Judge’s Oversight Helps Calica Revive Mining in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Despite being shut down for severe environmental damage in the Riviera Maya, the company Calica, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Vulcan Materials, is attempting to resume limestone extraction in Quintana Roo through an injunction that was not formally notified to Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), according to judicial sources cited by La Jornada.

Legal Maneuvering Excludes Key Environmental Agency

The injunction was filed in January of this year. However, Federal Judge Martín Adolfo Santos Pérez only notified the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), deliberately excluding Semarnat from the legal process. This omission prevented the agency from accessing case details or presenting legal objections.

The dispute centers on Calica’s request to partially restore operations—without overexploiting resources—in the properties La Rosita, La Adelita, El Corchalito, and the port of Punta Venado. These areas were declared a Flora and Fauna Conservation Zone by presidential decree in September 2024, explicitly prohibiting mining activities.

A History of Legal and Environmental Violations

Calica currently faces over 50 legal proceedings related to injunctions and nullifications, with more than 200 case files accumulated. Environmental authorities accuse the company of falsifying data for years, simulating restoration efforts, and overexploiting land, causing significant harm to the aquifer and biodiversity.

If the court grants the injunction this Friday, Calica could bypass requirements to update its Environmental Restoration Program and operate without fulfilling compensation measures, undermining ecological protections in the region.

Related Legal Battles

The case is part of a broader legal conflict involving Calica’s attempts to overturn restrictions on its operations. Previous rulings and ongoing disputes highlight the company’s persistent efforts to resume mining despite environmental concerns.

Authorities and environmental advocates warn that a favorable ruling for Calica would set a dangerous precedent, jeopardizing conservation efforts in Quintana Roo’s ecologically sensitive areas.