The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 Federal watchdog urged to investigate Canada’s ‘longstanding failure’ to stop B.C. Elk Valley coal mine pollution https://thenarwhal.ca/federal-watchdog-urged-to-investigate-canadas-longstanding-failure-to-stop-b-c-elk-valley-coal-mine-pollution/ Fri, 16 Jul 2021 22:24:07 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=31855 Report from the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre says new proposed mines could further poison waterways and wipe out species at risk Judith Lavoie News B.C. coal mining Elk Valley mining Selenium Teck Resources water Photo: Callum Gunn aerial view of rocky mountain coal mine As mining waste leaches into B.C. waters, experts worry new rules will be too little, too late https://thenarwhal.ca/elk-valley-bc-coal-mining-pollution-rules/ Wed, 28 Apr 2021 18:35:54 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=28000 Teck’s coal mines in B.C.’s Elk Valley are poised to be exempt from more stringent federal rules as selenium pollution continues to leach from waste rock piles Ainslie Cruickshank In-Depth B.C. coal coal mining Elk Valley mining Selenium Teck Resources water aerial view of mines in Elk Valley Coal mining is big business in the B.C. Rockies. It could get bigger if these projects are approved https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-rockies-coal-mining-proposals/ Thu, 01 Apr 2021 21:36:38 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=27211 Four proposed projects are undergoing environmental review in the Kootenay Rockies, where open-pit coal mining is tied to longstanding pollution concerns Ainslie Cruickshank Explainer News B.C. coal Elk Valley mining Selenium Teck Resources wildlife aerial view of rocky mountains in elk valley Teck fined $60 million for water pollution in B.C.’s Elk Valley https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-teck-fined-60-million-selenium-fisheries-act/ Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:01:57 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=27090 The company’s CEO apologized for releases of selenium and calcite from metallurgical coal mines after receiving the largest penalty ever handed down for offences under the federal Fisheries Act Ainslie Cruickshank News coal Elk Valley Indigenous mining Selenium Teck Resources water wildlife An aerial view of Teck Resources' coal mines in the Elk Valley in British Columbia B.C. under pressure as U.S. EPA releases selenium pollution standard for water near Elk Valley coal mines https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-teck-coal-mines-epa-selenium-limits/ Mon, 08 Mar 2021 22:14:53 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=26615 Environmental group calls for official Canada-U.S. International Joint Commission investigation over pollution downstream of Teck Resources’ operations Ainslie Cruickshank News coal Elk Valley mining Selenium water wildlife coal mining B.C.-Alberta border Aging Ajax mine leaching arsenic, selenium into creek near Kamloops, B.C. https://thenarwhal.ca/ajax-mine-arsenic-selenium-peterson-creek-kamloops-b-c/ Fri, 09 Oct 2020 22:55:24 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=22839 A lack of monitoring of contamination in Peterson Creek demonstrates the province’s need for mining reform and ‘polluter pays’ rules, critics say Judith Lavoie News Ajax Mine B.C. mining Selenium water Peterson Creek Park Peter Olsen The Narwhal B.C. stalling on new rules for selenium pollution from coal mines, environmental groups say https://thenarwhal.ca/b-c-stalling-rules-selenium-pollution-coal-mines/ Thu, 08 Oct 2020 19:56:32 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=22753 The province, along with U.S. counterparts, agreed to bring in new standards by 2020 but has yet to release details even as a proposed Teck Resources mine is considered Ainslie Cruickshank News coal Elk Valley mining Selenium Teck Resources wildife B.C. Elk Valley Selenium Teck Coal Mines Ottawa to review Teck’s Castle Mountain coal mine in B.C. amid concerns over fish habitat https://thenarwhal.ca/teck-resources-castle-mountain-mine-federal-review-announced/ Thu, 20 Aug 2020 00:27:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=21412 Federal decision comes on the heels of new research from the U.S. Geological Survey that will help inform selenium guidelines to ensure safety of fish in cross-border lake Ainslie Cruickshank News B.C. coal Elk Valley mining Selenium Teck Resources Teck Elk Valley mines waste rock Seabridge Gold asks B.C. for more time to begin KSM mine construction, citing COVID-19 https://thenarwhal.ca/ksm-mine-seabridge-gold-extension-covid-19/ Wed, 19 Aug 2020 22:38:21 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=21399 If granted, the extension would give the company 12 years to achieve a ‘substantial start’ on the mine, which has critics calling for a new assessment of environmental impacts Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood News alaska B.C. KSM mining Selenium Brucejack and KSM mine site Unique B.C. trout population suffers 93 per cent crash downstream of Teck’s Elk Valley coal mines https://thenarwhal.ca/teck-resources-elk-valley-mines-bc-fish/ Thu, 16 Apr 2020 22:51:24 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=18031 Environment Canada was told that selenium pollution emanating from a string of coal mines in B.C.’s southeast corner could lead to reproductive failure and ‘a total population collapse’ of sensitive species like the westslope cutthroat trout Carol Linnitt In-Depth Elk Valley mining Selenium Teck westslope cutthroat trout wildlife Westslope Cutthroat Trout Teck Elk Valley Selenium Yukon seeks $25 million in outstanding cleanup fees from owners of shuttered, contaminated Wolverine mine https://thenarwhal.ca/yukon-seeks-25-million-in-outstanding-cleanup-fees-from-owners-of-shuttered-contaminated-wolverine-mine/ Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:14:57 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=17067 After operating for just three years, Yukon Zinc, owned by a private Chinese company, left the territory with unpaid security deposits and a flooded mine site, polluted with cadmium, selenium, copper and lead Lori Fox In-Depth mining Selenium tailings ponds Wolverine mine Wolverine mine Yukon Zinc