The health of land and water ecosystems around the world is increasingly at risk, making environmental stewardship paramount.₁ Responsible environmental management creates value for the communities near mining operations as well as for our stakeholders and shareholders. Meeting or exceeding environmental standards contributes to support for mining, for recruitment and retention of employees and, on the global stage, helps to meet the objectives of several UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Due to the physical disturbance of the land, generation of air- and water-based emissions, use of resources and associated production processes, mining has the potential to adversely impact the environment. Many of these impacts can be mitigated or avoided through proper management and recognition of the interrelated nature of environmental issues, the cumulative nature of many environmental impacts and the need to look at impacts across the mining life cycle and value chain.

We work in highly regulated jurisdictions with stringent and rigorously applied environmental legislation, which also makes environmental management a key compliance issue. Changes in environmental laws may have a material effect on our operations, both in terms of effort required to receive permits and in terms of investments required to achieve and maintain compliance.

In 2019, we continued to make progress in several aspects of environmental management, including Water Stewardship, Climate Change and Energy Use, Biodiversity and Reclamation, Air Quality and in Waste Management. We met our target of having zero significant environmental incidents in 2019.

Significant Environmental Incidents

We assess the severity of environmental incidents based on its potential environmental, safety, community, reputational and financial impacts. Based on our incident severity criteria there were no significant environmental incidents or significant spills in 2019. As noted in the Water Stewardship section, we are continuing to implement the water quality management measures under the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan (EVWQP). For information on our management of water quality in the Elk Valley, see our website.

Environmental Litigation

Environmental litigation regarding the Upper Columbia River and involving the Confederated Colville Tribes and the Spokane Tribe of Indians continues. For more information, see our 2019 Annual Information Form.

Charges, Fines and Penalties Related to Environmental Performance

In February 2019, Teck was ordered by the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to pay an Administrative Penalty of $37,500, in relation to permit exceedance of permit limits at our Elkview Operations coal breaker stack and failure to maintain authorized works since 2015.

In August 2019, Teck was issued a CDN$1.6 million fine by Chile’s environmental regulator, for historical deficiencies from 2008 to 2017 at Quebrada Blanca Operations in water infrastructure maintenance, elevated levels of electrical conductivity and sulphides in groundwater, and conducting environmental monitoring tests without properly certified personnel. Teck has lodged a submission seeking to have the fine reduced.

During the third quarter of 2018, Teck received notice from Canadian federal prosecutors of potential charges under the Fisheries Act in connection with discharges of selenium and calcite from steelmaking coal mines in the Elk Valley. Since 2014, compliance limits and site performance objectives for selenium and other constituents, as well as requirements to address calcite, in surface water throughout the Elk Valley and in the Koocanusa Reservoir have been established under a regional permit issued by the provincial government, which references the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan. If federal charges are laid, potential penalties may include fines as well as orders with respect to operational matters. We expect that discussions with respect to the draft charges will continue into 2020.

In 2020, we will continue working to improve our environmental performance and we will continue maintaining the highest standards for environmental management. This includes implementing the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan by advancing a number of innovative measures and advancing our work in a range of other environmental areas, including energy and climate change, biodiversity, air quality and waste management.