Cleaning Up BC's Dirty Mining Industry
Mine pollution looms over BC's rivers and salmon
When the tailings pond dam breached at BC's Mount Polley Mine in August 2014, it unleashed a torrent of mine waste and water. Much of this ended up pouring into one of the province's most important salmon nurseries – Quesnel Lake.
Not surprisingly, the Mount Polley mine disaster – the largest of its kind in Canadian history – has unleashed a torrent of widespread public concern about the increasing environmental risks and health impacts from BC's mining industry.
Tailings storage facilities like the one at Mount Polley have become widespread throughout the province. BC now has 98 permitted tailings ponds at 60 operating and closed mines.
Many now believe that the province has reached an emergency situation. At stake are the health and well being of the region's people and world famous salmon runs.
Read this report to find out how we can work together to clean up BC's dirty mining industry.
View the report online at Issuu.com...
Take action! Write to BC's Premier...
This publication is part of a project in partnership with Clayoquot Action, and was made possible by the generous support of Patagonia Environmental Grants.
Special thanks to MiningWatch Canada for contributing to the creation of this report, with support from Mountain Equipment Co-op.