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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Impacts of a proposed coal mine in the Flathead River Basin

Book ·
OSTI ID:5812088
In parallel letters from the Governments of the US and Canada in December 1984 and February 1985 respectively, the International Joint Commission was requested to examine and report on the water quality and quantity of the Flathead River, with respect to the transboundary water quality and quantity implications of the proposed coal mine on Cabin Creek, a tributary of the Flathead River. Following this examination, the Commission recommends that, in order that Governments can ensure that the provisions of Article IV of the Boundary Waters Treaty are honored in the matter of the proposed coal mine at Cabin Creek in British Columbia: (1) the mine proposal as presently defined and understood not be approved; (2) the mine proposal not receive regulatory approval in the future unless and until it can be demonstrated that the potential transboundary impacts identified in the report of the Flathead River International Study Board have been determined with reasonable certainty and would constitute a level of risk acceptable to both Governments, and the potential impacts on the sport fish populations and habitat in the Flathead River system would not occur or could be fully mitigated in an effective and assured manner; and (3) the Governments consider, with the appropriate jurisdictions, opportunities for defining and implementing compatible, equitable and sustainable development activities and management strategies in the upper Flathead River basin.
OSTI ID:
5812088
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English