Developmental deformities in trout offspring caused by high selenium levels downstream from the Luscar mine are raising alarm bells with Alberta conservation groups. "Preliminary results from a three-year study by federal and provincial agencies show that young trout collected downstream from the Luscar mine and its end-pit lake are experiencing what are known as "teratogenic effects," says Niki Wilson, Policy Analyst with the Pembina Institute. "This means the deformities are occurring at a very early stage of development, and in this case resulting in increased spinal deformities, swelling and deformities of the head. In simple terms, elevated selenium levels are decreasing the survival of young trout."
The Pembina Institute, Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) are calling on regulatory agencies to send the proposed Cheviot Mine Project (to be located upstream of Luscar) back to the drawing board because it would mine the same type of selenium-bearing rock. Water from both areas flows into the McLeod River system. "At a minimum, the Cheviot project needs to come up with a new compensation program that addresses water quality problems and does not harm local fish populations," says Kerry Brewin of TUC. Dianne Pachal with CPAWS' Edmonton Chapter says, "The findings are just one more reason why Cheviot should be altogether turned down."
Selenium contamination is also a human health concern. Albertans were notified about the potential hazard posed by the bioaccumulation of selenium in sport fish in the McLeod River by an Alberta Health and Wellness news release issued February 2000. People fishing in the area are not considered to be at risk of selenium exposure however, as only, "catch and release" fishing is now allowed in the waters affected by the Luscar mine.
Environmental groups are very concerned about the impact the nearly mined-out Luscar mine is having on water quality, and that the company will turn the problem over to the province. "This study confirms that there is a serious problem, and a solution is needed" notes Wilson. "Until it can be proven that selenium discharges can be brought within the Canadian Water Quality guidelines and the impacts of selenium on fish averted, the Alberta government should not sign-off on reclamation at Luscar."
"The Alberta and federal governments should respond to these findings by withdrawing all approvals for Cheviot," states Pachal. "The approvals were granted on the basis that the company and government could find effective measures to prevent selenium contamination and that has not happened." Mining at Cheviot would add to an already serious selenium problem for which there is no known technically and economically feasible solution.
Very small quantities of selenium are found in rock layers that overly the coal seams in Alberta's Cadomin area. With open-pit mining, rock is excavated and dumped on the surrounding landscape and streams in order to reach the coal. Selenium is picked up by water that percolates through these rock dumps and is subsequently discharged directly into area rivers or it collects in "end-pit" lakes that also drain into the rivers. End-pit lakes are mine pits that are left to fill with water after the coal is removed.
"With the elevated selenium levels and contaminated fish at Luscar, it is clear that end-pit lakes will in no way compensate for the native trout streams that will be destroyed by mining," notes Brewin. "Rather than being a solution to the problem, they are a problem themselves."
Brewin added, "Regulatory agencies like Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Alberta Fish and Wildlife have to look at the results of the studies they partnered in. Their results show that they must conclude end-pit lakes will be destructive to the long-term health of the fishery resources they are designed to provide habitat for. They should be telling Cheviot to go back to the drawing board and develop a new plan for compensating for all of the streams that coal mining activities will destroy."
End-pit lakes are used to reduce mining and reclamation costs at open-pit mines. They are also a recent experiment to compensate for fish habitat lost through mining. The Alberta and federal governments accepted end-pit lakes as Cheviot's program to compensate for damaged and lost fish habitat, including that of bull trout, a species of special concern in Alberta.
Cheviot would be leaving more than a dozen end-pits to fill with water and be stocked with fish, compared to the single end-pit lake at Luscar that resulted in harmful levels of selenium in the "lake" and subsequently in Luscar Creek.
Download background information: Luscar Mine, Cheviot Mine and Selenium
For more information:
Niki Wilson, Pembina Institute 403-618-7570
Dianne Pachal, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society — Edmonton Chapter 403-234-7368
Kerry Brewin, Alberta Council Trout Unlimited Canada 403-875-3264
For more information on the Cheviot issue see www.cpaws-edmonton.org/cheviot
For more information on the above organizations, please visit the following websites: