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Canada, U.S. agree to study transboundary water pollution concerns in Kootenay watershed

Ktunaxa Nation governments have been seeking an International Joint Commission reference for over a decade
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Fording Coal’s “Greenhills” mountaintop removal coal mine, near Elkford, Elk Valley, B.C. beside the Flathead Valley. Garth Lenz photo.

Canada, the United States and the Ktunaxa Nation have agreed to seek a reference to the International Joint Commission (IJC) to study water pollution concerns in the Elk-Kootenai watershed, and hope to have a governance structure in place by the end of June.

The Ktunaxa Nation have been seeking a reference to the IJC for over a decade based on ongoing concerns with mining pollution in the Elk River and Koocanusa Reservoir stemming from coal mining activities in the Elk Valley.

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Trevor Crawley

About the Author: Trevor Crawley

Trevor Crawley has been a reporter with the Cranbrook Townsman and Black Press in various roles since 2011.
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