Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

mining

BQE Water and David Kratochvil Win Both MetSoc Innovation & Sustainability Awards for Contributions to Environmental Protection in Mining

BQE Water and David Kratochvil Win Both MetSoc Innovation & Sustainability Awards for Contributions to Environmental Protection in Mining

BQE Water Inc. (TSXV: BQE), a leader in the treatment and management of mine impacted waters, is extremely honoured to be the recipient of two awards from the Metallurgy and Materials Society (MetSoc) – the 2023 MetSoc Innovation Award to the company for its development of the groundbreaking Selen-IX™ technology for selenium removal from wastewater and the 2023 MetSoc Sustainability Award to President & CEO David Kratochvil for his significant contribution towards addressing critical water challenges in mining, including leadership in developing Selen-IX™.

$1.2B later, Teck Resources has barely put a dent in its pollution problems, documents show

$1.2B later, Teck Resources has barely put a dent in its pollution problems, documents show

As Teck Resources plans to distance itself from coal, government records show the mining giant remains a long way from solving the widespread contamination of local rivers and creeks — despite having already invested $1.2 billion in water treatment. Last year, selenium levels 267 times higher than what’s considered safe for aquatic life were detected in waters directly affected by Teck’s Elk Valley mines, according to an internal government meeting note obtained by The Narwhal through a freedom of information request.

As EV batteries consume more lithium, report warns against increased mining of it

As EV batteries consume more lithium, report warns against increased mining of it

Mining for lithium can be incredibly water intensive. The process can involve releasing water from aquifers and leaving it to evaporate in what's known as salt flats. What's left is a variety of minerals and metals, including lithium, that is then gathered and processed. It's a common practice in South America, where Argentina, Chile and Bolivia are among the world's top producers.

5 Pressing Environmental Issues in Canada in 2023

5 Pressing Environmental Issues in Canada in 2023

Mining, however, has devastating consequences on the environment and is associated with forest loss, contamination of freshwater resources as well as the impoverishment and displacement of communities. Between 2008 and 2017, mining waste failures in the country have killed more than 340 people, polluted hundreds of kilometres of waterways, wiped our fish populations and jeopardised the livelihoods of entire communities.

Ktunaxa Nation feels left out of key Elk Valley mining discussions

Ktunaxa Nation feels left out of key Elk Valley mining discussions

The Ktunaxa Nation says it has been left out of conversations between the federal and provincial governments and mining companies – a feeling the nation says is validated by documents revealed through a Freedom of Information request. The request to uncover the documents was made by the Ktunaxa Nation. The nation, along with local activist group Wildsight, have long been ringing the alarm bells regarding the Elk Valley’s mining pollution.

As St. Lewis mining foray moves closer to town, company looks to ease pollution concerns

As St. Lewis mining foray moves closer to town, company looks to ease pollution concerns

A resident of St. Lewis, Labrador is expressing concerns for his community's local water supply and environment as Search Minerals, a rare-earth mining company, moves its operation closer to town. Warwick Chubbs says the company has been working in the area of St. Lewis for two years but things are getting a little too close for comfort for the town of just under 200 people.

Twenty years of mining in Faro, means billions of tax dollars for care and clean-up

Twenty years of mining in Faro, means billions of tax dollars for care and clean-up

Over a quarter of a century after the last rock truck wound its way out of the Faro mine pit, it appears a long-sought route to remediation is underway. On February 15, Canada signed a $108 million contract with Parsons Inc. for construction management and two years of care and maintenance on the Faro mine site. Parsons, one of the largest players in remediation in the world, boasts that their “contract could span over 20 years and exceed $2 billion.”

Moon mining a decade away?

Moon mining a decade away?

The consultants lay out targets for three phases of moon mining: First, getting water from the ice in the moon’s craters, to be turned into hydrogen propellant. Water is cheap on Earth, but as expensive as anything else to send to space—thousands of dollars a litre. Mining water that’s already up there to use as fuel would improve the economics of space exploration and travel.

De Beers pleads guilty to failing to report mercury monitoring results at Victor mine

De Beers pleads guilty to failing to report mercury monitoring results at Victor mine

In a resolution to a years-long dispute, De Beers Canada has plead guilty to one count of failing to report annual mercury monitoring results for the G2 station at Victor mine in 2014 as required under the mine’s Certificate of Approval. De Beers was not charged with failing to take samples, monitoring or for polluting the environment. The open-pit diamond mine operated by De Beers Canada Inc. is located upstream from the Attawapiskat First Nation. Beginning in 2008, the project pumped water from the open pit into the Granny Creek water system which flows into the Attawapiskat River, triggering a rise in the mercury level in the water and the fish populations.

