Bennett Calls on Locals to Tell Their Mine Stories
Likely, B.C.- Minister of Mines, Bill Bennett, has issued a call for all employees or former employees who believe they have information about the tailings pond breach to step forward.
There have been repeated comments that the tailings pond posed a threat, or that it had been leaking before, but Bennett says there is no evidence of any of those allegations.
“There was one morning in May of 2014 that the water levels in the tailings pond were too high. We told them, Environment told them, to get the water levels down. They pumped it into some empty pits that they had to get back into compliance. Government has no evidence at all that water ever went over the banks of that tailings dam. Government has no evidence at all that there was a problem with this dam, I’ve heard it expressed over and over and again through the media, that there was, and I beg you, to come forward to talk to our inspectors and tell them your story in detail. We will write it down, we will test it, if you know something, please, come forward and tell us. The Ministry of Environment has a program called report poachers, report polluters, if you know something, even if it’s not related to this disaster, report it, and tell us about it. We had no reason to think there was a problem with this dam.”
The one order in May of this year which called on Imperial Metals to reduce the level of water in the tailings pond was based on a concern the water would spill over the top of the dam, not that the pressure would force the wall of the dam to collapse.
There may be some other relief on the way for Likely residents today. The Regional district has been working to secure portable showers, and they could be delivered today.
Comments
These mines should have to pay a huge damage deposit, just like renters.
You screw up no damage deposit back.
For the Minister Bennett – had the government done their work properly there would be no need for the residents to step forward. This is another example of the lack of inspections due to the government’s own fault – reductions in inspectors. The blame soley depends on the government and of course the mine had no worries – it will be the taxpayers of this province who will end up paying for this horrondous mess.
** Did this mine help the Libs get re-elected?
Where is Dick Harris – is this not his riding – forgot out golfing as for the Minister of Jobs & Tourism – Bond? not a good photoop for her!
At least Minister Bennett stepped up to the plate and took interest in the damage done. Where’s the Environment Minister Mary Polak?
Not sure how a 300 employee mine would get the “Libs re-elected” but to each his own. If anything existing mines would want the NDP back in as they deregulated the industry in the 90s and cut funding to the Environment Ministry by a third from 260 million annually to 180 million by 1999
Continue hiring politically correct. Incompetence will follow.
well put slinky. How soon we forget.
everything is just swell in la la liberal land. WHOS WATCH DID THIS DISASTER HAPPEN UNDER, WHOS THE GOVT. OF THE DAY, WHOS BEEN THE GOVERNING BODY FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, SO DONT FEED ME THAT CRAP, THEY ARE DESTROYING OUR PROVINCE!
Woodwoman…..Do we really need a bunch of politicians out there getting photo ops?
Seems to me that letting the Government officials from Provincial and Federal Environment deal with the problem is the best solution. And by the way I understand the area is being handled by the Government experts in this circumstance and I also heard that DFO and Service Canada people are involved as well.
So politicians????? Do you really think they should be out there getting in the way?
For my opinion, let the experts handle this tragedy. Political photo ops are of no value….
Gimmeabreak what would you have said if she never showed up. So you are saying a politician should never show up at any big issue.
I am not defending her just criticizing the emotional bs.
Yes it is hard for some people to believe this is 2014.
it goes on more than you think, your choice is say something and lose your job and hope for the best. It is time for the Goverment to step in, leaving to the anyone else is not right as you’ve seen , this is what happens
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