WHY the Record Ridge Open Pit Mine Project IS NOT RIGHT

 W.H.Y. Resources, an Alberta-based company, has applied to start an open pit Magnesium mine just 7.5 km from Rossland. If approved, this operation will run 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Activities will include drilling, blasting, excavating, crushing, and hauling ore offsite. All of this will be dangerously close to the communities of Paterson and Big Sheep Creek. The ore truck route will pass directly through the cities of Rossland, Warfield, and Trail. The trucks will transport ore to Trail where it will be transferred to rail and shipped out of Canada for processing. The mine poses a severe threat to our environment and the well-being of our community. Simply put, this mine is far too close to our homes and communities.

To avoid an environmental assessment prior to starting the first phase of the project, W.H.Y. resources has applied for a 2-year quarry permit, even though it is clear that the company plans to operate a full-scale open pit magnesium mine for more than 20 years. 

If this permit is issued, this project will start without a full understanding of the environmental, economic, and health impacts of the mine. The pristine Record Ridge landscape will be destroyed and our communities, our health, and our quality of life may be forever changed. 

There has been limited public consultation  and there are extensive community concerns, including:

• Health impacts from air pollution: Dust from the mine and from the trucks coming through town will have significant impacts on our community. Silica, asbestos, and other particulates will be transported through the air by prevailing winds from the mine site and into the places we and our children live, work, and play. 

•  Water quality impacts: Airborne dust deposition into drinking water reservoirs, potential leaching from waste rock, and runoff from sedimentation ponds into Sophia Creek threaten our water quality.

• Noise impacts: Mining operations like blasting, rock crushing, and continual heavy truck traffic will significantly disrupt the peace of residents and visitors in our communities.

• Safety concerns: Increased truck traffic directly through Rossland, Warfield and Trail poses safety risks, particularly along pedestrian routes frequented by children.

• Sensitive ecosystem destruction: The operation threatens Record Ridge's red-listed Grasslands ecosystem, home to endangered species and vital plant communities, including Bitterroot, which is an important indigenous food source.

• Disturbance of prime recreational areas: The location of the operation would destroy prime, frequently used recreational areas, including rerouting parts of the famed Seven Summits Trail.

• Archeological concerns: The application notes there will be impacts to the historic Dewdney Trail.

• Economic impacts: The mine could destabilize the local economy, which relies heavily on recreation tourism, potentially affecting hundreds of local businesses.

• Wildlife and wildlife habitat loss: The project endangers multiple species at risk of extinction by destroying their habitats, including the northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, and violet green swallow to name a few. 

• Stress on water resources: This mine operation will require large volumes of water,  which will strain our community’s water resources, exacerbating our existing shortages.

We are at a critical moment as the official public comment period closes soon and W.H.Y. could obtain a permit and start work within weeks. SRRAC is pursuing every avenue we can to stop this mine from happening. 

We are committed to safeguarding the health of our community, ensuring the safety of our roads, and preserving the natural environment that supports our local businesses and way of life. We want Record Ridge to be protected, maintaining the natural beauty and ecological balance that are vital for the region. These efforts safeguard basic human rights like access to clean air and water. SRRAC is a fully-volunteer, grassroots effort. We need your support to continue this important work. Please join us in protecting our community and environment.