Mt Polley Sediment Poses No Risk to Humans – Update
Williams Lake, B.C. – Environment Minister Mary Polak provided an update on sediment samplings related to the Mt. Polley breach in Williams Lake today.
She says the results show the sediment poses no human health risk but notes copper and iron levels may pose adverse affects on aquatic life.
"These results are not unexpected, particularly based on the geology of the area and with the mine close by and they are similar to the characteristics found in the tailings," say Polak.
In respect to the pollution abatement order, Polak says "the responsibility with rehabilitation of course rests with the company."
She also adds Mt. Polley Mining Corporation did submit information regarding mitigation and monitoring efforts by yesterday's deadline along with their comprehensive environmental impact assessment action plan.
Polak says the ministry is closely reviewing that and will make it public as soon as it's approved.
Commenting on the results Interior Health Senior Medical Health Officer Dr. Andrew Larder was pleased.
"We're generally very pleased with what we've seen and anticipate that future testing will confirm what we've seen with these first tests."
However he says the do not use order imposed August 12th stands for the impact zone which includes the tailings pond, Polley Lake and Hazeltine Creek and the small area of Quesnel Lake where Hazeltine Creek enters the larger lake.
The test results have also been shared with the First Nations Health Authority, local First Nations and the Cariboo Regional District.
Comments
let the comments begin……..
Yes, that is what it’s called.. A comment section.
With the water samples being fine, and the sludge samples being fine.. Then why was there a tailings pond? Why did they not just continually release this wonderful stuff into the river? Why where they made have a tailing pond.. Since the waste effluent from this process is so great …
You try and limit the natural mineral already present in the area as for other mines with acid you must contain. This is really good news and now time to start the process of rebuilding the tailing pond keep people working and continue with the clean up.
That was my initial response as well P Val, then I reread it and realised what it said, “the sediment poses no human health risk but notes copper and iron levels may pose adverse affects on aquatic life.” Note Mary Polack says there is no HUMAN health risk there may well be “ADVERSE AFFECTS ON AQUATIC LIFE”. I suppose the questions now are what these adverse effects are, how strong will they be and how long will they last, bearing in mind that “aquatic life” ranges from the smallest single celled organisms such as protozoa up to large fish, including salmon?
P Val, even small one man placer claims cannot release water directly back into a waterway. It’s the law.
Lying sacks of ….
This is the same minister that has granted South Island Aggregates a permit to dump 5 million tons of soil contaminated with dioxins, furons, heavy metals, BTEX, MTBE, VPHs, LEPHs/HEPHs, PAHs, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, Phenolic Substances, Chloride, Sodium and Glycol, to name a few, within metres of a stream that feeds the water supply for 7,000 on Vancouver Island.
So with all due respect to the Honourable Minister, she should just keep her fat trap shut because she doesn’t give a red rat’s @$$ about the environment or people’s health.
I guess the scientists on this site know more than the experts that are testing the water.
Don’t get me started on “experts”. You can swallow it whole if you want to findme…ya experts, ya that’s the ticket.
The water is reused. Put your gold fish in the pool and see how long it lasts.
Junco, you obviously know something that I don’t. Put up or shut up.
Hummmm I wonder why I needed a seotic tank (mini tailings pond) before pumping to field or lagoon.Now I know, but I’ll leave it up to the key board experts.
“findme”, do not confuse the biologists who are gathering data with the people issuing the news releases. The biologists are tissue sampling the trout to get baseline data for long term follow-up studies. Of course there is no bio-accumulations of toxins in the fish yet. No one thought there would be. It is the lying scum out of Public Affairs Branch who try, at the behest of their political masters, to spin this into a “good news” story.
Good grief. We get some good news in the midst of this disaster yet some people can’t help but be negative.
Looks like most commenters had their minds blown out of proportion along with the media and now, real good news.
Grizzly, you will never convince them of that. On to the next conspiracy.
Can we get a report from someone not closely linked to imperial metals? Mildly independent? Pretty much rules out the bc liberal party…
Yeah Slinky, I know eh? Lets not let science get in the way………
This breach was caused by greed, in not using smaller tailing ponds.
Xha44a also rules out Horgan and the NDP then too
“Can we get a report from someone not closely linked to imperial metals? Mildly independent? Pretty much rules out the bc liberal party…”
Nothing is stopping your from hiring an independent consultant and doing your own study..Put your money where your mouth is and get busy..
Was sewage wast from the mine also pumped into the tailings pond?
No worries folks. You can brush your teeth with the sediment. Actually it is good for the complexion. Limit your intake of fish. People still eat vegetables grown at Chernobyl…… (I don’t, I hope)…
Adrian must be counting his lucky stars that he and the NDP did not win the last election and now nobody can blame him and the whole NDP party for the tailing pond spill!
Every dark cloud has a silver lining! Like Maxwell Smart said: Missed it by THAT much!
Good grief! It sounds like the corporohaters wanted the river of toxic sludge to kill everything in its path. Not as bad as it could have been, apparently.
Mmmmm nummies. Copper and iron laced aquatic life. Tasty.
Just so we’re clear…. bears, wolves and birds (etc) will eat this contaminated aquatic life. That ought to be healthy, don’t you think?
Tailing pond effluent isn’t the only thing that rolls down hill.
Good heavens! It sounds like the corporohaters wanted the river of toxic sludge to kill everything in its path. Not as bad as it could have been, apparently.
Double post. My apologies.
I guess that’s why you call yourself “onemoretime” :P
Good one Junco. I stand and bow.
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