| Lakes Dumping Grounds for Toxic Waste | 31 October 06 |
 In a precedent-setting move, Environment Canada has amended the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER), under the Fisheries Act, to allow lakes to be re-defined as tailings impoundment areas. They are no longer considered to be lakes and are no longer protected under the Fisheries Act.On October 18th, 2006 Aur Resources received permission to dump toxic waste from its copper-zinc-gold mine into two lakes in Newfoundland's largest watershed. These lakes are habitat to trout, Atlantic salmon, otter, and other species. The legalized destruction of fish-bearing lakes opens the door to destruction of other fish-bearing water bodies. Environment Canada confirmed at least nine other mine projects in British Columbia, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories will be seeking similar amendments so they can use lakes as waste dumpsites. Officials in Environment Canada and DFO defend the amendments, saying that loss of lakes can be compensated for by altering nearby areas to create new fish habitat. Independent fish and aquatic habitat experts who examined the mining company's reports used by Environment Canada and DFO to justify the amendments say they are inadequate and scientifically inferior, and that no new fish habitat will be created. View the October 24, 2006 MiningWatch Canada press release View the October 26, 2006 Georgia Straight article View more information from MiningWatch Canada on the MMER View information from the Canadian Environmental Network on the MMER Source: MiningWatch Canada |
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