From CBC NEWS: Approval came in a news release on the Friday before the election writ was issued
Mount Polley Mining Corporation has been granted permission to drain treated mining waste water into Quesnel Lake, a massive glacial lake that provides drinking water to residents of Likely B.C., northeast of Williams Lake.
Approval of the long-term waste water management plan came April 7,
despite a disaster that put the water at risk in 2014 and a provincial
investigation into the spill that is not yet complete.
"The timing is absolutely surprising," said Ugo Lapointe of Mining
Watch Canada, who pointed out the news release came on a Friday
afternoon before the launching of the B.C. election.
Quesnel Lake, famed for trophy-sized rainbow trout, is feared at risk
by locals who describe it as the deepest fjord lake on earth, and who
protest any dump of mining waste, treated or otherwise, which can carry
toxic elements and heavy metals such as arsenic and lead or zinc.
"It's hard not to be cynical," said Lapointe who said locals opposing the plan felt ignored.
Not political
But Environment Minister Mary Polak told CBC the decision was made by
neutral civil servants based on science that confirmed draining treated
water into the river, as opposed to the lake, was riskier.
"These decisions do not cross any politicians desk. In fact if I was
to interfere with the decision I could be in some very serious legal
trouble," Polak told CBC.
"That is one of the ways we ensure that there is never any influence by companies that might donate to political parties."
A spokesperson for Mount Polley mine and for Imperial Metals says fears of water quality are overblown.
"People think that there is a slurry of mud and silt. It's absolutely
not toxic. Most mines in the world are very envious of our water
quality," said Steve Robertson, Imperial Metals spokesperson, who called
the aftermath of the Mount Polley mine breach an "environmental success
story."
New long-term waste water management
Under the Ministry of the Environment's plan, mining waste water
would be collected in ditches that would drain into small ponds,
allowing solids to settle.
Water would then be routed to a treatment plant before being piped
into Quesnel Lake at a depth of 45 metres, 250 metres from shore in
order to dilute it as fast as possible.
KOSUN has always been persisting in the two principles: one is Quality First and the other is Customer Oriented. KOSUN will wholeheartedly serve the customers at home and abroad with abundant technological strength and perfect after-sales service system.