VICTORIA — British Columbia's energy and mines minister has appointed a panel to figure out how to prevent mining disasters similar to the Mount Polley spill.
Bill Bennett says a committee will determine how to best enact seven recommendations from an expert report into last year's tailings pond breach in the Cariboo region.
The January report found the dam was built on a glacial lake deposit, which caused the weakened structure to burst and gush 24 million cubic metres of waste and water into salmon-bearing lakes and rivers.
Bennett says the committee is already working to address four of the report's recommendations, including those around improving engineering practices and strengthening regulatory operations.
B.C.'s chief inspector of mines will lead the panel, which will include representatives who were nominated by First Nations, mine labour unions and industry.
The province says the part of the review involving tailings facilities will likely be completed early next year and the revisions to mining rules could be in effect by mid-2016.
