Milstones watersupply makes it a take over subject Potash project could contaminate lake, group warns
Controversial Yancoal mine proposal undergoing environmental review
Another environmental group is raising concerns about the proposed Yancoal potash project at Southey.
The Calling Lakes EcoMuseum (CLEM) — a group of environmentalists and Qu’Appelle Valley residents formed in 2014 over concerns about effluent contamination from the City of Regina — claims the $3.6-billion potash solution mine will draw too much water from Buffalo Pound Lake and risks contaminating groundwater and lakes in the Qu’Appelle Valley.
CLEM issued a news release Tuesday, calling for residents of communities in the Qu’Appelle Valley watershed to contact their MLA to discuss the location of the proposed mine site near Southey.
“The Calling Lakes EcoMuseum believes that this proposed mine is in the wrong location,’’ the release said. “This mine will affect the health and well-being of Buffalo Pound Lake, the Hatfield Aquifer and Pasqua and adjoining lakes.”
Specifically, CLEM claims the proposed solution mine poses a risk of:
- Groundwater contamination, including the Hatfield aquifer;
- Salt contamination to Pasqua and adjacent lakes via Loon Creek;
- Buffalo Pound dewatering at the rate of eight million gallons (35 million litres) of freshwater a year, and;
- Contamination of the Qu’Appelle watershed and water supply by this and other large industrial projects.