"De Beers pleads guilty to failing to report mercury monitoring results at Victor mine", 6 July 2021

In a resolution to a years-long dispute, De Beers Canada has plead guilty to one count of failing to report annual mercury monitoring results for the G2 station at Victor mine in 2014 as required under the mine’s Certificate of Approval.

De Beers was not charged with failing to take samples, monitoring or for polluting the environment.

The open-pit diamond mine operated by De Beers Canada Inc. is located upstream from the Attawapiskat First Nation. Beginning in 2008, the project pumped water from the open pit into the Granny Creek water system which flows into the Attawapiskat River, triggering a rise in the mercury level in the water and the fish populations.

The mine ceased operations in 2019 but is required to continue monitoring mercury according to its provincial permit...

The resolution on June 30 concluded the private prosecution Ecojustice launched in partnership with former prosecutor David Wright, based on evidence collected by Wildlands League.

The evidence indicated that De Beers had failed to report mercury and methylmercury levels in water systems around the Victor Mine over a period of seven years...

“Throughout the life of Victor mine, mercury and other water quality data were collected from all monitoring stations specified in the mine’s Certificate of Approval,” De Beers said.

As per the terms of the resolution, De Beers agreed to publicize all past and future annual mercury monitoring reports on its website.

The case sets a precedent for mining activities in the province, including “Ring of Fire” area in Northern Ontario, and how mining pollution is to be reported and regulated...