Canadian Government To "Reclassify" Lakes As Mining Dump Sites
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 06.25.08
Image: Duncan Lake, B.C., before-and-after by Tse Keh Nay on flickr (waste dump proposal later rejected)
Canadian mining companies already have a pretty tarnished reputation abroad in countries such as Guatemala, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo – and now, with a helping hand from the Canadian government, they are hitting closer to home. Using an obscure subsection under mining regulations, the Canadian federal government is about to reclassify sixteen lakes across Canada as toxic dump sites for mining operations.
The list of lakes (see after the jump) include prime fishing lakes, fish habitats and spawning grounds from British Columbia to Newfoundland. The stealthy bureaucratic move has environmentalists accusing the government of giving a handout to mining companies, at great cost to the environment and to public health.
Though the Canadian Fisheries Act prohibits the dumping of toxic substances into fish habitats, federal officials are increasingly using the Schedule Two subsection to reclassify lakes and even rivers as "tailings impoundment areas” – letting mining corporations off the hook from building costly containment ponds for toxic materials.
Mining companies: lakes are “best option”
But according to a spokesperson for the Mining Association of Canada, lakes are the best candidates for tailings containment.
“In some cases, particularly in Canada, with this kind of topography and this number of natural lakes and depressions and ponds … in the end it's really the safest option for human health and for the environment," said Elizabeth Gardiner, vice-president for technical affairs.
Disturbing “trend”
But environmental groups and locals who live around the affected lakes disagree, claiming that this government-supported fuzzy logic could set a dangerous precendent.
Chad Griffiths, a local environmentalist living near the targeted lake of Sandy Pond, Newfoundland, remarked: “It's easy enough to consider just one lake as just one lake, as a needed sacrifice, right? But it's not one lake … It's a trend. It's an open season on Canadian water.”
"What Canadians need to know is that this year, from March 2008 to March of 2009, eight lakes are going to be subject to being put on Schedule Two, which is just about every mine that is going ahead this year is looking around, looking for the nearest lake to dump its waste into,” cautioned Catherine Coumans of the environmental group Mining Watch.
Canadian government fast-tracking mine without public consultation
In the case of the Red Chris mine in B.C., a Federal Court judge already ruled last fall that the federal government acted illegally by attempting to skip a full public environmental review, stating that the effort "has all the characteristics of a capricious and arbitrary decision which was taken for an improper purpose."
Unfortunately, that ruling was overturned in the Appeals Court, allowing the government to reclassify lakes as toxic waste dumps without consulting the public.
"It's totally bizarre for the federal government to come here and say that this Y-shaped valley up here is no longer a fish habitat, it's no longer sacred headwaters, it's just a waste dump site,” said Jim Bourquin of the Cassiar Watch Society, about Kluela Lake - “one of the best trout fishing lakes in northern B.C.” - just downstream from the Red Chris mine.
However, Imperial Metals exploration manager Steve Robertson asserts that the mine “is a project that can bring a lot of good jobs, long-term jobs, well-paying jobs to a community that desperately needs it.”
But locals such as 76-year-old James Dennis, an elder of the Tahltan community, see another long-term prospect. "Once they do the mine, they’re going to leave, and we're the people who are going to live with that. Not me, but my grandchildren, the small little kids like this. That's who's going to live with the pollution.”
List of Affected Lakes:
Four lakes in Newfoundland are already being used as dumps. Only one of the 16 - Kemess North in B.C. - has been rejected, with eight to be decided in the coming year.
B.C.:
* Kemess North - Duncan Lake - REJECTED
* Kutcho Creek - Andrea Creek
* Ruby Creek - Ruby Creek watershed
* Prosperity - Fish Lake
* Red Chris
* Mount Milligan
Manitoba:
* Bucko Lake
Newfoundland and Labrador:
* Duck Pond Mine - Trout Pond and Gill's Brook
* Carol Mine - Wabush Lake
* Wabush Mine - Flora Lake
* Long Harbour - Sandy Pond
Northwest Territories:
* Winter Lake
Nunavut:
* Doris North Project - Tail Lake
* Meadowbank - Second Portage Lake
* High Lake
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This is absolutely horrifying, and I am surprised that the Federal Government of Canada would even consider this.
