U.S. wants Canada to join probe of cross-border pollution from B.C. coal mines & More News Here

The United States authorities, together with President Joe Biden’s White House, has joined requires Canada to take part in a probe of cross-border pollution coming from coal mines in southern British Columbia.

In an announcement launched final week, the U.S. State Department mentioned Biden helps a joint investigation of selenium coming from Teck Resource’s Elk Valley coal mines, which flows into rivers and lakes south of the border.

“The (State) Department reaffirmed the administration’s support for a joint reference to the International Joint Commission under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 for the Kootenai Basin regarding the transboundary impacts of mining,” says the assertion issued Wednesday.

Global Affairs Canada didn’t instantly reply to a request for a response. On June 2, spokesman Adrien Blanchard mentioned in an e mail that Canada was “considering a variety of options.”

The U.S. has been involved in regards to the Teck mines for years. The states of Montana and Idaho, eight American senators, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and 6 First Nations from either side of the border have all mentioned selenium launched by the mines threaten fish of their downstream waters.

Several of these teams have requested a reference from the International Joint Commission, which tries to mediate transboundary water disputes. References, an examination of the issue adopted by suggestions, have virtually all the time been carried out by each international locations collectively.

Canada and the U.S., by the fee, have labored collectively on issues within the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain in Quebec and the Souris River basin in Manitoba.

The fee has mentioned it’s prepared to take a look at the matter and has requested Canada to take part. Now, the State Department has echoed that request.

In its launch, it says Canada’s participation in an Elk Valley reference would lead to “impartial recommendations and transparent communication, build trust, and forge a common understanding of this issue among local, Indigenous, state, provincial, and federal governments as well as stakeholders and the public in both countries.”

The launch emphasizes First Nation issues, underscoring “the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships.”

“Support for a joint IJC reference reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to protect public health; conserve our lands, waters, and biodiversity; and deliver environmental justice to communities overburdened by pollution.”

The authorities launch was preceded by an announcement from the six Ktunaxa First Nations within the space, which have been asking Canada to join the reference since December.

“We’re demanding meaningful dialogue,” mentioned Nasukin Gravelle of the Tobacco Plains First Nation.

“The lacking piece right here is Canada’s seeming refusal to take part in a joint reference submission to get the ball rolling on viable, science-based options. It’s a disappointment and a tragic day for reconciliation when progress on coping with the pollution of our waterways is blocked by a federal authorities.“

Teck has acknowledged the issue.

The firm has spent $1.2 billion on water remedy and plans to spend an extra $750 million. It says about 95 per cent of selenium is now eliminated from water.

However, it has protested what it calls unreasonably low selenium limits introduced in by Montana. It says these limits, which apply to the reservoir shared by each international locations, are even decrease than pure selenium ranges in upstream rivers.

Still, the fee has mentioned that selenium concentrations in some components of that reservoir — Lake Kookanusa — are greater than 5 occasions Montana’s limits, though the degrees are decrease elsewhere.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed June 14, 2022.

— Follow Bob Weber on Twitter at @row1960

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