The United States and Canada, together with representatives of indigenous communities, have launched a joint plan to combat coal mining pollution in British Columbia. This environmental problem has negatively affected waterways and the fishing industry in the border area between the two countries for a long period of time.
The plan to deal with coal mining pollution
The strategy to address this pollution will be carried out under the auspices of the U.S.-Canada Boundary Waters Treaty. It provides for the creation of independent committees that will evaluate the impact of pollution and suggest corrective measures.
The mining technique used in the region, known as mountaintop removal mining, is used to extract coal for the steel industry. This process leads to the release of chemicals that are potentially harmful to aquatic life, including fish, aquatic insects and birds.
It is important to note that there has been an increase in the levels of selenium, a by-product of coal mining, in the waters flowing into Lake Koocanusa over the past few decades. Studies have directly linked this phenomenon to mining operations in the Elk River Valley, British Columbia.
The Elk River drains into the Kootenai River, which flows through Montana from Canada, flows through Idaho and eventually joins the Columbia River. The diplomatic proposal to address this issue was established in March 2023, when U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed their desire to reach an “agreement in principle.”
This agreement, developed with the participation of tribes and First Nations, seeks to mitigate pollution in the Elk-Kootenai watershed in the coming months. Stephenne Harding, senior land director for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, emphasized the urgency of the situation, pointing to rising pollution levels and the need for joint solutions to protect both people and affected species. This process is intended to consolidate all relevant data and knowledge to facilitate critical decision making.
The transboundary collaboration between the United States and Canada on this project not only highlights the importance of joint action in managing shared environmental problems, but also underscores the crucial role of indigenous communities in formulating conservation strategies.
By integrating traditional and scientific knowledge, this holistic approach promises not only to address existing pollution, but also to lay the foundation for sustainable environmental management in the future.
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Source: mining-technology.com
Photo: shutterstock.com
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