http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan
Mining companies currently hire independent consultants and present those reports to government
On the heels of one the the worst spill disasters in Canadian history, some people in Saskatchewan are worried about how this province protects and regulates tailings ponds.
It comes after the Mount Polley Mine tailings pond wall collapsed in B.C. Water, contaminated from years of mining, is flowing into nearby lakes and rivers.
In Saskatchewan, mining companies hire consultants for tailings pond inspections. Those reports are passed on to the Ministry of Environment for review.
Peter Prebble of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society said he would prefer the government do its own inspections of the tailings ponds and not rely solely on the company’s reports.
“There’s been a real tendency in Saskatchewan to encourage self regulation by companies, in other words, to encourage them to take more responsibility for ensuring that regulations are met. I’m worried that we’re moving too far in that direction,” he said.
In B.C., a total of 10 billion litres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of metal-laden sand has leaked out of the tailings ponds.
Government officials last warned the company of a possible failure of the pond walls in May. It has done 14 inspections since 2012.
A number of B.C. communities are facing bans on swimming in, drinking and cooking with water.
For the original site of this article, click here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/group-calls-for-government-inspections-of-sask-mine-ponds-1.2730816