First Nations angered by delays in joint probe of cross-border contamination from coal mines
Global News
First Nations and environmentalists say they are angry the federal and B.C. governments continue to stonewall U.S. requests for a joint investigation of contamination from mining.
First Nations and environmentalists say they are angry the federal and British Columbia governments continue to stonewall American requests for a joint investigation of cross-border contamination from coal mining as meetings of the panel that mediates such issues wrap up.
“They can sit on every fence they want, but at the end of the day, we’re going to do what’s right,” said Heidi Gravelle, chief of the Tobacco Plains First Nation, one of several bands upset over selenium contamination in southeastern B.C.’s Elk Valley from coal mines.
“We won’t stop.”
The International Joint Commission, the Canada-U.S. body that mediates water disputes, has been meeting in Ottawa this week.
Since May, it has been asking Canada to join with the Americans in an investigation, called a reference, of the Elk Valley issue. The reference is supported by the Biden administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the states of Montana and Idaho, First Nations and environmental groups on both sides of the border, as well as the commission itself.
“The U.S. government continues to stress its strong interest in a binational reference to engage the (commission),” said commission spokesman Edward Virden.
Canadian governments are noncommittal.
“The Government of Canada is considering a variety of options … to address water quality concerns in the Elk Valley,” wrote Kaitlin Power, a spokeswoman for Environment and Climate Change Canada.