It has been 60 years since the Tulsequah Chief mine was first abandoned. It continues to flow acid mine drainage into the Taku River, one of the most productive salmon spawning rivers in BC. There has been no cleanup or reclamation.
There have been repeated attempts to reopen the mine. It has bankrupted two companies in seven years. Access is hugely problematic. It now has no backers and little market even if it produced. It is opposed by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. It has wasted countless taxpayer dollars and has been the cause of lawsuits and decades of controversy. It has left hopeful miners out of work and creditors holding the bag. It has stirred very strong concern in for those who depend upon a clean, productive salmon resource, both Canadians and Americans.
For a time it appeared that the B. C. Provincial Government was ready to clean up the site and move beyond mining for the lower Taku. But it appears that they may be backtracking and willing to see another company promote this site. And it seems like there are always investors who haven’t learned from history.
It is far beyond time that the Government looked at the history of failure and continual pollution and closed down the Tulsequah Chief site for good.
Wayne Merry
Atlin, BC