On Sept.4, 2014, the Mount Polley mining facility was inspected by staff from the Ministry of Environment and was found to be out of compliance with the Environmental Management Act (EMA) because effluent was still discharging from the tailings storage facility into Hazeltine Creek.

Today, a ministry statutory decision-maker sent an advisory to the Mount Polley Mining Corporation directing the company to take prompt action to abate all discharges from the tailings storage facility into the receiving environment.

While discharges have stopped since the Sept. 4, 2014, inspection, ministry staff are concerned future rain events will trigger further discharges. A copy of that advisory can be found here:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley/pdf/20140909/Order-107461-Non-Compliance-Advisory-LetterV2(3).pdf

This advisory is the first step of an escalating enforcement response to a violation of the Environmental Management Act.

More information regarding response to the Mount Polley mine incident can be viewed here:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley.htm

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834