Mercury leaked into Columbia River by smelter

[alp227]

Source: CBC News

Workers at a Teck Metals Ltd. smelter in Trail, B.C., accidentally allowed up to 15 kilograms of mercury to leak into the Columbia River last week.

Exactly how much mercury got into the river is still under investigation, but the company estimates it was between 12 to 15 kilograms — an amount that greatly exceeds what it is permitted to discharge.

The mercury leaked from the company's massive lead-zinc smelter about 10 kilometres north of the U.S. border while workers were reconfiguring waste effluent piping, according to Teck's public affairs manager Richard Dean.

He said the discharge was unacceptable.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/10/13/bc-teck-smelter-mercury-dump.html

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

1. this is nothing compared to what Canada has released over the last 100 years

[glinda]

2. No business or plant should be by water. Too may accidents.

[Kolesar]

3. Way upstream before the Columbia enters Washington state

Who are the ecoterrorists in this case?

[Ian David]

4. They're all going to be eaten by skinless, mutant bears now. n/t