Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett made the following statement today in response to the mine tailing pond incident at Mt. Polley Mine:

“In the early morning of August 4, 2014, the tailings pond dam at the Mt. Polley Mine site breached and released an estimated 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of fine sand into Polley Lake. Hazeltine Creek flows out of Polley Lake, and the flow may have continued into Quesnel Lake.

“This is a serious incident that should not have happened. We are devoting every appropriate resource working with local officials to clean up the site, mitigate any impacts to communities and the environment, and investigate the cause of the breach. We will determine the cause of the event and we are determined to prevent an incident like this from happening again.

“RCMP, Mt. Polley Mine executives, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ministry of Environment, Emergency Management BC, Ministry of Transportation, Cariboo Regional District, Search and Rescue and Cariboo Dam Safety, responded to the event. Any potential environmental impact from the tailings pond water on the local watershed is unknown at this time but all efforts are being made to make a determination as soon as possible.

"Cariboo Regional District, in consultation with Interior Health, has issued a precautionary water ban advisory not to drink or bathe in the water and not to allow pets or livestock to drink the water. The waterways affected by the ban include Quesnel Lake, Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek and Cariboo Creek, as well as the Quesnel and Cariboo Rivers systems up to the Fraser River.

The ban does not apply to people in Williams Lake or other towns along the Fraser River.

“The Ministry of Environment is on-site conducting water tests to determine the full extent of potential environmental impacts. Water sampling took place the evening of Aug 4. Samples have been sent for analysis today, with results expected later this week.

“Ministry of Energy and Mines Inspectors are at the mine site investigating the cause.

"Cariboo Regional District has set up a public information line at 250-398-5581, and updates will be posted to the Cariboo Regional District's emergency operations Facebook page.

“As more information becomes available, the B.C. government will provide that information to British Columbians.”

Media Contacts:

Jake Jacobs
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628