Valparaiso region.

The Superintendency of the Environment (SMA) labeled the charges as "serious," the second of three levels of offenses, and said Anglo American Sur, the local arm of Anglo American, faced the possible revocation of its environmental permit, closure or a fine of more than 12 billion pesos ($12.40 million) if it did not address the issues.

Anglo American told Reuters that it has been working on issues related to SMA's findings and has informed the agency about its efforts. It added that it has requested a meeting with environmental officials to determine how to proceed.

"We are committed to working continuously with the authority to comply with all our environmental commitments," the company said in a statement Monday.

El Soldado is the smallest copper mine controlled by Anglo American in Chile, with 35,700 metric tons produced this year between January and September.

According to the SMA, El Soldado has water issues due to a drainage system that is not completely built, and Anglo American did not inform the agency about related problems or develop a maintenance plan.

The SMA also found that Anglo American failed to properly mark and monitor a local population of 3,867 frogs from the "Sapo rulo" species, native to Chile, that are classified as "vulnerable."

The site was audited by officials from the SMA, as well as Chile's water, geology and fishing agencies.

"As a result ... the Superintendency was able to verify several violations of the project's environmental qualification resolution," the SMA said in a statement.

Anglo American has 15 days to submit a compliance plan, and 22 days to present a defense.

($1 = 968.0200 Chilean pesos)

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Fabian Cambero; Editing by Aurora Ellis)