Mining Regulations and Elk River Selenium Pollution
- Jan
- 14
Selenium pollution coming from the Elk Valley coal mines is a major problem and polluted water is harming fish as far downstream as Koocanusa Reservoir. So why isn’t government regulating selenium levels to protect fish, birds and all kinds of life that depend on clean water? The answer is complicated. The good news: federal regulation […]
read moreElkford not supporting Bingay Coal
- Jan
- 12
The District of Elkford is officially not supporting the proposed Bingay coal mine, 21 kms North of the District, at this time. The District is sending a letter to the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines, & Petroleum Resources expressing concerns about the proposed coal mine. Mayor Dean McKerracher says they’re worried about the potential effects […]
read moreBC Mining Concerns Ramping Up
- Nov
- 29
As British Columbia’s downstream neighbor, Montana has reason to be concerned about toxic pollutants spilling across the international border and into the state’s prized watersheds, which support fish and wildlife, as well as a vibrant economy. A growing body of evidence shows those fears are well founded, particularly as researchers report alarming concentrations of a […]
read moreBingay Coal Public Comment Period Begins
- Nov
- 02
Centermount Coal has entered into the Public Consultation Process and comment period for their proposed Bingay Coal project. For the next 32 days, from November 2nd, 2017 to December 5th, 2017 public input is welcome. This is the public’s opportunity to comment on the potential effects including environmental, recreation, economic, social and health. The public’s […]
read moreProposed Federal Coal Mining Regulations
- Sep
- 22
In January 2017, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) provided the Proposed Regulatory Framework on Coal Mining. Over the period of February 21st through March 8th, 2017, ECCC held a series of consultation sessions in four locations across the country to provide participants with contextual information. The ECCC is sharing the National Consultation Report which […]
read more100th anniversary of Coal Creek Disaster
- Sep
- 16
The 100th anniversary of the fatal Coal Creek mine disaster will be recognized in Fernie this weekend. A bronze plaque has been added to the Miners Walk at City Hall. Ken Novakowski with the BC Labour Heritage Centre says 34 lives were lost in the 1917 incident. “They were a number out of hundreds that […]
read moreTeck lands OPENED effective immediately-updated
- Sep
- 03
Access to Teck Private Lands Re-opened As part of Teck’s ongoing commitment to safety and in alignment with the Province of British Columbia’s decision to re-open backcountry access, public access to all Teck’s private land holdings in the Elk Valley area are re-opened, effective immediately. In the interest of public safety and to help reduce […]
read moreThe National Western Regional Mine Rescue Competition
- Aug
- 15
The National Western Regional Mine Rescue Competition (NWRMRC) – Thirteenth Biennial will be held in Fernie, British Columbia on September 8 and 9, 2017. Provincial and Territorial Surface and Underground Mine Rescue winners from Western Canada Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories/Nunavut as well, as the winning surface and underground teams from […]
read moreKoocanusa Exceeds Selenium Standard
- Jul
- 19
A new national regulatory standard for a pollutant called selenium sets forth criteria for how to manage aquatic life exposed to a mining contaminant currently spilling from the upstream waterways of British Columbia into Lake Koocanusa, where in some cases it already exceeds the threshold. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new criteria on selenium limits […]
read moreCanAus Coal to open by 2020
- Nov
- 15
CanAus Coal says they are still on track to open their new Elk Valley mine by 2020. Despite some setbacks for CanAus earlier this year that pushed the proposed Michel Creek Coking Coal Mine Project back by six months, all looks good. Spokesperson Becky Pelkonen says feasibility work has been completed and they hope to […]
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