RE:RE:RE:Will we finally receive the permit: WHY and WHY NOT?https://www.burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/news/two-decommissioned-mines-could-be-harming-the-water-and-aquatic-life-at-babine-lake/ The study report is fond here:
https://skeenawild.org/new-legacy-of-metal-mine-impacts-on-babine-lake/ I realize that the study results may be skewed to those wanting to conserve salmon resources.
The following was written in The Narwal (February 6, 2021) based on the same study:
Despite the worsening situation, B.C. permits the Bell mine to discharge wastewater with metal concentrations up to 25 times higher than provincial water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life into the lake. The province has no guidelines for Granisle, which discharges untreated wastewater into the lake at three sites. At one of these sites, the discharge has copper concentrations that are on average 20 times higher than the provincial guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and nearly 250 times higher than the threshold for negative effects on salmon, according to the report.
The province only requires Glencore Canada to do very sporadic monitoring of Babine Lake water, sediment and fish. Such monitoring is only required once every 10 years at one Bell discharge site and isn’t required at all at some Granisle sites. Sockeye salmon by both mines aren’t monitored.
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I am also aware of the 2019 Ecometrix report that found that there were
no significant pollution cocerns regarding Bell mine discharges into Lake Babine. I believe that this study was funded by Glencore.
https://www.ecometrix.ca/experience/respecting-first-nations-rights-through-clear-communication The discharge is diluted by the water in the lake so that even if discharge is higher than normally permitted, the end result is not dire.
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Nevertheless, the Lake Baine Nation is very concerned regarding copper levels in Lake Babine.
Please refer to Article 8.6 (page 21) of the Foundation Agreement.