Dumping toxic waste in to what "we" consider isolated, non-connecting lakes is pretty naive. prove to me that those lakes are not naturally fed, and don't naturally feed water to other sources. Last time I heard naturally occurring lakes aren't lined with PBA free plastics that prevent water from soaking in to the ground and polluting other water sources.
As a Canadian I am completely ashamed of our government for considering this. This is one of the most short sighted, deadly solutions I have ever heard of.
Mining companies should be required to stored and dispose of their toxic tailings on their own property, and doing so by conforming to extremely strict environmental and safety limitations.
This cannot be allowed...I urge all Canadians to contact their Federal MPs and voice their concern. Americans...feel free to let our Federal MPs know what you are thinking as well.
http://www.gc.ca/directories-repertoires/direct-eng.html
This is not news, I live in Haliburton Ontario where mining tailings have been dumped in the lakes for many years.
If you visit these lakes you will see deer, moose, bear and wolf tracks to name a few and right alongside those tracks are the tracks of the atv's carrying the hunters that are going to feed their families with those animals. (a low economic area such as this means that hunting & fishing is a necessity)
Currently we are slated for a 4000 acre open pit uranium mine. This, in one of the greatest natural areas left where tourists flock to see the lakes and wildlife.
Perhaps we should open the mine tailings lake and offer tours of our governments handiwork in their preservation of wildlife and the environment.
Toxic wasteland tours = an ecotourism opportunity.
See this website for more info on uranium mining and waste management in ontario. www.fighturanium.com
I'm losing faith in Canada. I had alway thought it was the alternative to the US, at least in North America.
As a Canadian Hann I pains me to read your comment, mostly because I understand and agree with your point of view. Ever since we voted the conservatives in power in particular Stephen Harper (Read Bush v2.0) it's been down hill.
To all Canadian who read this, take action write to your elected officials, let them know you don't want your lakes destroyed. Exercising your democratic write should be the first step in demonstrating your contempt for this plan.
I've written to the "environment minister" along with both critics of the environment minister. I urge anyone who cares about the environment, be it about this issue or other issues elsewhere in the world. If you live in a democratic society get active, let your political leaders know how you feel and most importantly let them know they will loose your vote if they continue with policies that aren't green.
The more people take part in the political process the more power it has. Kind of like solving global warming ironically enough.
There's strength in numbers.
Why does it feel that greed always seems to win over sanity?
Why does it feel that our governments are owned by corporations?
And why does it feel that both have a ridiculously short term view of the world?
I in no way condone his actions but it does lead me to wonder whether the unabomber had a point!
"I am surprised that the Federal Government of Canada"
- Who, the conservatives, who do anything but conserve? How can anyone be surprised at that. I cried for the loss of Canada's future when the CPC took power.
"Ever since we voted the conservatives in power" - Who is this we... it's more like they. If there are conservative environmentalists out there, I hope you know your hypocrisy.
Brody wrote:
""Ever since we voted the conservatives in power" - Who is this we... it's more like they. If there are conservative environmentalists out there, I hope you know your hypocrisy."
I meant the population of Canada voted them in by majority. I can assure you I've never voted for them nor have you it sounds, but I was speaking collectively since now we (and I mean all canadians) have to clean up the political mess that is the conservative government whether you voted for them or not.
I cant believe this. I bet 20 yrs after the mines are gone the tax payers will pay to clean up the mess.
Cant they just filter the water and dispose of the comtaminated sludge?
If I lived in canada I would want the people to take up armes against those who approved this.
you do realize..
montreal dumps 900 billion litres of raw sewage annually in the st. lawrence River.
vancouver 34 billion.
untreated.
Make sure you get a reverse Osmosis unit in your home.
I checked and the st. lawrence leads back through
channels into Lake Ontario.
Not that Lake Ontario is bad enough already.
Did you know..that 20 ecoli is the allowable limit for people to swim in our Ontario lakes.
100 ecoli is the danger limit..swim at your own risk.
I looked at some numbers from the Toronto website and
they allowed a beach to be open to the public which had a Ecoli rating of 90.
I'd say 90 is too close to 100 for me.
I think it's irresponsible and unacceptable for the mining industry to dump toxic waste in lakes. I am absolutely against this practice.
We have to think of future generations to enjoy this beautiful planet.