MPMC Backgrounder to Upcoming Teleconference

If you are attending the upcoming MPMC teleconference ( Dec 8th) or not it is worth reading the backgrounder/ answers to questions.

The introduction paragraph indicates and confirms that the water level in Springer Pit continues to be drawn down and the mine hopes to be able to remove the tailings and recommence mining in Springer Pit, once all the water has been removed in 2017.

There are number of points I would take issues with

Question 1- Why is Mount Polley applying for an amendment to their EMA Permit?

- The second paragraph indicates that they are applying for higher rates of discharge for limited periods of time, but we don't know how long that will be. At a discharge rate of 0.33m3/s we are looking at 10million m3 of discharge up to a maximum of 18million m3 at 0.6m3/s.

- This paragraph also indicates "slightly higher permit limits" on the composition of the "water". I would say that a change from 0.1mg/L of Iron to 1/0mg/L is not slight. There are numerous other characteristics that have between a 4 and 10 times increase on this application

Question 2- Will the water quality in Quesnel Lake be impacted?

- This answer indicates that the water in Quesnel Lake has seen no measurable change. My observations have indicated that the water testing in many areas of Quesnel Lake have been sporadic at best. How can we be assured that the water of Quesnel Lake is indeed unaffected with such little testing.

Question 3- For how long will the mine be discharging treated water to Quesnel Lake through the proposed pipe.

- MPMC plans to reduce the reliance on the pipe and discharge and proposes to divert water back into natural watersheds where the water either does not require treatment or can be treated passively. The mine has started research, but at this stage we don't know if passive treatment would be possible or successful- another unknown. No mention of the water treatment plant??

Question 4- Is process water being discharged now.

- The only water being currently discharged is from Springer Pit ( which was operational mine effluent). The mill is currently using water from the repaired tailings storage facility (TSF) for operations and when used this mine effluent is going back to the TSF.

Please take a read of the short report and attend the meeting on Decmeber 8th 2016 from 7pm to 9pm.