Regulator fines engineers 8 years after Mount Polley disaster in B.C.
CTV
Three engineers have been disciplined nearly eight years after British Columbia's worst mining disaster.
Three engineers have been disciplined nearly eight years after British Columbia's worst mining disaster.
The tailings dam at the Mount Polley copper and gold mine failed in August 2014, releasing more than 20 cubic metres of mining wastewater into surrounding waterways in B.C.'s Interior.
Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia, the regulatory and licensing body for the professions of engineering and geoscience in B.C., says in a statement is has concluded its disciplinary proceedings against three individuals who worked on the mine.
The regulator says the proceedings followed a years-long investigation that was one of the most complex it has undertaken.
The regulator reviewed thousands of documents including contracts, technical reports and drawings, correspondence and daily site reports.
Former engineers Todd Martin and Stephen Rice were ordered to pay $94,000 and $132,000, respectively, in fines and legal fees after the panel found both acted unprofessionally.
Laura Fidel, a junior engineer at the time of the catastrophe, was ordered to complete education courses and had her professional registration suspended for two months.
For the last seven-and-half months, Toronto resident Heather McArthur has been living out what she describes as her 'worst nightmare.' On Feb. 7, her then three-year-old son Jacob along with his father Loc Phu 'Jay' Le departed for what was supposed to be a week-long visit to Vietnam to celebrate the Lunar New Year with family, McArthur says.