RE:RE:Best Case vs Worst Case Here is why they couldnt sign the permit. I used google translate. From what I can the see the old mining law allows water releases into water ways and other environmental concerns and has no clear penalties for the offenses. PDF link below.
Also the design plan to run the mine requires the national power grid to support it. The DR power grid is sketchy at best with people stealing power lines. The current administration made power stabilization the first and top priority.
I think we may see the flowchart of how permits get issued changed in the DR. The exploitation permit should come after the Environmental Study, but they may have something more streamlined in place considering the World wide accepted standards in place for enviromental protection and the modern design of the purposed minesite.
Here is the mine design from Goldquest.
https://www.goldquestcorp.com/images/projects/romero/technical-reports/TechnicalReport-Nov2016-GoldquestMining.pdf
Below is the DR mine law that needs a complete update.
https://mem.gob.do/transparencia/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ley-No.-146-71-Ley-Minera-de-la-Rep%C3%BAblica-Dominicana.pdf