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 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 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 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 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 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 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/