Management plan for Bralorne Gold Mine
Press Release
February 13, 2015
VICTORIA – The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) have implemented a plan to ensure Bralorne Gold Mine (BGM) near Lillooet, B.C. is in compliance with its permit conditions after heavy rainfall this past weekend.
To support this plan, the chief inspector of mines has ordered BGM to complete the following actions:
- Procure additional pumps as required to reduce the amount of water in its tailings storage facility (TSF) and provide back-up pumping capacity.
- Conduct a review of water balance and water-management procedures, including a schematic of the mine’s pumps, applicable pipelines and flow volumes.
- Provide daily reporting to MEM until the mine site is in full compliance. This reporting shall include current freeboard, daily precipitation received on site, weather forecast, pumping discharge rates and volumes as well as a predicted date when the required freeboard will be restored.
MOE has approved BGM’s request for a by-pass authorization from Feb. 11 – March 31, 2015 to allow the mine to pump untreated water into Cadwallader Creek. Under the authorization, BGM must:
- Notify the Interior Health Authority (IHA) regarding the discharge.
- Keep a daily discharge record and provide a weekly report to Environmental Protection.
- Submit a sampling plan prepared by a qualified professional by Feb. 16, 2015.
- Immediately implement an interim sampling plan.
- Undertake a human health and ecological risk assessment if water quality guidelines for metal elements, including arsenic, are exceeded in Lower Cadwallader Creek.
IHA has determined, based on the dilution effect of the creek into Carpenter Lake, that these elements pose no known health risks at this time. IHA will continue to monitor conditions and provide an update if required.
The Bralorne Gold Mine has temporarily ceased operations. It is a small underground gold mining operation located in southwest B.C., approximately 130 kilometres from Lillooet.
Media Contacts:
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628
Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834
NT3
