British Columbia Mining Pollution

For years, massive open-pit coal mines in the Elk Valley of British Columbia have been leaching toxic levels of selenium into the Elk River, which flows into Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River in Montana and Idaho. The mines are owned by Glencore, a Swiss-headquartered multinational commodities trader that has a well-known reputation for corruption, bribery, and environmental damage. Lake Koocanusa is well above the legal limit for selenium in the waters – at levels that threaten fish populations and aquatic life.

Now, the province of British Columbia is considering a permit to allow for an expansion of mining activities (https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com) is trying to decide how to mitigate and prevent the current pollution. The expansion of Fording River would allow for Elk Valley Resources (EVR), the company proposing the expansion, to expand the mine by an additional 5,000 acres, which would only exacerbate the already dire selenium pollution issue in Koocanusa and the Kootenai watershed.

I protest and beg that you not permit this mining.

Sincerely,