UK’s new coal mine sent ‘adverse international signal’, campaigners say
Environmental campaigners are challenging the approval of a coking coal mine in northwest England.
Imperial Metals said it is actively working to remediate the Mount Polley region after the tailings pond breach August 4 that caused a large field of debris and millions of gallons of tailings water enter Polley Lake.
Imperial said it has constructed a rock berm upstream of the breach area in an effort to prevent further tailings leakage, as well as more berms inside the tailings pond.
Sump pumps have been installed in Polley Lake. The breach had caused lake levels to increase by 1.7 metres, and the miner said the pumps have restored the lake to pre-breach levels.
The company also said cleanup of the wood that was dislodged after the breach in Quesnel Lake will be completed by mid-November.
The tailings pond breach has been a public-relations disaster for the miner and has contributed to growing anti-mining sentiment among some First Nations communities.
