Beneath the Surface: A Podcast by the BC Mining Law Reform Network

Episode Notes In this episode, we’re joined by geographers Rosemary Collard and Jessica Dempsey to discuss their groundbreaking audit of mining projects in British Columbia. Are environmental regulations really the bottleneck the mining industry claims they are? What happens when the promised economic benefits of mining—like jobs, tax revenue, and production—fall drastically short? Rosemary and Jessica walk us through their research, revealing surprising insights about delays, care-and-maintenance loopholes, and the underperformance of mines. You can find Rosemary and Jessica's audit here: https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0083 Rosemary and Jessica are co-directors of the 'Extinction Paradox' research project. You can learn about that here: https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0083 Other links: Rachel Singleton-Polster, Regulatory barriers to mine reclamation for caribou Nick Gottlieb, Mining companies are abusing a little-known loophole to avoid cleanup

Episode Notes This episode of Beneath the Surface features a discussion about the proposed Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) mine in northern British Columbia. If completed, the KSM mine would become one of the world’s largest gold-copper mines, threatening critical river systems and the communities that depend on them. Joining us is Rachel Gutman, a lawyer with Ecojustice, who is part of the legal team challenging the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office’s decision to classify the KSM mine as “substantially started.” This designation allows the mine to move forward under an environmental assessment conducted over a decade ago, despite significant changes in environmental laws, science, and our understanding of climate risks. Rachel breaks down what “substantially started” means, why this case matters, and what a legal victory could mean for environmental protection and Indigenous rights in British Columbia. Learn more about: Ecojustice SkeenaWild Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission

Episode Notes In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we sit down with Heather Hardcastle, who helped to found Salmon Beyond Borders, a campaign dedicated to protecting salmon and the vital transboundary rivers that flow between British Columbia and Alaska. We discuss the cultural and ecological importance of salmon, the growing threats they face—especially from mining activity in BC—and the Indigenous-led efforts to safeguard their future. You can learn more about Salmon Beyond Borders here: https://salmonbeyondborders.org/about

Episode Notes On August 4, 2014, the Mount Polley mine's tailings storage facility failed, discharging 25 million cubic meters of toxic sludge into Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek, and Quesnel Lake. This episode features an interview with Douglas Watt, a resident of Likely, a community close to Quenel Lake. We talk about the essay Doug wrote for the academic journal BC Studies, reflecting on the impact of the disaster and the unfulfilled promises from politicians and industry that followed the disaster. You can read Doug's essay here: "Promises, Promises: The Views of a Quesnel Lake Resident Ten Years after the 2014 Mount Polley Mine Disaster" Full BC Studies issue on Mount Polley: "Learning from Disaster: A Decade After the Mount Polley Tailings Dam Failure"

Episode Notes In this episode of ‘Beneath the Surface’, we explore the impact of mining on water resources in British Columbia, with a special focus on mine tailings and their potential environmental repercussions. Adrienne Berchtold, Ecologist and Mining Impacts Researcher with SkeenaWild, outlines the impacts of mining on B.C.'s water resources, the threat posed by the numerous tailings dams that dot the province's landscape, and the broader ecological and community risks associated with mining activities. Check out the British Columbia Mine Tailings Map: https://reformbcmining.ca/tailings-map/ Learn more about the SkeenaWild Conservation Trust: https://skeenawild.org/

Episode Notes In this episode of 'Beneath the Surface', we sit down with Jamie Kneen, Outreach Coordinator and Canada Program Co-Lead at Mining Watch Canada, to talk about the recent updates to Canada’s "critical minerals" list. The federal government has expanded the list to 34 minerals, emphasizing their role in fostering economic opportunities. We explore the implications of the government's outlook, focusing on the potential environmental impacts and the challenges it poses to Indigenous rights. Jamie also shares insights into alternative approaches that prioritize recycling and reducing demand. Learn more about Mining Watch Canada: https://www.miningwatch.ca/ Learn more about the BC Mining Law Reform network: https://reformbcmining.ca/

Episode Notes As northern BC's glaciers melt, revealing new salmon habitats, these critical ecosystems face imminent threats from increased mineral staking. Tara Marsden, Wilp Sustainability Director for the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, discusses the complex interplay between emerging salmon habitats and the mining industry's race to claim these newly accessible lands. Tara sheds light on the urgent need for reform in the Mineral Tenure Act to protect these vital habitats and ensure that mining exploration and development practices align with conservation goals and Indigenous rights. "Mining stakes claim on salmon futures as glaciers retreat": https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adj4911

