Report on what caused Mount Polley disaster expected this week – Mining.com

January 28, 2015

The highly anticipated final report from an independent expert panel probing the tailings storage facility breach at Canada’s Mount Polley mine last summer is expected to be released on or before Jan. 31.

Imperial Metals’ (TSX:III) open pit copper and gold mine located in central British Columbia gave way on August 4, sending the equivalent of 2,000 Olympic swimming pools of potentially toxic mining waste into Hazeltine Creek and Quesnel Lake.

And while the mining company has conducted its own environmental monitoring and studies, the report expected this week is set to disclose results of a six-month geotechnical inquiry by an independent panel of engineers, leading to new safety standards for the entire Canadian mining industry.

According to The Globe and Mail, the findings could pave the way for the partial reopening of the mine. But before any fines or prosecution may be determined, authorities will have to wait for the results of other two investigations not yet published.