“If you had asked me two weeks ago if that could happen, I would have said it couldn’t happen.”
– Imperial Mines President Brian Kynoch
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A robust engineering design is a fail proof design. A reservoir the size of a lake created by an earthen wall is not a safe design for a tailing pond filled with toxic waste. A fail proof design would contain many separate cells so that the breaching of one cell would not release the contents of all cells into the environment. Such fail proofing strategies are found in double hulled ships and isolation compartments in submarines for example.
When the consequences of failure are incalculable fail proofing regardless of cost is required.
But wouldn’t that increase costs for the mine operator? And wouldn’t that decrease profits? And what regulator is there to insist on safety, and protection for us from the consequences of such failure?
We have been led here by those who howl for small government, reduced regulatory burden, and streamlining all that red tape. Congratulations to you all.
I think it’s just an epic fail all around. And let’s not forget the mantra: “Profits, ours. Problems; yours”.
Well, their share price tanked 50%, a roughly $400M market cap correction i.e. a huge cost to the shareholders and the CEO which usually gets paid with a salary + bonus + stock options.
Their profits are now gone, and the company may not survive it.
People, incl. green activists, CEOs, natives or lay people, hopefully understand that a healthy economy and a healthy environment are not mutually exclusive !
Any idea about the profits, salaries and share gains earned during, and as a result of, the activities that created the sludge dump (oops “tailing pond”).
An intelligent economy is the protector of a pristine environment.
Well somewhat pristine at least, as any harbour or airport or ferry terminal does not allow swimming usually … and land is compromised i.e. tree cutting, roads, noise, diesel fumes,
Man and its industrial activity has obviously an impact on the environment for food, shelter, transportation, clothing, recreation …
A “robust” engineering approach considers “what if” failure scenarios. The design response should depend on the consequences of failure which can vary from little or nothing to catastrophic. In this case there is the potential to cause the extinction of the Fraser River sockeye run, a very consequential event indeed should it happen. The design of this “pond” is therefore inadequate due to the enormous volume of toxic waste that could be released into the Fraser River system at any one time. This is true whether or not there is a structural failure. I suggest that this should be the standard for best engineering practice and it should be enforced by the authority having jurisdiction.
Indeed, it seems to be overly sloppy so close to a major river. An earth dam only ? Not even a concrete tank with liners or multiple holding tanks / chambers / sub-ponds. How many other ponds like this exist in BC so close to a river ?
If this was built today, what would be the current environmental / engineering practices ?