Mount Polley Mine’s Legal Troubles Escalate Following Tailings Pond Incident

Authorities Investigate Environmental Breach: A Historic Overview

Over 17 million cubic meters of water and eight million cubic meters of tailings effluent — containing toxic copper and gold mining waste — flowed into lakes and streams that supported salmon spawning in British Columbia’s Cariboo region.

Environment and Climate Change Canada, along with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, are investigating potential violations of the Federal Fisheries Act related to the tailings pond breach. The BC Conservation Officer Service shared this information in a statement on Tuesday.

These agencies are operating as the Mount Polley Integrated Investigation Task Force (MPIITF). The MPIITF previously submitted a report to Crown Counsel for assessment regarding prosecution by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and the British Columbia Prosecution Service.

In 2021, seven years after the tailings storage facility (TSF) failure, disciplinary hearing results were published by Engineers and Geoscientists BC, the organization that enforces professional standards in the industry.

“The charges are outlined in an indictment filed with the Supreme Court of British Columbia on December 6, 2024, which the Company received today,” Imperial Metals stated on Monday. “As this matter is before the courts, the company does not intend to make further public statements.”

A first appearance is scheduled for December 18 in British Columbia’s Supreme Court.

Vancouver-based Imperial Metals currently owns the Mount Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), and the Red Chris mine (30%). Additionally, the company has a portfolio of 23 greenfield exploration properties in the province.