Video embedded at the source of this article. Disturbing scene.

Residents calling it an environmental disaster: tailings pond breach at Mount Polley Mine near Likely, BC

Local residents are calling it an environmental disaster. They’ve been notified, along with visitors to waterways near the Mount Polley Mine close to Likely, B.C., of a complete water ban following an overnight tailings pond breach.

The Ministry of Environment said the breach at Mount Polley Mine happened in the middle of the night. The ministry along with the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), RCMP, Central Cariboo Search and Rescue and emergency management crews are investigating and assessing the possible environmental impact.

The water ban, which includes all recreational water activities, bathing, and drinking will be in place until further notice by the CRD. It extends to the entire Quesnel and Cariboo River systems up to the Fraser River, including Quesnel Lake, Cariboo Creek, Hazeltine Creek and Polley Lake.

In addition, the Horsefly Likely Forest Service Road has been washed out at Hazeltine Creek, but the Likely Bridge is not affected at this time. Rob Hood, president of the Likely Chamber of Commerce, told Global News that the Cedar Point Provincial Park campground has also been evacuated.

Mount Polley Mine is an open pit copper and gold mine, which is operated by Imperial Metals Corporation. The dam that holds back the tailings pond is an earth-filled dam.

There are concerns around the debris and chemicals from the tailing ponds coming down into Quesnel Lake, Hood says, where approximately 300 people get their drinking water. Others fear the billions of litres of contaminated water could pollute other water ways in the area. The alert will remain in place until test results are completed.

Likely resident, Larry Chambers says he was woken at 3 a.m. and could hear the sounds of rushing water. “I could hear the roar like a 747 jet,” he told Global News.

Chambers describes Polley Lake as “milky green” and says the flood is bringing in a ton of debris. Residents describe a stench in the air and dead fish washing up.

Matt McCracken, owner of Morehead Lake, which is about five kilometres west of Likely said the tailings pond was draining southeast down the mountain into Quesnel Lake.

“The tailings pond is about four kilometres long by four kilometres wide and it’s nearly empty,” McCraken told Global News. It’s believed to have contained as much as five billion cubic metres of waste water, the equivalent of 2,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Residents are worried the town of Likely will be cut off since their water supply comes from Quesnel Lake.

Al Richmond, the Cariboo Regional District Chair and Area G Director told Global News that clean-up is premature at this point and officials are still assessing the situation.

“Our concern mainly is first of all for life and limb and there’s been no one injured in this event and for that we’re thankful,” he said. “Our next concern is for the community of Likely and those folks living around Likely that their water supply is safe and potable for them to use.”

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Environment told Global News that, “further monitoring and testing of waterways will be required before the full extent of potential environmental impacts can be determined. Steps are being taken to put those processes in place.”

McCracken is offering his water, accommodation and food to anyone who needs it.

Imperial Metals has issued the following statement:

Imperial Metals Corporation reports the tailings storage facility at its Mount Polley mine was breached, releasing an undetermined amount of water and tailings in the early morning of August 4. The cause of the breach is unknown at this time.

Senior company management are at the mine site and are working with mine operating personnel, local agencies, provincial ministry officials and the engineers of record to assess the extent of the breach and the impact of the released water and tailings on the surrounding area.

The Company will provide further information when confirmed and available.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1490361/tailings-pond-breach-at-mount-polley-mine-near-likely-bc/