Mine Mess

Environmental watchdog Chris Zimmer wonders if it will be another 50 years before anything is done about pollution from Tulsequah Chief mine draining into the Taku River. Mine owner Redfern Resources Ltd.'s parent company, Vancouver-based Redcorp Ventures Ltd., went bankrupt this spring.

With Redcorp bankrupt, Tulsequah Chief cleanup prospects look slim

Environmental watchdog Chris Zimmer wonders if it will be another 50 years before anything is done about pollution from Tulsequah Chief mine draining into the Taku River.

Mine owner Redfern Resources Ltd. faced challenges when it proposed in 2007 running untested hoverbarges down the river to bring the ore to market. The plan met resistance from Juneau residents concerned about the Taku and its fishery.

But with Redfern exploring ways to reopen the mine, located 45 miles northeast of Juneau in British Columbia, there had at least been some hope that pollution running from the mine into the river would finally be cleaned up.

Then Redfern's parent company, Vancouver-based Redcorp Ventures Ltd., went bankrupt this spring.

With the company in financial shambles, equipment over the past several months was removed from the mine site, essentially eliminating any way to readily deal with acid mine drainage.
In May, a third party was assigned by the B.C. government to deal with Redcorp's debts.

"I don't think we're going to get anything out of the company here," said Zimmer, who works for the environmental group Rivers Without Borders. "We'll have to go back to the previous owner or get the B.C. government to pay attention." 

Read the complete story and see photos at the Juneau Empire.