Calling for an environmental assessment before expanding Teck’s Elk Valley coal mine

In addition to climate concerns, the Elk Valley mine threatens Westslope cutthroat trout, which are listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. Once it poisons waterways, selenium pollution can last in those ecosystems for thousands of years. According to Wildsight, expanding the Castle Mountain mine would worsen this pollution for hundreds of kilometres downstream, on both the Canadian and American sides of the border.

If built, the Elk Valley expansion would be immediately upstream of a river where 93 per cent of these adult trout have disappeared over the past two years. The expansion would add to this toxic pollution, threaten travel pathways for grizzly bears and wolverines, and lead to major mining and downstream carbon emissions.

What this victory means

A federal impact assessment will help address the concerns Ecojustice and Wildsight have about the proposed Castle Mountain mine expansion and give organizations and members of the community the opportunity to present arguments and evidence.

Ecojustice is also pleased that the minister’s decision acknowledges the coal mine expansion may have adverse impacts on Indigenous rights. Together with our clients, we continue to call for a thorough assessment process that will meaningfully engage and protect those rights.