The Red Chris Mine located in British Columbia is currently facing attention for its failing tailings dam. Investigators found that it was made with foundation materials that were used in the Mount Polley dam failure. On August 4th, 2014, the Mount Polley mine dam ruptured. It released an unprecedented 25 million cubic meters of toxic mine waste, water, and construction debris into the environment. The Red Chris Mine began operations in 2015. Now, in 2023, it is making serious moves to expand the scope of its operations. In particular, critics have worried about the risks posed by its tailings dam.
The tailings dam at the Red Chris Mine is an immediate danger. It might cause irreversible loss of human life, environmental harms, or substantial economic harm. The proposed expansion – which is still under review by B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office – has exacerbated these fears. If even half of the water contained by a failed Red Chris dam were to release at once, it would release over four times the pollution from the 2014 Mount Polley disaster. This is extremely dangerous for the environment. This shocking potential—a very real scenario—makes the case for bold, aggressive and thorough examination and implementation.
The Brighton Dam example revealed major deficiencies in dam failure modeling at the Red Chris Mine tailings dam. This revelation makes emergency planning severely challenging. Substantial selenium levels have been found at another two lakes downstream, posing further environmental dangers. This surprise dousing has hit the surviving aquatic species at the mine site especially hard. This contrast illuminates the many and severe ecological challenges the unbuilt mine has yet to dodge.
The joint responsibility for the Red Chris Mine’s tailings dam lies with Imperial Metals Corp. and the engineering company AMEC. Now Imperial Metals Corp. and two other companies are looking at substantial criminal liability. Authorities have filed 15 federal Fisheries Act charges against them in connection with the Mount Polley disaster. This legal backdrop begs the question of whether current operations are safe or legally compliant.
Despite these challenges, the mine’s expansion is included in a list of 18 project applications that the B.C. government aims to fast-track in response to U.S. tariffs. Yet this decision has raised controversy and focuses attention on whether regulatory assurances alone can ensure against the risk of another calamitous failure.
Ministers Tamara Davidson and Jagrup Brar have responded to community opposition to the London Mine.
“We recognize that there are significant concerns around this mine. Since 2016, the mine has been operating under significantly stronger environmental standards.”
“What happened in 2014 can never happen again. Our strong requirements to protecting the environment are non-negotiable.”
Environmental advocates remain cautious about these assurances. Nikki Skuce shared her doubts about whether any of the changes implemented since the Mount Polley catastrophe would be enough.
“They went too far. Some changes have been made since the disaster. We’d argue not enough for safety to be put first.”
“To just keep adding volume, I’m not sure the province has the regulatory guarantees that this will never happen again.”
