Residents near Tulameen River dealing with spill
By Nelson Daily Staff
Rick Taylor, The Nelson Daily
Residents of Coalmont, a small mining town northwest of Princeton, recently noticed there was something very wrong with the Tulameen River.
The water had turned black as coal.
Keith Meldrum, spokesman for the Coalmont Energy Corp later confirmed that a tailings pond spill occurred on (Saturday) August 24.
Coalmont Energy Corp operates a basin coal mine just above Coalmont. The spill came down Collin’s Gulch and entered the Tulameen.
According to Meldrum this spill was the result of a malfunction in the processing plant. Meldrum denied the presence of actual coal, stating “it’s tailings water, which isn’t exactly coal per se. It’s sort of a byproduct of the process.”
The spokesman claimed the spill was not toxic because the coal does not contain sulphur or other contaminants. Meldrum indicated that he had no information about selenium or any other minerals which are often found in such tailings ponds.
Meldrum described the impact as “visual” and the environmental impact as “minimal.”
He indicated that approximately six percent of the tailings water is carbon and this is apparently what caused the Tulameen to darken.
“This is clearly an unfortunate event. Coalmont Energy makes environmental stewardship a key part of our plan.” Meldrum said.
The size of the spill is estimated at over 26 000 litres.
Meldrum indicated that Coalmont Energy Corp is monitoring the situation and working very closely with government officials.Triton Consultants Ltd. has been assigned to complete the environmental assessment and the Ministry of Environment has ordered Coalmont Energy Corp to do a shoreline clean-up.
Interior Health issued a statement: “There is little or no impact to drinking water sources in the Coalmont and Tulameen areas as a result of the recent tailings spill breach from Basin Coal Mine.There are no regulated water systems in the Coalmont or Tulameen area that draw from surface water. All the water systems draw from well water and well water is unaffected by this spill. Information obtained from the Ministry of Environment water license database indicates that there are no surface water intakes until two to three kilometres upstream of Princeton.”
Many local residents remain skeptical and complain that the company waited three days to issue a press release. The plant has been shut down until further notice. The mine employs just over one hundred people and they remain on the job. No fines or sanctions have been announced.A public information session was held Friday (August 30) at the Tulameen Community Hall.
At this time any adverse effects on the connected waterways such as the Simlikameen, Okanagan, and Columbia rivers remains uncertain. American officials have been notified.
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