The U.S. and Canada have struck a deal over pollution flowing from British Columbia coal mines into a lake and river system in Montana.
Tribes in the U.S. and Canada have raised concerns for years about selenium levels harming fish reproduction in Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River. That selenium is flowing from coal mines along the Elk River in British Columbia.
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes chairman Tom McDonald said the pollution puts cutthroat trout and threatened species like bull trout at risk.
“We have to be able to have a clean and healthy environment where we can catch fish and eat fish out of any river system that’s in our aboriginal territory that we’ve relied on for the past 10,000 to 30,000 years,” McDonald said.
The U.S. and Canada agreed to let the International Joint Commission (IJC) set up a governing body for the transboundary watershed. That body will make recommendations for provincial, state and federal governments. While not legally binding, the IJC recommendations are usually implemented.
Teck Resources, which owns the mines, said it wants to learn more about the IJC process, but noted it’s willing to work with all parties. B.C. provincial officials released a statement saying they support IJC involvement.
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President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have announced a forthcoming deal to “reduce and mitigate” the impact of pollution flowing into Montana and Idaho from Canadian coal mines.
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The Montana Board of Environmental Review is asking federal regulators to invalidate a water quality standard aimed at reducing pollution flowing into Montana from Canadian coal mines.
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A disputed rule that sets an acceptable level of selenium pollution in a northwest Montana lake will stay in place after environmental officials agreed it complies with state law.
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A governor-appointed board Friday ordered state environmental officials to throw out a 2020 pollution rule for Lake Koocanusa. It’s unclear if the state’s environmental agency intends to do that.
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Montana’s environmental regulatory agency is reaffirming its argument that a pollution standard for Lake Koocanusa follows state and federal law. The draft findings come after a state review board called it into question.
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The state Department of Environmental Quality is at odds with a governor-appointed board over a rule that could limit pollution levels in a northwest Montana lake.