Canadian mining company Teck Coal has been assessed $60 million in fines for contaminating waterways in southern British Columbia.
Teck Coal, subsidiary of Teck Resources, pleaded guilty to two charges of releasing selenium and calcite into the Elk and Fording Rivers between January and December 2012. Clarkson said the fines break down to $80,000 per offense per day.
According to court documents, Teck failed to maintain a settling pond for waste material, which allowed contaminated water to mix into the rivers, home to westslope cutthroat trout, a native species considered endangered.
The company has since invested heavily in treating selenium and wastewater.
