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VOL. 100 NO. 98
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Debris field in Quesnel Lake immediately following tailings pond breach.
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Mining company receives orders from Ministry of Environment AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter As water sample results are anxiously anticipated, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) has issued an abatement order to Mount Polley Mining. This order requires immediate action to stop the further release of mine tailings into nearby waterways. “The order also requires the company to submit an environment assessment impact report,” MOE Jennifer McGuire said during Wednesday’s conference call.
Additionally, the order requires the company to submit a written summary of actions taken to stop the release of mine tailings and to undertake preliminary environmental impact assessment and submit an action plan by today. The company must also submit a detailed action plan by Aug. 15 and it is required to report weekly on the implementation of action plan measures. The latest updates, as of press time, had officials and residents awaiting water sample results.
8th Annual Golf For Kids Sake
September 7th - 1:00pm
Richbar Golf Course For details call : 250 992 7257
“We’re devoting every possible resource to this,” Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett said. The minister gave a brief rundown on the situation, since the breach at the Mount Polley tailings pond released 10 billion litres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of silt Monday resulting in a water ban and a local state of emergency. These include: • The flow out of the breach has decreased, but has not completely stopped. Imperial Metals continues to work to stop flow out of the
pond. • A small amount of tailings backed into the mouth of Polley Lake and the main slurry flow went down Hazeltine Creek where it meets Quesnel Lake. • The slurry and a large debris pile appear to be stationary at this point. Hazeltine Creek was originally about 1.2 metres wide and is now up to 45.7 metres wide. • Water sampling took place the evening of Aug. 4 and samples were sent for testing early Tuesday morning. Drinking water testing continues and re-
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sults were expected sometime Thursday. Until that point, the environmental impact of the contaminated water on the local watershed remains unknown. • In the meantime, the CRD has issued a water ban advisory not to drink, bath or feed livestock drawn from the following waterways: Quesnel Lake, Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek and Cariboo Creek. The entire Quesnel River system right up to the Fraser River is under a do not drink advisory. • The cost of the cleanup
of the breach is the responsibility of Imperial Metals, and is not a cost borne by B.C. taxpayers. Minister Bennett also spoke to allegations the company was “repeatedly warned” about water levels in the tailings pond. “That’s not true,” he said, stressing it was one warning in May of this year, after which they pumped the excess out and into an empty pit. “This event was unexpected and unprecedented,” he said. “We will determine how this happened.”
Chili Cook Off 2014 August 23, 2014 11:00 am - 3:30 pm For more info contact
Susan MacNeill
250.985.5816 or 250.991.9664 Quesnel & District Hospice Palliative Care Association
Funds raised are for 2 New Wheelchairs!