Teck Coal Ltd. implemented a wildlife habitat monitoring program at all five of its open-pit coal mines in southeastern British Columbia. Associated Environmental took a cumulative effects approach to monitoring the terrestrial effects of Teck’s coal mining operations.
The regional wildlife monitoring plan is intended to do the following:
- Meet regulatory conditions of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia
- Meet specific mining permit conditions
- Assess Teck’s impact on wildlife habitat (i.e. evaluate past habitat, assess habitat changes, identify what habitat is being restored, and assess the final habitat balance)
The program will inform decisions on existing and future projects. It will standardize wildlife monitoring methods across the region and promote good use of previously collected and future data.