BC Coal Mines
Client:
Confidential
Location:
Elk Valley, BC, Canada
Dates:
2023 – Ongoing
Background:
Hatfield’s experts in water quality, fish and aquatic health have supported various projects for four Elk Valley coal mines. To support the protection of aquatic health and help maintain sustainable wildlife species populations, Hatfield supported watershed level planning. With our engineering partner, Hatfield completed permitting for creek habitat remediation projects. The work included development of engineering drawings for remediation of the creek beds and habitat restoration, construction design, permitting including impact assessment and mitigations (Mines Act, Environmental Management Act, Water Sustainability Act, Fisheries Act), and development of Management Plans. Project applications were completed and successfully submitted on time and on budget.
Hatfield led updates to Flocculant Management Plans to protect the receiving environment water quality by optimizing flocculant dosing. Hatfield’s fish and aquatic team provides fish salvage and relocation services to various mines. Addressing complex and challenging conditions, Hatfield’s team successfully completed fish relocation projects in concert with water management operations at the mine sites. Hatfield’s responsive, adaptive and creative approach to project needs resulted in improved fish salvage and relocation efforts.
Services Provided:
Hatfield developed watershed plans using a holistic approach that integrated the environmental management of water quality, water quantity, and aquatic habitat in the watersheds while considering cultural and social values. The work included development of a roadmap of logically sequenced, cost-optimized, and integrated mitigation projects and initiatives that are designed to improve environmental conditions within the watershed. With a complete overview of environmental stewardship and management activities at the local watershed scale, these plans will establish a collaborative platform and communication tool both internally and externally.
As Qualified Professional, Hatfield led updates to Flocculant Management Plans. This work included detailed reviews of total suspended solids (TSS) data and relation to turbidity through TSS determination methods, as well as the assessment of active and passive flocculant products, their efficacy in managing TSS, toxicity to fish and aquatic species, calculation of appropriate dosing, and drafting management plans and Trigger Action Response Plans. This work has improved water quality in creeks that supports protection of fish and the aquatic environment.
Hatfield conducts fish salvages in concert with mine operations and management needs. Work is conducted in a responsive manner, adapting and adjusting to mine operational schedules and on-site observations, resulting in improved quality and efficiency of fish salvage and relocation efforts.
