The US government is joining calls for Canada to participate in a study of transboundary pollution from coal mines in southern British Columbia.
Posted at 1:58 p.m.
In a statement last week, the US State Department said President Joe Biden was supporting a joint study of selenium from the Teck Resources coal mines in the Elk Valley — selenium that then ends up in rivers and lakes south of the border.
The statement said a joint study involving the two countries would build public confidence and lead to unbiased recommendations to address this cross-border issue.
Several US agencies and groups, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and indigenous communities, have asked the International Joint Commission, which manages boundary waters, to look into this issue. The US State Department now says the idea of a joint study also has support from the White House.
Six months after it was first invited to join the International Joint Commission’s research, Canada said earlier this month it was still considering the option.