Impact assessment monitoring in the Quesnel Lake Watershed ... · LOOKING FORWARD Impact assessment...
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L OOKING FORWARD Impact assessment monitoring in the Quesnel Lake Watershed after the Mount Polley Mining Company tailings dam breach C. Swan, D. Epps, and L. Miller, │ BC Ministry of Environment SETAC 2014 ABSTRACT Following the breach of the Mount Polley Mine Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) on August 4, 2014, more than 25 million m 3 of tailings and waste water spilled into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek and flowed downstream into Quesnel Lake. The flood waters created a debris path 150 m wide along Hazeltine Creek and a large sediment delta at Quesnel Lake. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) initiated an intensive 5 week sampling program to determine the potential for human health (drinking water and fish consumption) and aquatic life impacts. Initial findings indicate that metal concentrations are below BC MOE drinking water guidelines; however, there are a few metals with levels above both acute and chronic BC guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. A persistent fine sediment plume associated with elevated metals concentrations has been observed below the thermocline in Quesnel Lake. Elevated metal concentrations are observed primarily in total, not dissolved, metal measurements suggesting the metals are not currently bioavailable. MOE continues to work with the mine, other provincial and federal agencies, First Nations, academia and local communities to identify key ecosystem components and ensure an integrated approach to further monitoring. THE T AILINGS POND BREACH HAZELTINE DEEP S TATION – QUESNEL LAKE 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 1 10 100 1000 10000 Depth (m) Turbidity (NTU) 12-Aug-14 22-Aug-14 04-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 0 5 10 15 20 25 Depth (m) Temperature ( C) 12-Aug-14 22-Aug-14 04-Sep-14 11-Sep-14 MOE’S S AMPLING PROGRAM For more information and to download data: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley/ • Mount Polley Mining Corporation’s tailings dam breached early on the morning of August 4, 2014. • Approximately 17 million m 3 of water and 8 million m 3 of associated tailings material materials was discharged into Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake via Hazeltine Creek. • MOE’s water quality monitoring began on August 4 th , 2014. • MOE issued a Pollution Abatement Order on August 5, 2014. Floating debris islands – Aug 4 th Hazeltine Creek – Sept 17th Turbid Water – Aug 20 th Hazeltine Creek – Sept 4 th • Initial sampling effort focused on water quality. • Also collected sediment, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish samples 36 m. (21 NTU) 45 m. (168 NTU) 60 m. (240 NTU) August 12, 2014 CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN IN QUESNEL LAKE • There is a strong thermocline present at ~ 30 m in Quesnel Lake near the mouth of Hazeltine Creek. • Water samples with elevated Cu, Fe, Al, and P above water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life have been observed in Quesnel Lake. • Most of the contaminants appear to be associated with the fine suspended sediment as concentrations are greater below 25 m and in the samples analysed for total metals. BC Max WQG (Aq. Life) BC 30 day WQG (Aq Life) CCME Chronic WQG (Aq Life) • Turbidity increases rapidly at below 30 m, suggesting a persistent fine sediment plume is present at depth. • Strong correlations between turbidity and contaminants of concern have been observed. • This will allow us to use data loggers to monitor turbidity over winter and extrapolate water quality. • MOE continues to work with MPMC, DFO, UNBC, EC and First Nations to build a strong long-term monitoring program. THANK Y OU Azimuth Consulting Services (data summaries), Kym Keogh, Dan Bings, Jack Greene, Joanne McLeod, Sam Albers (UNBC/QRRC data collection), Data tabulation &QA/QC: Jennifer Puhallo, Samantha Cooper, Nicole Obee, Michelle Kehler, Rosie Barlak, Tracy Henderson, Kara Przeczek, Mike Sokal, and Dennis Einarson
Transcript of Impact assessment monitoring in the Quesnel Lake Watershed ... · LOOKING FORWARD Impact assessment...
LOOKING FORWARD
Impact assessment monitoring in the Quesnel Lake
Watershed after the Mount Polley Mining Company tailings
dam breach
C. Swan, D. Epps, and L. Miller, │ BC Ministry of Environment
SETAC 2014
ABSTRACT Following the breach of the Mount Polley Mine Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) on August 4, 2014, more than 25 million m3 of tailings and waste water spilled into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek and flowed downstream into Quesnel Lake. The flood waters created a debris path 150 m wide along Hazeltine Creek and a large sediment delta at Quesnel Lake. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) initiated an intensive 5 week sampling program to determine the potential for human health (drinking water and fish consumption) and aquatic life impacts. Initial findings indicate that metal concentrations are below BC MOE drinking water guidelines; however, there are a few metals with levels above both acute and chronic BC guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. A persistent fine sediment plume associated with elevated metals concentrations has been observed below the thermocline in Quesnel Lake. Elevated metal concentrations are observed primarily in total, not dissolved, metal measurements suggesting the metals are not currently bioavailable. MOE continues to work with the mine, other provincial and federal agencies, First Nations, academia and local communities to identify key ecosystem components and ensure an integrated approach to further monitoring.
THE TAILINGS POND BREACH HAZELTINE DEEP STATION – QUESNEL LAKE
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1 10 100 1000 10000
De
pth
(m
)
Turbidity (NTU)
12-Aug-14
22-Aug-14
04-Sep-14
11-Sep-14
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 5 10 15 20 25
De
pth
(m
)
Temperature ( C)
12-Aug-14
22-Aug-14
04-Sep-14
11-Sep-14
MOE’S SAMPLING PROGRAM
For more information and to download data: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley/
• Mount Polley Mining Corporation’s tailings dam breached early on the morning of August 4, 2014.
• Approximately 17 million m3 of water and 8 million m3 of associated tailings material materials was discharged into Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake via Hazeltine Creek.
• MOE’s water quality monitoring began on August 4th, 2014. • MOE issued a Pollution Abatement Order on August 5, 2014.
Floating debris islands – Aug 4th Hazeltine Creek – Sept 17th Turbid Water – Aug 20th Hazeltine Creek – Sept 4th
• Initial sampling effort focused on water quality.
• Also collected sediment, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish samples
36 m. (21 NTU)
45 m. (168 NTU)
60 m. (240 NTU)
August 12, 2014
CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN IN QUESNEL LAKE
• There is a strong thermocline present at ~ 30 m in Quesnel Lake near the mouth of Hazeltine Creek.
• Water samples with elevated Cu, Fe, Al, and P above water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life have been observed in Quesnel Lake.
• Most of the contaminants appear to be associated with the fine suspended sediment as concentrations are greater below 25 m and in the samples analysed for total metals.
BC Max WQG (Aq. Life)
BC 30 day WQG (Aq Life)
CCME Chronic WQG (Aq Life)
• Turbidity increases rapidly at below 30 m, suggesting a persistent fine sediment plume is present at depth.
• Strong correlations between turbidity and contaminants of concern have been observed.
• This will allow us to use data loggers to monitor turbidity over winter and extrapolate water quality.
• MOE continues to work with MPMC, DFO, UNBC, EC and First Nations to build a strong long-term monitoring program.
THANK YOU Azimuth Consulting Services (data summaries), Kym Keogh, Dan Bings, Jack Greene, Joanne
McLeod, Sam Albers (UNBC/QRRC data collection), Data tabulation &QA/QC: Jennifer Puhallo, Samantha Cooper, Nicole Obee, Michelle Kehler, Rosie Barlak, Tracy Henderson, Kara Przeczek, Mike Sokal, and Dennis Einarson
