Introduction

A Closer Look: The Elk Valley

• Concerns Facing the Mining Industry

Taking Care of the Environment: Greenhills

Air Quality Control

Water Quality and Drainage Control

Testing Water Quality

Reclamation of Post-Mining Areas

Why Do Research?

Conclusion

Introduction

Mining is a unique industry. Unlike forestry or fisheries, mining resources are hidden. Finding a coal deposit worthy of mining is difficult and putting a mine into production is a lengthy and expensive process. The only way for new mines to be discovered is to ensure that large areas of land remain open for exploration. This doesn’t mean that lots of mines will be developed in these areas, it only means that the opportunity to find and establish mines remains open. Should a mine be developed, the site will be reclaimed once the coal is extracted and the mine is closed. The mining industry ensures, through reclamation bonding, that mine sites will be reclaimed to achieve a land-use goal acceptable to the public and to the government.

Mining in British Columbia is regulated at both provincial and federal levels. Throughout the life cycle of a mine, monitoring processes ensure the industry complies with society’s environmental objectives. These objectives are established primarily through laws and regulations, but they are also set out in commitments made by mining companies during the environmental assessment process.

With each step in the exploration process, more is revealed about the nature and extent of a coal deposit. When it is believed that there is significant development potential, information on the surrounding environment is collected to establish natural or baseline conditions. This information is useful not only for assessing how development might potentially impact the environment, but also to predict if an impact might occur during the mining operation. Environmental data collection and impact assessments require significant resources and study over a period of years, and must be completed before approvals or permits are sought. A detailed feasibility study is conducted to determine if recovery of the coal can be done economically.

The feasibility study painstakingly examines every aspect of the future development of the mine. Aspects examined include; the mining method (open pit or underground), the recovery plant design, mine-waste disposal options, staff and administrative requirements, emission treatment requirements and other environmental considerations, transport and safety concerns, capital required, cash flow, costs and profits. A final decision on whether the mine proceeds or not is based on the results of this study.

In British Columbia, mine exploration and property development, from initial discovery to mine production can take up to 10 years, and sometimes longer. Even at an early stage in exploration, potential investors need the assurance that, if they are lucky enough to discover a coal deposit, they will be given a fair chance to demonstrate that it can be turned into a productive, profitable and environmentally sound mine.

The financial risks associated with mine development are extremely high. A lot of money must be spent to locate a deposit and conduct feasibility and environmental studies before it is even known if the development will be approved and permits will be issued. At any given stage in the development process it may be determined that the deposit cannot be economically mined, or that the mine will be too environmentally challenging. At this point the project could be cancelled, and all disturbed land reclaimed.

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