Latest news with #MountPolleyMiningCorporation
Economic Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Mount Polley mine faces major setback as First Nation fights to prevent another environmental crisis
The British Columbia Supreme Court halted Mount Polley Mining Corporation's tailings dam expansion until July 2025, siding with the Xatśūll First Nation's claim of inadequate consultation and environmental review. This decision underscores the tension between mining projects and Indigenous rights, prompting a deeper examination of consultation processes following a previous catastrophic dam collapse in 2014. The BC Supreme Court has ordered Mount Polley Mining Corporation to halt its tailings dam expansion until at least July 1, 2025. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The British Columbia Supreme Court has ordered Mount Polley Mining Corporation to stop its plan to raise the height of its tailings dam . The court said the expansion cannot go ahead until at least July 1, decision follows a legal challenge by the Xatśūll First Nation . The First Nation says the province approved the dam expansion without proper consultation or a full environmental review. They argue the decision goes against British Columbia's own rules on Indigenous province had allowed the company to raise the dam by four metres. It said the increase was needed to manage heavy spring runoff and had gone through technical checks and some the Xatśūll First Nation disagreed. They said the process was rushed and ignored serious environmental fear is not unfounded. In 2014, the tailings dam at the same Mount Polley mine collapsed. That disaster released about 25 million cubic metres of mine waste into nearby lakes and rivers. It became one of the worst environmental events in B.C.'s company that owns the mine, Imperial Metals, says it still has enough space in the tailings facility for now. It says it doesn't need the extra capacity from the expansion until July 2025. The company has also agreed to wait and not move forward with raising the dam until that time.A hearing on the issue is set to resume on June 24, 2025. The Xatśūll First Nation plans to ask the court to keep the block on the expansion in place until the full legal review is case highlights growing tension in B.C. between mining projects and Indigenous land rights. It also raises bigger questions about how governments consult First Nations on decisions that impact their land and now, the court has sent a clear message: more caution and deeper consultation are needed when it comes to projects that carry environmental and cultural risks.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mount Polley mine faces major setback as First Nation fights to prevent another environmental crisis
The British Columbia Supreme Court has ordered Mount Polley Mining Corporation to stop its plan to raise the height of its tailings dam . The court said the expansion cannot go ahead until at least July 1, 2025. #Operation Sindoor India responds to Pak's ceasefire violation; All that happened India-Pakistan ceasefire reactions: Who said what Punjab's hopes for normalcy dimmed by fresh violations This decision follows a legal challenge by the Xatśūll First Nation . The First Nation says the province approved the dam expansion without proper consultation or a full environmental review. They argue the decision goes against British Columbia's own rules on Indigenous rights. Also Read: Another Canada Post strike? Here's what could happen after May 22 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by The province had allowed the company to raise the dam by four metres. It said the increase was needed to manage heavy spring runoff and had gone through technical checks and some consultations. But the Xatśūll First Nation disagreed. They said the process was rushed and ignored serious environmental concerns. Live Events Their fear is not unfounded. In 2014, the tailings dam at the same Mount Polley mine collapsed. That disaster released about 25 million cubic metres of mine waste into nearby lakes and rivers. It became one of the worst environmental events in B.C.'s history. The company that owns the mine, Imperial Metals, says it still has enough space in the tailings facility for now. It says it doesn't need the extra capacity from the expansion until July 2025. The company has also agreed to wait and not move forward with raising the dam until that time. Also Read: Earth's 'twin' is not dead but very much 'alive'; NASA's latest discovery explained A hearing on the issue is set to resume on June 24, 2025. The Xatśūll First Nation plans to ask the court to keep the block on the expansion in place until the full legal review is over. This case highlights growing tension in B.C. between mining projects and Indigenous land rights. It also raises bigger questions about how governments consult First Nations on decisions that impact their land and environment. For now, the court has sent a clear message: more caution and deeper consultation are needed when it comes to projects that carry environmental and cultural risks.
Hamilton Spectator
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Interior First Nation moves to pause Mount Polley tailings dam expansion
Xatśūll First Nation is filing an injunction to prevent Mount Polley Mining Corporation from going ahead with construction to expand the tailings dam until a judicial review of the permit which allows for this construction is complete. 'Xatśūll provided Mount Polley the opportunity to voluntarily hold off on construction until the Court could decide the injunction request,' wrote the First Nation in an April 25 press release. When the nation first filed its judicial review on April 15, it warned an injunction would be filed. 'On April 23, 2025, Brian Kynoch, the President of Imperial Metals, the parent company of the Mount Polley Mining Corporation, responded and informed Xatśūll that Mount Polley would not be agreeing to hold off on construction and that construction had already begun,' the nation wrote. Black Press Media has reached out to Mount Polley to confirm this but has not had a response in time for publication. Xatśūll filed its judicial review to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the permits allowing for the raise of the tailings dam because the permit was given without first conducting an environmental assessment process. Mount Polley was the site of a 2014 tailings breach which led to 25 million cubic metres of water, tailings and debris to flood into Quesnel Lake, devastating Xatśūll's territory can continuing to impact their rights, culture and way of life to this day. Fifteen charges were approved in December 2024, 10 years following the dam failure, including offences under the Fisheries Act with fines ranging from $500,000 and $6,000,000. Black Press Media has contacted the Environmental Assessment Office, but they cannot comment on matters which are before the courts. With files from Monica Lamb-Yorski and Austin Kelly.
