September 22, 2014 — The Mount Polley mine disaster has officially spilled over the border into the U.S. – figuratively speaking.
A coalition of Alaskan politicians, including both senators and Congressman Don Young, as well as state legislators, have signed a letter asking U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to intervene to address concerns over new mines in the northwest corner of B.C. and the impacts they could have on Alaskan waters and fish.
The letter was prompted by the Mount Polley mine disaster, which spilled more than two tonnes of mine slurry and 10 million tonnes of water into Hazeltine Creek and Polley and Quesnel lakes.
Mount Polley is nowhere the U.S. borders, but the Red Chris mine is located in northwest B.C. in the Stikine watershed, which is shared with Alaska.
Red Chris is owned by Imperial Metals (TSX:III), which also owns the Mount Polley mine.
It is one of five “acid-draining” mines proposed for the region that Alaskan fishermen are concerned about, because they are all located on river systems shared with Alaska: the Unuk, Stikine and Taku.
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