Canadian company NWP Coal is proposing a new coal mine in British Columbia, in the same watershed where five mountaintop removal coal mines have been polluting the Kootenai River with toxic selenium for decades.
Selenium and other toxic pollution from the B.C. coal mines endangers fish like the Kootenai River white sturgeon by stunting growth and diminishing reproduction.
These fish are some of the largest in North America and have lived in the Kootenai River since prehistoric times. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is undertaking extraordinary efforts to revive this unique population of sturgeon, as well as the burbot fishery, but selenium pollution undermines their efforts.
NWP claims that their Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project will not increase selenium contamination. However, they have not submitted a water treatment plan or provided any details about how they intend to prevent selenium and other pollutants from entering the river.
The impacts of the mountaintop removal coal mines in British Columbia are already out of compliance with Canadian and US regulations. This new mine will only make things worse. Tribes, First Nations, and the United States government have long been asking for a referral of this transboundary pollution problem to the International Joint Commission (IJC) so the dispute can be resolved. It would be an awful disregard for these requests if Canada were to approve the Crown Mt. Mine before the IJC can do its job.
Now is the time to speak up for Idaho’s waterways. The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) are currently accepting public comments on the proposed new mine. Tell them that given the current pollution problems and the increased threat posed to Idaho’s waterways, you oppose the new mine proposal. The deadline for comments is Wednesday, February 28th!
Here are some comment examples. We encourage you to rewrite them in your own words.
- I urge you to deny the proposed Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project. Its location is in a watershed already burdened by toxic selenium pollution from mountaintop removal coal mining activities. This pollution poses a threat to iconic fish species like the Kootenai River white sturgeon and burbot, jeopardizing their survival and hindering ongoing conservation efforts by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. Without adequate measures in place to prevent further pollution and ensure compliance with water quality standards, approving this new mine will only exacerbate the situation. Please prioritize the protection of waterways and reject this proposal, while simultaneously referring the existing transboundary pollution problem to the International Joint Commission.
- I strongly oppose the proposed Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project, given the persistent selenium pollution in the Kootenai River stemming from existing mountaintop removal coal mines. The endangerment of iconic fish species like the Kootenai River white sturgeon and burbot highlights the need to address water quality concerns. Without adequate measures to prevent contamination and ensure compliance with water quality standards, approving this new mine would exacerbate an already alarming environmental situation. I urge the Environmental Assessment Office and Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to reject this proposal. The existing transboundary pollution problem needs to be immediately referred to the International Joint Commission. Thank you for your consideration.
Please take action by clicking the button below to submit your comments! The deadline for comments is February 28th, so don’t wait—Idaho’s clean water and fish need you to speak up for them today!