Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

In recent reviews of two proposed BC mining projects, MiningWatch Canada has found significant flaws in plans to compensate for fish habitat that would be lost if the mines go into operation. Both the Mt. Milligan and Prosperity projects will negatively affect fish habitats and the proponents will be required to compensate for these impacts by creating or improving fish habitat elsewhere.

In anticipation of the annual Mining Day on the Hill lobbying frenzy, MiningWatch Canada would like to provide you with an alternative perspective on several important issues. The mining industry is one of the most policy-privileged industries in Canada. This is despite the fact that at home and around the world, the industry has generated massive environmental impacts, created social conflicts, and infringed on Aboriginal rights and title.

Terrane Metals Corp. is proposing an open pit gold-copper mine in central BC near the town of Fort St. James and within the traditional territories of the McLeod Lake Indian Band and the Nak'azdli Nation. The two nations are not in agreement over the project proceeding with the Nak'azdli whose members kayho (traditional hunting, trapping and gathering area) will be affected directly, opposing the project.

One of MiningWatch Canada’s key areas of work in 2008 and that will be continuing in 2009 has been our efforts to curtail the destruction of natural water bodies for the creation of tailings impoundments (i.e. waste dumps).

[Canoe Creek news release] The Canoe Creek Indian Band is furious at the decision by the Provincial Government to abandon plans for a Joint Panel review of the proposed Prosperity Mine at Fish Lake. “For 18 months we have been in contact with Canada and the Province about the process for the review of the Prosperity Project. All along they clearly indicated that a Joint Panel would be recommended, and they were simply waiting for the Ministers to make the final decision to create one. Then the Province, after all those discussions and exchanges, turns around and decides to go its own way. It’s an insult to us, and destroys any trust or respect that might have been building with the Province’s environmental assessment office,” stated former Chief of Canoe Creek, Hank Adam, who continues to speak for the Band on the Prosperity Project.

(Ottawa) The Council of Canadians and MiningWatch Canada have made public a report drafted by Environment Canada in December 2007 revealing that the agency had documented crucial information regarding the looming freshwater crisis in Canada.

Since 2005, Environment Canada has announced that 14 lakes and streams are slated to become dump sites for the disposal of environmentally toxic mine waste “tailings”. Two lakes have already been destroyed and eight more natural water bodies are being decided on this year!

The government needs to hear from Canadians that the use of natural, fish-bearing waters as mine dumps is not acceptable!

MiningWatch Canada comments on the proposed amendments to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) under the Fisheries Act to designate Sandy Pond (Newfoundland) as a waste dump by placing it on on Schedule 2 of the MMER, and to expand the MMER to include hydrometallurgic facilities such as Vale Inco's Long Harbour facility. Following a flawed government-led consultation process, Vale Inco offers biased and incomplete information to justify dumping its waste into Sandy Pond.