‘NO DUMPING’ IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ISN’T AS CLEAR AS IT SEEMS

‘NO DUMPING’ IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ISN’T AS CLEAR AS IT SEEMS

Now we’re watching how the government defines these standards and what the rules will be. For example, there’s currently no definition of what “no dumping” actually means in the context of marine protected areas, or how this commitment will be implemented and enforced. We know dumping wreaks havoc on our environment and poses a risk to wildlife and people. Greywater from sinks, kitchens, showers and washing machines aboard ships can contribute to algal blooms, create ocean dead zones and contain microplastics. Scrubber effluent, which is washwater from cleaning Heavy Fuel Oil exhaust gas, basically turns air pollution into water pollution. Sewage, both treated and untreated, from toilets, can cause fecal contamination in the shellfish we eat.

Yukon pushed to develop protections for irreplaceable wetlands threatened by mining

Yukon pushed to develop protections for irreplaceable wetlands threatened by mining

An independent panel is urging the Yukon government to develop a wetlands policy to protect unique streams, bogs, fens and peatland from mining because there are no known ways to fully restore these sensitive ecosystems once disturbed. Wetlands filter water, provide habitat to species and sequester carbon but are quickly being lost to development worldwide — an issue drawing attention on World Wetlands Day Feb. 2.

Calgary’s water likely safe following coal policy changes, High River area a concern

Calgary’s water likely safe following coal policy changes, High River area a concern

Following public uproar of the Alberta government quietly pulling the 1976 coal policy, opening up more areas of the province for coal mining, a Calgary committee has started work to find out how those changes could affect the city on the Bow and Elbow Rivers. “The good news is, we found out today that although there’s different (land use) categories, the main category of the national parks and everything for our river system in the Bow is not affected with this policy,” Ward 1 Coun. Ward Sutherland said. “Obviously we’re very pleased with that.”

"It's the drinking water for 2 million people across Canada" — Alberta ranchers take Kenney government to court

"It's the drinking water for 2 million people across Canada" — Alberta ranchers take Kenney government to court

In the larger scale, the watershed feeds 43 per cent of irrigated land, and provides water for 2 million people. The effect of mining on this area, and all downstream users, would be detrimental. The water runs all the way to Hudson Bay, and as Smith notes, “it’s not something that should be toyed with.” A lawyer involved in the challenge firmly believes that the Kenney government has broken the law. It impacts more than just ranchers, it will affect all of southern Alberta and the users of water from this watershed. The best case scenario for the challenge is that the Coal Policy will be reinstated and open-pit mountain top removal coal mining stopped.

Province's plans to change gravel pit rules could harm local water, natural areas: report

Province's plans to change gravel pit rules could harm local water, natural areas: report

Regional staff are urging the province to reconsider proposed policy changes that could loosen rules around gravel mining and other aggregate extraction. Aggregate is the technical term for raw materials like sand, gravel and stone. The proposed changes are outlined in a draft update to the Provincial Policy Statement, a document that provides direction on land use planning across the province.

No charges to be laid against Vale after investigation of potentially toxic slag run-off

No charges to be laid against Vale after investigation of potentially toxic slag run-off

Environment Canada has decided not to lay charges against Vale for potentially dangerous run-off leaking from its Sudbury slag piles. But the mining company is currently installing a new system for controlling the slag seepage, work it says is unrelated to the government investigation. Environment Canada refused an interview with CBC, but said in a statement that it began investigating contaminated water coming from the Sudbury slag pile after a complaint from the public in 2012.

Arsenic-leaking drillhole deliberately left unfixed by province, documents show

Arsenic-leaking drillhole deliberately left unfixed by province, documents show

A hole drilled for a mineral exploration company seven years ago is leaking contaminated water into the environment, and although the Nova Scotia government learned of the problem last year, staff decided not to fix it. The incident raises questions about how the province regulates exploration activities.

A proposed mine near a pristine water source is testing the CAQ's commitment to the environment

A proposed mine near a pristine water source is testing the CAQ's commitment to the environment

The 500 residents of La Motte, Que., don't have have a gas station or even a convenience store, but they do enjoy some of the best-tasting drinking water in North America. So when an Australian mining firm began seeking approval to build an open-air lithium mine just a stone's throw from the community's water source, reactions were decidedly mixed in the town, located 50 kilometres northwest of Val-d'Or.

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