Partnerships in Support of Environment and Health Protection

Environmental co-op/internship students collect water samples from the Fording River, downstream of Line Creek Operations.

Our management of sustainability issues has evolved over the past decade in line with regulatory requirements and Community of Interest (CoI) expectations. As traditional barriers among the mining industry, regulatory bodies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and CoIs have faded, “CoI partnerships” have emerged; these partnerships take the form of committees, working groups and task forces. These partnerships are consensus-driven, multi-CoI efforts whose purpose is to bridge gaps between science, policy and community relations. We participate in a number of partnerships. A few examples of our partnerships are provided below.

Elk Valley Selenium Task Force.

The Elk Valley Selenium Task Force (EVSTF), was established in 1998 to investigate the potential environmental effects of selenium in the Elk River watershed. The Task Force comprises representatives from the B.C. Ministries of Environment (MoE) and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (MEMPR), Environment Canada, Teck and a Secretariat. The EVSTF initiates, assesses and manages studies on the ecological effects of selenium discharges, research and development on selenium treatment and mitigation and communicates with CoIs, in particular, through annual Selenium Status reports and the EVSTF website. During 2009, work focused on biomonitoring trend studies, selenium geochemical behaviour and modeling, treatment research and the development and establishment of operation-specific thresholds and management triggers.

Find more information on selenium management at Teck Coal, in Your Concerns Our Response.

Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) Environment Committee.

We maintain active participation, through our expertise, financial contributions to research and regulatory liaison efforts, on two MABC subcommittees:

• The Science Sub-Committee works with MoE and MEMPR to support the development and application of water quality guidelines in a regulatory framework. The sub-committee has focused on collaboration and utilizing science to support revisions to environmental quality guidelines. An associated Technical Forum involving collaboration between government and industry was established in early 2010.
• The Climate Action Task Force works with the MEMPR and MoE to brief the BC Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, promoting energy efficiency and technology, alternative fuels, electricity generation and transmission and carbon sequestration. Recommendations have included tax credits for research on lowemission mining practices and a technology fund to support new technologies.

Teck-First Nations Technical Working Group.

As part of our rehabilitation and closure planning activities at the Pinchi Lake Mine, we work closely with the neighbouring Tl’azt’en Nation and the Nak’azdli Band. Teck and First Nation representatives have participated in this joint working group and in 2009 recommended, designed and reviewed numerous environmental studies that formed the foundation for the Pinchi Lake Mine Closure Plan. The Trail Health and Environment Program. Please see the detailed case study of this program.