ECCC Proposed Coal Mining Effluent Release Regulations

May 5, 2022

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• Coal
• Wildwater
• WLA Archive

Wild Lands Advocate Wilderness Watch update by: Phillip Meintzer, AWA Conservation Specialist

Click here for a pdf version of the article.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) are preparing to allow coal mine operators to release coal mining effluent into aquatic ecosystems under newly proposed regulations. The proposed regulations are being developed under the Fisheries Act, scheduled for implementation in 2023, and would allow mine operators to release specified deposits of coal mining effluent which has been prohibited up until now. The coal effluent that will be authorised for release is required to meet specific thresholds for the concentrations of deleterious substances such as selenium, nitrate, and suspended solids.