[BCMA] Britannia Mine Museum Celebrates BC Rivers Day - Sunday, Sept. 25

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

For immediate release

September 19, 2011
 
Britannia Mine Museum Celebrates BC Rivers Day 
Explores water improvements and returning wildlife in Howe Sound and
Britannia Creek
Sunday, September 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
2011BritanniaMineMuseum80.jpg
 
 
Britannia Beach, BC - The Britannia Mine Museum, together with the Outdoor
Recreation Council of BC (ORC) and the Squamish River Watershed Society, is
hosting a BC Rivers Day Celebration on Sunday, September 25. Coinciding with
World Rivers Day, the event at the Museum celebrates the return of fish,
marine and wildlife in Britannia Creek and Howe Sound. In the last year,
dolphins, whales, otters, fish and other marine mammals have been seen
returning to the area. 
 
The Britannia Mine Museum BC Rivers Day event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
includes exhibits and presentations from a number of local interest groups
and biologists, along with limited tours of the EPCOR water treatment plant
for visitors who want to take the extra step. Visitors can learn and explore
how Britannia's environmental remediation program is improving the water in
Britannia Creek and Howe Sound.  
 
Committed to telling the modern remediation story of Britannia Beach, the
Britannia Mine Museum provides visitors with educational information on the
remediation program and opportunities to learn more about environmental
issues. 
 
"We're pleased to be a part of this BC Rivers Day celebration here at
Britannia Mine Museum," says Kirstin Clausen, executive director of the
Britannia Mine Museum. "The rehabilitation of Britannia Beach is an
environmental success story and a testament of what can be achieved when
industry and government along with community come together to achieve the
same goal." 
 
The remediation of Britannia
The Britannia Mines were first opened in 1904 and throughout its 70 year
history, mining activities had an environmental impact on Howe Sound due to
acid rock drainage, which occurs naturally when rainwater reacts with oxygen
and exposed minerals. 
 
Starting 2001 the Province of BC worked with stakeholders including the
Britannia Mine Museum with the goal of establishing a water treatment plant
to deal with the community's acid rock drainage. The end result was a public
private partnership with EPCOR to build and operate a water treatment plant.

 
The EPCOR Britannia Mine Water Treatment Plant uses natural materials to
filter minerals and neutralize surface water runoff collected from the area.
The water is collected at the plant and is first treated with a mixture of
lime and water. The alkaline lime neutralizes the acidic water, quickly
raising the pH level which causes dissolved metals to naturally come out of
the solution and precipitate as tiny particles. The water is then fed into a
large 'clarifier' tank where a customized, manmade polymer is added. This
electro-statically attracts the metal particles, forming clumps that sink
through their own weight, creating a dense sludge at the bottom of the tank.
This is removed, and the clean water flows into Howe Sound. 
 
"The mining industry has made a tremendous contribution to the research and
development required to ensure the highest of environmental standards are in
place in Canada says Clausen. Today, there is a continual process of
learning by everyone and the industry is responsive to these modern values
and standards so that mining practices are healthy." Britannia Beach is a
great example of how an environmental issue was addressed thoughtfully by
industry and the Britannia Mine Museum is proud to offer our visitors the
opportunity to explore this topic in a meaningful way".
 
Located 10 minutes south of Squamish on the picturesque Sea-to-Sky highway,
the Britannia Mine Museum was recently transformed from a mining legacy site
into a vibrant internationally recognized destination. The museum provides
an unforgettable visitor experience with the new Beaty-Lundin Visitor
Centre, the Britannia A-Z heritage hall, the historic 20-storey Mill
building, the underground mine train and outdoor gold panning.
 
The Museum celebrates the contributions of mining and minerals to society,
the history of the storied Britannia Beach community and the ideas and
practices of environmental renewal and sustainability.
 
More information on Britannia Mine Museum's environmental story is available
at http://www.britanniaminemuseum.ca/history/environment.html. 
 
About the Britannia Mine Museum:
The Britannia Mine Museum, which is both a National Historic Site and a BC
Historic Landmark, was established in 1971 to preserve the material and
social history of mining in British Columbia, and to educate the public
about mining. It is a premier, non-profit organization that promotes mining
awareness through fun experiential education programs. Governed by the
Britannia Beach Historical Society, the museum provides important historic
collection preservation and insightful public engagement regarding
environmental and sustainability issues. www.britanniaminemuseum.ca  
 
-30-
Media contact:
Yvonne Chiang
Britannia Mine Museum
604-880-5090
yvonne at blueskycommunications.ca 
 
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