One year after a catastrophic dam breach, the Mount Polley Mine in B.C.’s interior has passed the first phase of remediation and resumed operations, with restrictions.
The August, 2014, dam failure sent millions of cubic metres of mine waste and water into area waterways and forced the government to toughen mine permitting requirements. Imperial Metals Corp. has completed Phase 1 cleanup by taking steps to ensure increased water flow at Mount Polley does not result in additional environmental or human health impacts, according to the B.C. Ministry of Environment. The company has also ensured that water quality entering Quesnel Lake meets provincial standards.
ANDREA WOO -Globe and Mail – July 30, 2015.