Two years ago I received a horrible birthday present: tailings ponds of the Mount Polley mine burst in BC and 24 million cubic metres of waste water were released into the surrounding rivers and lakes, pumping elevated levels of lead, arsenic and other heavy metals into the local watershed. Two years later, I received another horrible birthday present: the government of BC announced the re-opening of the Mount Polley mine.
This disaster not only impacted local wildlife but First Nations who rely on fish for as their traditional foods. A disaster of this size must never be allow to happen again.
However, Imperial Metals, the company responsible for the tailing waters dam breech, has done nothing in the last two years to change the way they operate to prevent further disaster. They have declared that two tailing pond breeches per decade is expected. As well, the government of BC has done nothing to consult with local First Nations to ensure that their concerns are taken into consideration.
Mount Polley mine must remain closed in order to prevent further disasters from happening. Until Imperial Metals changes the way they operate their tailing ponds and the government adequately consults First Nations no move should be made for this mine.
Sign today to stand for the preservation of our waters. By signing today you are standing with First Nations in their commitment to protect their waters and lands.
To Premier Christy Clark,
As a person who cares deeply about water, I am gravely concerned at your decision to re-open Mount Polley mine. The last tailing pond breech, in 2014, caused excessive heavy metal pollution to local waterways and prevented local First Nations from being able to fish there.
Imperial Metals have done nothing to ensure that this sort of disaster will not happen again. It is unacceptable that you have neither forced stronger environmental measures be taken by Imperial Metals nor adequately consulted with First Nations affected by the spill and the mine's operations.
I call on you to immediately shut down the mine until First Nations are adequately consulted and stringent environmental measures have been put in place by Imperial Metals to prevent further damage. If this means that the mine never re-opens then this is what needs to happen for the protection of our waters.
[Your Comment Here]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
