Colton Vessey, who grew up in Okotoks and is doing a Ph.D. in environmental geochemistry, asks the govts of Alberta and Canada to "please do not allow new open pit coal mining operations in the Alberta Rockies or anywhere in Canada." 1/n
@HMcPhersonMP @JonathanWNV @CBCFletch
@HMcPhersonMP @JonathanWNV @CBCFletch
He writes that "it is extremely likely that toxic contaminants will make their way downstream from Gold Creek into the Crowsnest River and into the Oldman River, which is considered a blue-ribbon fishing watershed, but also is a water resource for many communities." 2/n #abpoli
Vessey is an expert in "contaminant mobility, mainly trace metal(loid)s (such as arsenic, selenium, vanadium)," and cites peer-reviewed research on the coal mine contamination of water with Selenium and nitrate. 3/n
He says that contaminants from the Grassy Mtn mine would be the "straw that breaks the camel’s back”.straw that breaks the camel’s back” for native fish species. 4/n
The company proposing the mine says not to worry, but it does not, as yet, have a proven method for preventing selenium contamination or getting it out of the watershed once it has entered. 5/n
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