In order to comply with Colombian law, Regional Autonomous Corporation of La Guajira, conducted by the Program Monitoring Air Quality, para determinar el grado de contaminación o aporte de material particulado por parte de las empresas explotadoras de carbón, transportation and other human activities capable of generating particles; to establish itself controls implemented by mining companies, are meeting the objectives or whether it is necessary to strengthen them.

In this sense, Corpoguajira has carried out 2 January to 30 September 2011, 1.725 monitoreos distribuidos en las estaciones de Fonseca, Barrancas, Hatonuevo, Rock, Chancleta, Patilla, Los Remedios, Cuestecitas, Provincial, Papayal, Las Casitas and Rabbits. Which served to establish the concentrations of total suspended particles (PST) y menores o iguales a 10 microns (PM-10) and compare the results with those made by the companies Carbones del Cerrejón Limited-Cerrejón and Carbones Colombianos del Cerrejón.

In the sampling periods there was coal exploitation and transportation activity from the two mines located in the area of ​​influence of the indicated populations.; There was also traffic of heavy and light vehicles through the uncovered roads from Hatonuevo to Puerto Arturo and through the one from Patilla to Roche, by the private security vehicles of both companies and farm owners, inter alia. It should be noted that in the months of August and September, precipitation occurred.

Luego de obtener el resultado del estudio, Corpoguajira established that the concentrations of particulate material of both total and respirable dust during the 2011, are below the maximum permissible limits or annual air quality standards, taken as reference of the Resolution 601 of 2006.

At the Fonseca and Patilla stations, the highest records were presented, However, they did not reach the maximum annual value indicated for this type of particles..

Corpoguajira considera pertinente que las minas a cielo abierto Carbones del Cerrejón y Carbones Colombianos del Cerrejón, implementen estrategias desde el punto de vista técnico-operativo, that allows to reduce the contributions of particulate material, especially in the two designated stations, since due to their proximity to the dumps and pits in operation, especially Las Casitas, they could increase their records. In the same way, it was suggested that in the dry seasons more irrigation of both internal and external routes should be carried out., as well as access to dumps and pits in operation and establish more severe control mechanisms, para que en las épocas de condiciones climáticas adversas, no aumenten las emisiones de material particulado.

By last, the highest environmental authority, recommended to the coal companies, dispose of sterile material (during the dry season) in landfills that are removed from the populations of direct influence, since although the air quality standard has not been exceeded, its accumulation could affect the health of older adults and children under five years of age.