The Cariboo Regional District says they have voiced concerns to the Provincial Government and hope that Mount Polley’s short term water discharge permit can be approved as soon as possible.
A hole called the Springer Pit is being used to store water and tailings during the mines restricted restart granted this summer.
However, that pit is filling up. “The water is coming onto the site respective of if the mine is operating or not, so that short term water discharge has to happen” CRD Chair Al Richmond said “The plan that was discussed with the communities was using the creek as a short term discharge for two years and we should be moving ahead with that as quickly as possible.”
Imperial Metals has built a multimillion dollar water treatment plant to treat the mine contact water before it is discharged out of the pit, down Hazeltine Creek and into Quesnel Lake.
“We are very concerned with levels of the water in Springer Pit and hope we don’t end up with a situation where the mine would have to shut down.” Richmond added
300 workers would be back out of work under a shutdown.
He says the whole process has been much slower than everyone had anticipated.
El Nino is expected to bring increased snowfall to the area, and officials point out that the Springer Pit will overflow with natural precipitation even if the mine ends up shutting back down if the water discharge plan isn’t approved.
The Springer Pits overflow point is 1030 metres above sea level. The water level is currently at 1024 metres.
w/ files from Rebecca Dyok, MY CARIBOO NOW
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