The operators of the Mount Polley mine are offering assurances no untreated waste from Metro Vancouver has ever been dumped at the site of this year’s disastrous tailings pond breach.
“Any coli-form bacteria detected in a local lake would not have been from the tailings impoundment.”
Steve Robertson with Imperial Metals is responding to claims of bacteria found near the community of Likely.
“We’ve never applied any bio-solids to our tailings pond. Our bio-solids get applied to the areas of reclamation.”
Bio-solids are ‘low risk’ organic material often used as fertilizer.
Ministry of Environment staff have confirmed no untreated waste has ever been sent to the Mount Polley site and the company’s had permission to dump sewage from the mine’s septic tank since 1999.