Will a Century-Old Treaty Protect Alaska's Salmon Rivers from B.C.'s Mining Boom?

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Southeast Alaskans, anxious about B.C.’s mining boom along the Alaskan border, are pinning their hopes for stronger mine management on a treaty that dates back more than aย century.

The International Joint Commission (IJC), operating under theย Boundary Waters Treatyย since 1909, is a body with six appointed members โ€”three from Canada and three from the U.S. โ€” used to resolve water or air conflicts between the twoย countries.

However, although the commission appears to be tailor-made to deal with the concern over B.C. mines in the headwaters of Southeast Alaskaโ€™s most important salmon rivers, politicians on both side of the border appear reluctant to hand over responsibility to a commission whose recommendations remain entirely independent of eitherย party.

B.C. is seen as the major stumbling block, but the U.S. State Department is also hesitating, despite appeals to Secretary of State John Kerry from municipalities, First Nations, fishing organizations and tourism groups requesting the IJC‘sย involvement.

In response to questions from DeSmog Canada, a State Department spokeswoman said the Mount Polley mine investigation is being watched closely and the State Department remains concerned about the potential effects of B.C. mines on the people of Alaska, but she encouraged B.C. and Alaska to increase cooperation and communication on transboundary mines rather than count on an IJCย ruling.

โ€œWe have highlighted our concerns with the governments of Canada and B.C. at senior levels in government-to-government channels and do not anticipate referring this issue to the International Joint Commission at this time,โ€ sheย said.

Alaska ‘A Full Step Away’ From Escalating Issue to Joint Commission: Lt.ย Governor

Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, who recently travelled to B.C. to meet with Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett, said that discussions are continuing between Alaska and B.C. and he is not yet sure whether there will be a role for the IJC.

โ€œWhether or not it is appropriate or timely that the IJC be invoked will be determined by the course of events,โ€ Mallottย said.

โ€œTo me, we are at least a full step away fromย that.โ€

If B.C. and Alaska forge a positive, transparent relationship, with sufficient oversight and cross-boundary input to safeguard Alaskaโ€™s interests, there may not be a need to seek help from the IJC, heย said.

โ€œIt is important that Alaska and B.C. and the interests on both sides of the border be able to take this as far as possible,โ€ he said, adding that, during his visit, he did not see a strong federal presence on mining issues in B.C.

The stateโ€™s congressional delegation is keeping in contact with the State Department on a possible role for the IJC, Mallottย said.

Last year, Senator Lisa Murkowski, former senator Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young wrote to John Kerry asking him to raise the problem with his Canadianย counterparts.

โ€œWater quality is an extremely important issue for Alaskans. Accordingly, we ask you and other officials from the Department of State to raise these concerns with the governments of Canada and B.C.,โ€ the letterย says.

Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett has not responded to a DeSmog Canada interview request, but, in statements to media after his meeting with Mallott, he acknowledged Alaskaโ€™s โ€œlegitimate concernsโ€ and said the discussions were a good foundation for a possible memorandum of understanding with theย state.

B.C. Permitting Process Doesnโ€™t Address Cumulativeย Impacts

The MOU could be similar to the arrangement with Montana, covering the Flathead River, where water testing is done at the border, heย suggested.

However, the idea of an MOU does not sit well with grassroots groups pushing for a referral to the IJC.

MOUs are largely focused on information sharing and do not provide enforceable protections for downstream resources, said Chris Zimmer of Rivers Without Borders.

โ€œBennettโ€™s offer for greater involvement in the B.C. permitting process is simply inadequate to address our concerns and is a sign that B.C. is not taking our concerns seriously,โ€ Zimmerย said.

โ€œThe B.C. permitting process, no matter how well it is carried out, is simply not designed to address long-term impacts from multiple mines, across a broad landscape, over the longย term.โ€

It is always a difficult decision for politicians to ask for outside help, said David LaRoche, who served as executive secretary to the U.S. side of the commission from 1979 to 1996 and has since worked on transboundary watershedย issues.

โ€œEach country takes a leap of faith when it relies on something outside the established mechanism to have the issue addressed,โ€ heย said.

All Parties Need to Agree to Refer Case to International Jointย Commission

Ideally, if the IJC is to be involved, there should be agreement from B.C., Canada, Alaska and the U.S.

โ€œUnder the treaty it is possible for one country to ask the commission to undertake a study, but it has never happened and the chances are close to zero as it would have no value because it would immediately be seen as biased by the country that did not ask,โ€ LaRocheย said.

Historically, both countries ask for a reference and agree on the specifics they want the IJC toย study.

โ€œIf a province or state were to object it would be highly unlikely that a letter of reference would be sent. Unless B.C. is agreeable, this one wonโ€™t unfold,โ€ LaRocheย said.

Those campaigning for the commissionโ€™s involvement point to article four of the treaty, which says โ€œwaters flowing across the boundary shall not be polluted on either side to the injury of health or property on theย other.โ€

Two B.C. Tailings Dams Expected to Fail Every 10ย Years

So far, none of the new mines in northwest B.C. have polluted rivers, but there is a grating awareness of the possibility of a Mount Polley-type accident, something which was underlined by the report from the independent panel looking into the failure of the tailings pond dam, which found, under current regulations, two B.C. dams would be expected to fail every 10ย years.

It is a statistic that shocked observers on both sides of the border and led to ramped up calls for a referral to the IJC.

Even though findings by the commission are not binding on either party, the recommendations carry a hefty dose of moral suasion and public clout, especially as conclusions are usually reached byย consensus.

In 1984, after complaints by B.C., the IJC gave the thumbs-down to construction of a dam on the Skagit River that would have flooded parts of B.C. and in 1985, after U.S. complaints, the IJC recommended against an open pit coalmine in B.C.โ€™s Flathead Valley until the impact on fisheries could beย eliminated.

NDP energy and mines spokesman Norm Macdonald said the core issue, in the wake of the systemic failures pointed out by the Mount Polley report, is the need for the province to enforce environmental rules and standards, putting public safety ahead of economics, rather than cutting essential staff and accepting huge donations from the miningย industry.

โ€œWhatever tool you use, it has to be something where there is no tolerance for failure,โ€ Macdonaldย said.

โ€œWe donโ€™t tolerate elevators or bridges falling down and we have to take the same attitude to theseย facilities.โ€

Photo:ย www.sacbee.com

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