Episode Notes In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we sit down with Nikki Skuce, Director of the Northern Confluence Initiative and co-chair of BC Mining Law Reform, to dive deep into the reform process for British Columbia’s Mineral Tenure Act (MTA). Nikki brings to light the historical context of the MTA, its longstanding impact on Indigenous rights and land use, and why comprehensive reform is not just necessary but urgent. Listeners will also hear about the active role of the BC Mining Law Reform network in advocating for mineral staking reform and the specific outcomes we hope to achieve through the reform process. Nikki provides practical ways listeners can support the reform efforts, including signing the following petition on our website: https://reformbcmining.ca/update-laws/.

Episode Notes This episode features an interview with Simon Wiebe, a former mineral exploration geologist and Mining Policy and Impacts Researcher with Wildsight. Wildsight recently commissioned a groundbreaking report shedding light on the staggering costs associated with reversing selenium pollution, estimated at $6.4 billion dollars. Simon unpacks the report's findings and discusses their implications. We kick off the conversation by exploring Wildsight's mission and what drove them to commission the report. Simon breaks down the science behind selenium contamination, its pathways into BC's waterways, and the ecological havoc it wreaks. The report's revelation that Teck's current reclamation security falls woefully short—$1.9 billion versus the needed $6.4 billion—leads to a discussion on the implications of this gap for future reclamation efforts. You can access the report here: https://wildsight.ca/2024/03/19/the-elk-valleys-6-4-billion-pollution-problem/ Become a member of Wildsight

Episode Notes We sit down with Francesca Fionda, a reporter from The Narwhal, to discuss the recent investigation she led into BC's mining reclamation funding. Our discussion focuses on the significant shortfall in the funds set aside for reclamation—sometimes referred to as the Reclamation Liability Gap. We also chat about the collaborative nature of the investigation (it was the result of a joint effort by The Narwhal and The Globe and Mail), about the data that were used to tell the story, and about how taxpayers might be forced to foot the bill for mining disasters. You can read Francesca's investigation here: https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-mining-liabilities-cleanup-costs-taxpayers/ Follow Frencesca on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrancescaFionda Learn more about BC Mining Law Reform: https://reformbcmining.ca/

Episode Notes This episode of Beneath the Surface features an interview with journalist and author Christopher Pollon. We navigate the complex terrain of mining in British Columbia through the lens of his provocative book, "Pitfall: The Race to Mine the World’s Most Vulnerable Places." "Pitfall" explores the role of mining in our past, present, and future, highlighting how the industry is venturing into ever-more remote and sensitive areas in search of metals. Christopher's personal connection to mining, combined with his extensive research, offers a unique perspective on the industry's evolution and its role in sustaining modern life. Among other topics, we chat about the environmental implications of plummeting ore grades and the cultural significance of gold. Christopher sheds light on the critical importance of metals in our lives but also prompts us to consider the ethical dimensions of their extraction. Learn more about "Pitfall" here: https://chrispollon.com/books/pitfall-the-race-to-mine-the-worlds-most-vulnerable-places/

Episode Notes This episode of Beneath the Surface features an interview with Gavin Smith, a staff lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law. The interview delve into the legal efforts aimed at reforming mineral tenure laws in British Columbia. Gavin unpacks the historical context of mineral claims and their impact on Indigenous lands and rights. The majority of the discussion focuses on the landmark case of Gitxaała v British Columbia, which resulted in a significant legal victory mandating consultation with Indigenous nations before mineral claims can be granted—marking a pivotal moment in the fight for environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty. Gavin also reflects on his personal journey in environmental law and the importance of a beginner's mindset in advocating for a more just and sustainable future.

Episode Notes The inaugural episode of Beneath the Surface features a discussion with BCMLR co-chairs Nikki Skuce and Jamie Kneen. We chat about the reasons for the creation of BCMLR, the gaps that currently exist in BC's mining laws, and strategy and vision for reforming these laws. Nikki Skuce is the Director of the Northern Confluence Initiative. Jamie Kneen is the Outreach Coordinator and Canada Program Lead at Mining Watch Canada. Learn more about BCMLR (and join our network) here: https://reformbcmining.ca/join/