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

Why do research?

Environmental technicians at the mine need to do a lot of research to ensure that their reclamation activities are successful.

Technicians need to find different plant species that will be nutritious for the wildlife in both summer and winter. They then have to find out which plants will grow better at lower elevations, at the bottoms of mountains, and which ones will grow at higher elevations. The forests are full of all sorts of different types of trees and plants, so when land is reclaimed it is important to make sure that many different shrubs, legumes, grasses and trees are planted at the right elevations.

"Conifer Seedlings"

Environmental technicians study wildlife populations on the mine site. They usually conduct wildlife studies by helicopter. By studying animal groups and their movement, they can tell where they prefer to live and what they like to eat in different seasons. All this information will tell the technicians how well their reclamation projects are working and will help them to plan future projects.

"Greenhills is committed to returning the land to a state that is equal to or better than what existed before mining began. They are continuously working to protect the natural balance of the Elk and Fording River Valleys so that wilderness treasures can be enjoyed for many years to come."⁷

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