British Columbia reveals plans for separate reviews after Mount Polley mine spill

In a bid to bring back the people’s trust in British Columbia’s mining industry, two different reviews will be conducted by the government of British Columbia after the Mount Polley mine spill last August.

A dam located at the waste pond of Mount Polley’s open-pit mine burst and let loose 10 million cubic meters of water and 4.5 million cubic meters of what could possibly be toxic slurry into what were once pristine forests, lakes and rivers. Indigenous First Nations live in the areas where the water and potentially toxic waste flowed.

According to the Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, three independent experts composed of consulting engineers have been appointed to review why the tailings dam broke at the Mount Polley Mine.  These advisors consist of Norbert Morgenstern, Colorado-based geotechnical engineer Steven Vick and University of British Columbia professor Dirk Van Zyl. Their evaluation of the matter is set to be finished by January 31, 2015 with the report provided to the government in addition to the Soda Creek and Williams Lake Indian Bands.

Meanwhile, the second review which will be led by the chief inspector of mines in British Columbia will ask all mines with tailings dams operating in the province to let independent experts evaluate their plants and submit a report to the government. The safety inspection must be complied with by December 1st of this year. There are 60 mines with 98 tailings ponds permitted to operate in B.C.

To date authorities are still investigating the reason for the dam failure.  The provincial government has reassured that the water in the surrounding area will be safe to be consumed and that wildlife will not suffer substantial impact from the event. However, experts have warned that it could take years for the true extent of the devastation to become apparent since the toxins could possibly accumulate in the environment over time.