Tsolum River Restoration Society

231-1st St Courtenay BC V9N 1A5 | (250) 334-2375 | tsolumriver@yahoo.com

Tuesday, 12 November 2001

The Honourable Joyce Murray
Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection
124, Parliament Buildings,
Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4

 

Re: Mt. Washington Mine Ref: 62988

Dear Ms. Murray:

Thank you for your letter of September 12, 2001 in response to Ron Frank's letter of June 12, 2001 concerning the continuing pollution of the Tsolum River from the abandoned Mt. Washington Mine.

We are gratified that you are definitely concerned about water quality in the Tsolum River and will make every effort towards its restoration. Nevertheless we remain concerned that key questions that we have raised over the past 10 years remain unsatisfactorily answered:

  1. Is the present government as committed, as was the late Honourable Jack Davis over 15 years ago, to the clean up of the Mt. Washington Mine site?
  2. What/who is the lead agency in the remediation project? WLAP, Energy and Mines, Environment Canada?
  3. Section 17 of the BC Mines Act [Ref 1] allows the Inspector to order the clean-up of abandoned mines from the consolidated revenue fund and to seek restitution from those responsible. Why has this provision not been used here?

We are of mixed mind toward the legal actions put into process by Environment Canada under the Fisheries Act Sections 34 - 43. We would prefer that the resources go to the engineering design of a cover or other suitable source control options. Nevertheless, if the legal action, or the threat thereof will speed up the process, it will be useful. When can we expect to see some positive movement on this case?

In conclusion, we should remind you that we believe that the continuing pollution of the Tsolum River is costing the Comox Valley at least $2,000,000.00 annually. This continuing disaster severely inhibits the marketing of the Comox Valley as an eco-tourism destination and causes local residents to be extremely sceptical about the environmental safety and prudence of new mining developments. The Tsolum River Restoration Society wishes to continue to be a part of the solution along with government and industry

Yours Respectfully

 

 

Dave Ferguson
President, Tsolum River Restoration Society

 

cc: Hon. Stan Hagen, MLA
Hon. Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy and Mines
John Duncan, MP
Kel Kelly, Electoral Area "C". RDC-S

 

Ref 1

From the Mines Act

Abandoned mine

17 (1) If an inspector is of the opinion that work may be necessary in, on or about a closed or abandoned mine in order to avoid danger to persons or property or to abate pollution of the land and watercourses affected by the mine, the inspector may enter on or below the surface of the mine and may cause work to be done to remove or alleviate the danger or remedy the pollution.

(2) The costs incurred for work done under this section must be paid from the consolidated revenue fund without an appropriation other than this subsection.

(3) The amount expended plus interest at a prescribed rate is a debt due to the government and forms a lien and charge on the mine or mineral title in favour of the government.

(4) Notice of the debt in the prescribed form may be registered as a charge in the land title office or in the office of the chief gold commissioner, and no transfer of title or other dealing with the mine may take place until the debt is paid and the notice cancelled.

(5) With or without payment and on conditions the minister may impose, the minister may cancel the notice registered under subsection (4) and, on that happening, the mine may be transferred or otherwise dealt with.

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