Mount Polley sediment exceeds guidelines but no threat to human life, says environment ministry

WILLIAMS LAKE – Sediment samples taken last weekend from the mouth of Hazeltine Creek and near Raft Creek in Quesnel Lake show the sediment poses no human health risk but exceeds provincial guidelines, the B.C. Environment Ministry said today (Saturday).

The ministry said results show the sediment exceeds B.C. guidelines for sediments and contaminated sites regulation standards for copper and iron and may harm aquatic life.

The tailings pond at the Mount Polley Mine breached on B.C. Day, sending millions of litres of contaminated water and mining waste into nearby waterways.

Three samples were collected last Sunday from near the mouth of Hazeltine Creek and Raft Creek. Two samples were from within the impact zone of the Mount Polley Mine tailings spill and one was from the undisturbed lake bottom.

“Copper levels exceed three standards including the contaminated sites regulation sediment quality criteria, the Canadian Environmental Quality guidelines (CCME) for the protection of environmental and human health, and B.C.’s working sediment quality guidelines. Iron for all three samples exceeded the B.C. working sediment quality guidelines.

“Often areas where mines are located have elevated levels of metals, meaning naturally occurring metal concentrations are often much greater in this region than elsewhere in the province,” the ministry said.

“Scientific evidence tells us that the metals are not likely to readily move from the sediment into the water, and are therefore not likely to present a risk to future water quality. Leachability tests, to be conducted in the next few days, should confirm this.”

The “Do not use” order for water in some areas of the spill will stay in place while Polley Lake is being stabilized and the tailings pond is shored up.

Long-term monitoring and remediation will continue in the affected areas, the ministry said.