Lawmakers in Alaska and Washington state are renewing calls for British Columbia to strengthen its mining regulations to protect shared waterways. The audit was already underway in 2014 when the 40-metre tailings dam failed at the Mount Polley copper and gold mine in B.C. The open-pit copper mine has two 150-metre tailings dams that have been raised regularly in recent years. Copper Mountain's chief operating officer, Don Strickland, said in an interview the concern is based on the assumption that the mine's dam is not safe. Washington state leaders are concerned about wild salmon that are already under pressure, while tailings dams continue to be approved in B.C.

Source: CBC News June 02, 2021 15:22 UTC