BRITISH COLUMBIA – The British Columbia Ministry of Environment has approved the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan as proposed by Teck Resources of Vancouver. The plan addresses the management of selenium and other substances released by coal mining activities throughout the Elk Valley watershed.
The plan was developed by a committee that included representatives from Teck, the Ktunaxa Nation, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Montana, Environment Canada, other agencies and an independent scientist. Public input was received in three sessions of consultation with Elk Valley communities.
Teck will undertake aquatic monitoring, water quality testing and various water management measures to reduce levels of contaminants in the water. The company is commissioning a water treatment facility, to be fully operational early next year, at the Line Creek mine. A similar facility will be built at Fording River in 2018. Teck anticipates a third water treatment facility may be necessary at the Fording River mine site. Total capital costs of these water treatment plants may be $600 million over five years, including the $120 million spent at Line Creek.
More information, including the full Plan, is available at Teck.com/ElkValley.
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