B.C. smelter spills mercury into Columbia
A Trail, B.C., smelter spilled an unknown amount of mercury into the Columbia River on Thursday.
Officials at Teck Resources Ltd. said the spill occurred during work on pipes leading to the smelter’s treatment plant. According to company officials, the level of mercury discharged to the river probably exceeded the smelter’s permit limits.
Canadian authorities and the Washington Department of Ecology were notified.
A Canadian investigation is under way to confirm the spill’s cause, the amount of mercury released and potential impacts on the Columbia River.
The Trail smelter lies about 10 miles north of the U.S.-Canadian border.