Updated November 2023
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Compliance with water quality limits
Approximately 25 water samples are collected at each Compliance Point and Order Station every year.
Data is available to view in the Elk Valley Water Quality Dashboard. The data is analyzed to determine the average concentration for each substance in every month. These results are compared with the limits specified in the permit.
Each spring, compliance rates for the previous year are compiled. This table shows how often water quality results met the limits in the previous calendar year.
Annual water quality compliance rates (2022)
| Compliance Points | Selenium | Nitrate | Sulphate |
| Fording River Operations Fording River | 50% | 25% | 100% |
| Greenhills Operations Fording River | 67% | 67% | 100% |
| Greenhills Operations Elk River | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Line Creek Operations Line Creek | 83% | 25% | 100% |
| Elkview Operations Harmer Creek | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Elkview Operations Michel Creek | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Coal Mountain Mine Michel Creek | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Order Stations | Selenium | Nitrate | Sulphate |
| Fording River Downstream of Greenhills Creek | 67% | 67% | 100% |
| Fording River Downstream of Line Creek | 83% | 100% | 100% |
| Elk River Upstream of Boivin Creek | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Elk River Upstream of Grave Creek | 100% | 75% | 100% |
| Elk River Downstream of Michel Creek | 100% | 92% | 100% |
| Elk River at Elko Reservoir | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Koocanusa Reservoir Downstream of the Elk River | 92% | 100% | 100% |
Last updated: Spring 2023, for calendar year 2022.
Note:
- Sites in the table represent a range of conditions in the Elk Valley from the Fording River downstream to the Elk River and finally Koocanusa Reservoir. Click the site name to view the entire datasets for these sites back to 2014 or visit the Water Quality Data Dashboard to view data from additional sites.
Limits were not always met in 2022.
Results indicate that Compliance Point limits for selenium and nitrate are not always met in two key areas:
- Fording River
- Line Creek
Limits at Order Stations (called Site Performance Objectives) for selenium and nitrate are not always met in three key areas:
- Fording River
- Elk River
- Koocanusa Reservoir
These water quality non-compliances occurred at similar rates and in similar locations as previous years. They are the subject of administrative penalty referrals that are still under review.
Teck is continuing to prioritize new water treatment facilities for the most impacted areas of the watershed, including areas that experience non-compliance.
Typically, limits have been exceeded when water flows are lower and water quality is poorer because of reduced dilution in the environment.
Exceedance of a limit does not necessarily cause an environmental impact and monitoring programs are in place to detect any actual impacts including those that may be related to water quality.
Learn more about the ecosystem monitoring programs and results in the Elk Valley and how the ecosystems are affected by current water quality.
Compliance inspection results
The requirements in Teck’s Permit 107517 have been inspected 65 times between 2015 and March 2023. 57 of those inspections included a review of the water quality limits.
These 57 inspections resulted in the following outcomes:
Water quality permit limit inspection outcomes
Inspection outcomes
- Warnings, Advisories and Referrals for Investigation: These are enforcement actions taken based on findings of non-compliance.
- Notice of Compliance: No instances of non-compliance found in the inspection.
- Referrals for Administrative Penalty: Non-compliances were found during the inspection and the file was referred to a statutory decision maker for consideration of an administrative (monetary) penalty. Some of these referrals have been reviewed and penalties have been issued. Others are still under consideration by the decision maker.
Split sample audits
A split sample audit is one way the ministry confirms that results being reported by Teck are valid. During a split sample audit, a water sample is collected and then separated into two sets of sample bottles. One set of samples is analyzed at the qualified laboratory that Teck regularly uses for its analyses, and the other is analyzed at the B.C. government’s laboratory. The results are then compared to see if they are the same.
Split sample audits evaluate the entire process of sample collection, handling, and laboratory analysis to ensure that data generated by permit holders meets an acceptable level of precision and accuracy.
In 2022, split samples were conducted at Elkview Operations, Fording River Operations and Greenhills Operations. Results of these audits were evaluated and assigned a final pass or fail result.
- 2022 Split Sample Audit Evaluation Results
- 2022 Split Sample Data Tables
Recent administrative penalties
View status of Administrative Penalties for Permit 107517
Natural Resource Compliance and Enforcement Database
Copies of all inspection reports and outcomes of administrative penalties specific to Teck’s Permit 107517, since 2017, are posted on the Natural Resource Compliance and Enforcement Database as soon as they are finalized.
The database also holds inspection reports for other Teck authorizations issued under the Environmental Management Act, as well as other legislation. The database can be searched using different filters.
Filters can be used to view inspection results:
