The current proposed location for the Berg Copper Project is in an extremely environmentally sensitive area. 

Although mines take precautions so that disasters do not occur there is no guarantee they won’t happen. Mines also produce acid mine drainage (sulfuric acid and heavy metals) which will end up in adjacent streams, rivers and lakes. 

This mine is proposed adjacent to Nanika Lake which drains into the Nanika Kidprice canoe route. It also leads to the Nanika River which has an at risk population of bull trout. Further down, this drains into the Morice Lake and river system which supports multiple salmon species and steelhead. This ultimately drains into the Skeena watershed. Essentially this mine is located at the headwaters of major salmon and steelhead systems. 

The Nanika Kidprice provincial park provides locals and tourists with a multi day canoe and fishing opportunity. The Morice watershed is also fished by locals and tourists. These recreation activities provide financial input into the local economy. 

The introduction of heavy metals into the system would mean harvesting any fish would put human health at risk. Not to mention the impact to the whole system if there was a tailing release. 

Salmon, steelhead and bull trout are already struggling and the introduction of heavy metals will most likely have a negative impact. 

This area is also home to mountain goats and the proposed mine is in a winter ungulate range. The scope of this project would destroy a large amount of the local goat habitat. Meaning populations will suffer stress and possible declines. 

This area is a pristine area that provides minimal access to wildlife which reduces stress and keeps numbers higher. There are not many areas like this left in BC. 

Although it is understood that this mine would likely provide local employment and metals the environmental risk is too great. Currently Huckleberry Mine to the south east and Endako Mine to the north east are in care and maintenance mode due to earlier low market prices. Both these mines have known deposits and are existing. Instead of starting a brand new mine in an extremely sensitive and high risk environmental area it would seem to make more sense to return these sites to production and possibly expand them if applicable. 

In summary sometimes jobs and revenue override the environment but it should be assessed on the potential impact to the environment. If it is lower than it probably makes sense all around as we all use metals and need them and jobs are always welcome. But projects like this one that have potential massive side effects to not only the surrounding area but areas hundreds of kms downstream should not be considered. It is not only that the fish die it is everything that is linked to the fish, eagles, bears, nutrient deposits as well as so many microorganisms. The list is massive.

Short term jobs and revenue for long  term destruction to a sensitive area is very short sighted thinking. This political win for the government will have lasting detrimental impacts to both the environment and the people who live and work in it.