COPPER MINING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Background: Copper is a critical element in our modern lives—it’s used in our power lines, roofing materials, water pipes, and circuit boards. A proposed open pit copper and gold mine in British Columbia (the Ajax project) would be located partly within the city limits of Kamloops. Open pit mines have the potential for significant air and water pollution. Mines must pump water constantly, both to remove excess water from the mine itself and to prevent some of the toxic compounds used in the mining process from reaching the local aquifer and tainting the water supply. Even after it has removed the valuable ore, a mine must continue to pump in order to keep from polluting the groundwater. In places where pumping has stopped, a pit lake may form—such as the one at the Anaconda Copper Mine in Montana which became a federal Superfund site that the U.S. government must clean up. Despite the potential for significant water pollution, the mining company, KGHM Ajax, says that the mining will be done in an “environmentally and socially responsible manner.” Kamloops has a thriving tourism industry with year-round indoor and outdoor activities. It also has a productive farming community, known for its diverse farm products sold at local farmer’s markets. What impact would the mine likely have on the city and the region’s local farms, ranches, and tourism industry?
Case: You are an investigative reporter, trying to lay out the facts for your readers. Research and write an article explaining: