VICTORIA - The company that owned the failed dam at British Columbia's Mount Polley mine insists the structure was built in accordance with engineering standards.
Imperial Metals responded yesterday to an independent report into the August 4th dam burst that saw 24-million cubic metres of silt and water spill into lakes and rivers.
The report blamed an inadequately designed dam that didn't account for drainage and erosion failures associated with glacial till beneath the pond.
Imperial Metals says the report stated the weaker glacial till was found eight metres below the dam's surface, much deeper than assumed by the design criteria.
Opposition New Democrat Leader John Horgan says the report highlight's B-C's need for stricter mine inspection and review policies.
He says the current inspection system, which has endured government cuts, didn't identify problems at Mount Polley.
Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett has ordered B-C's Chief Inspector of Mines to require all operating mines with similar tailings ponds to confirm what kind of foundation material their dams rest on by June 30th.
Bennett says the government is also awaiting the results of two other reports being conducted by the Chief Inspector of Mines and the Conservation Officer Service.
