A proposal was announced by the U.S., Canada, and indigenous groups to tackle the pollution from coal mining in British Columbia that has been contaminating waterways and harming fisheries on both sides of the border. The proposal, to be executed through a century-old U.S.-Canada boundary waters treaty, would establish independent boards to study the pollution's extent and make cleanup recommendations.
Indigenous groups in British Columbia, Montana, and Idaho have been advocating for federal intervention to halt the pollution flow for over a decade. Scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed high levels of selenium in fish and eggs in Montana's Kootenai River downstream of Lake Koocanusa, which straddles the U.S.-Canada border. Selenium, a chemical released during coal mining and processing, can be harmful to aquatic life.
Members of the Ktunaxa Nation rely on fish populations for sustenance and have witnessed abnormalities and reproductive issues in the fish due to pollution. Selenium concentrations in water entering Lake Koocanusa have been rising for decades, originating from coal mines in the Elk River Valley of British Columbia.
Last year, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to reduce pollution in the Elk-Kootenai watershed. The proposal calls for a two-year study to assess pollution levels and develop a plan to mitigate impacts swiftly.
A Canadian coal company paid a $60 million fine in 2021 for pollution discharges that harmed fish downstream in Montana and Idaho. The company has invested in water treatment facilities and pledged further funds for environmental protection.
The coal from the region is mined using mountaintop removal and sold for steel and metal production. The proposal aims to bring together data and knowledge to make informed decisions for the protection of people and species in the affected areas.
