The Chief Inspector of Mines for British Columbia has approved an amendment to the Mount Polley Mine Corporation Mines Act permit to allow the company to begin repairs of the breach in its tailings storage facility dam.

The repair work is part of the long-term remediation plan for the area impacted by the Mount Polley breach. The work at the tailings storage facility will help ensure that the increased water flow from melting snow (also known as spring freshet or spring breakup) will not result in additional environmental or human health impacts.

The amendment to the mine’s permit only authorizes the company to undertake the approved breach repair work and sets out a number of conditions that must be followed by Mount Polley Mining Corporation. The amendment does not allow the mine to restart its ore processing operations.