Copper levels in Lake Babine are SAFE & ARE BEING monitored Recent posts seemed to suggest that copper levels were too high in the lake. If so, then the EAO is lying, or at least was being very deceptive. Here are some of the notes from a meeting in 2007 with LBN, BKM and the EAO.
I called and asked the office if they had any info on the water quality of the lake. They had a large slide presentation from the EAO that was shown at the meeting. See below for some of the comments ... most importantly:
Greg Tamblyn explained that analysis of Babine Lake showed that concentrations of dissolved copper, dissolved iron, dissolved zinc and ph concentrations were all within BC water quality guidelines
The slide presentation showed all the places that samples were taken.
Also, in a previous post I showed a 2012 engineering report from a company hired by Glencore regarding how to treat pit water before being released back into the lake. Again the estimated copper levels would be well within BC water guidelines. The design and engineering report was so impressive that the engineering company was asked to present at an international conference 2 years later.
Plus, we should remember, that the BKM tailing pond is 1.8 kilometers from the lake, unlike the Granisle and Bell, which are right on the shore. Even being right on the shore, you can see that testing showed the water was safe. In addition, I'm sure that science and engineering will improve even further by the time BKM has to release pit water back into the lake in a few decades from now.
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Lake Babine Nation Community Meeting June 27, 2007
Morrison Copper/Gold Mining Project EA Review
Morrison Copper/Gold Mining Project EA Review
Lake Babine Nation Community Meeting
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
10:00 – 5:00 pm
Representatives participating
CHIEF AND COUNCILLORS FROM THE LAKE BABINE NATION
Patrick Chief Betty Chief Lake Babine Nation
Joseph Melvin Woyenne Councillor
Leon Ivan Tachet Councillor
Patrick Stephen Woyenne Councillor
Patrick Murphy Woyenne Councillor
Power Verna Old Fort Councillor
West John Fort Babine Councillor
Williams Garnet Fort Babine Councillor
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
Amann-Blake Nathaniel Environmental Assessment Office
Anslow Martha Environmental Assessment Office
Carmody-Fallows Jeanien Ministry of Environment (Environmental Protection)
Tamblyn Greg Ministry of Environment (Environmental Protection)
PROPONENT
Tornquist Erik Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. (PBM)
Schmitt Rolf Rescan Environmental Services
Speiran Rachel Rescan Environmental Services
In addition, approximately 75 members of the Lake Babine Nation were present at the meeting. Dorothy Patrick translated from English to Carrier.
MOE is involved from impact assessment to post-closure: baseline monitoring programs, EA review, permitting, ongoing monitoring, post-closure monitoring. In discussing post-closure monitoring of the Bell and Granisle mines Greg explained that any site of discharge from the former mines requires a permit. Each site is monitored and if the water quality does not meet the limits set out in the permit the water is redirected to the
tailings pond or pumped into the open pit.
Greg Tamblyn explained that analysis of Babine Lake showed that concentrations of dissolved copper, dissolved iron, dissolved zinc and ph concentrations were all within BC water quality guidelines.
Greg stressed that testing had found no evidence of mercury in the
ore or waste from the Bell and Granisle mines.
What happens when the pits fill up? Will it overflow or be treated?
Response: Jeanien Carmody-Fallows (MOE) explained that the Granisle pit is currently lower than the level of Lake Babine. She explained that the company will need to develop a treatment plant for the pit water as it rises and before there is any discharge. Jeanien noted that a company must post a significant bond before a mine is developed to ensure that reclamation will take place even if the company goes bankrupt.
Morrison Copper/Gold Mining Project EA Review
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