The Tyee: Old Coal Mines Near Crowsnest Pass Are Still Killing Fish
A new study warns against new mines in the area, finding toxic selenium pollution persists for decades.
By Andrew Nikiforuk
Mountain top removal coal mines in the historic Crowsnest Pass present a clear and present danger to downstream fish populations even decades after their closure, according to a new scientific paper funded by the government of Alberta.
The study, which examined the biological impact on fish from historic coal mining on Tent Mountain, found the legacy of open-pit mining “can persist long after mining operations end,” resulting in devastating losses for fish containing some of the highest levels for selenium ever recorded in the province.
The researchers also concluded that high selenium pollution recorded in fish netted from Crowsnest Lake strongly suggest that “any further coal mine development may well push the Crowsnest fishery beyond sustainability.” In other words, more development may well finish off the region’s distinct biological diversity.