JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – TSX-listed Teck Resources expects to spend an estimated $600-million over a five-year period on the installation of water diversions and water treatment facilities as part of the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan, approved by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment.

This was on top of the $120-million already invested to build the facility at Teck’s Line Creek Operations.

The area-based plan intended to address the management of selenium and other substances released by mining activities throughout the Elk Valley watershed.

Teck this week explained that the development of the plan was informed by scientific advice received from a technical advisory committee chaired by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, which included representatives from Teck, the Ktunaxa Nation, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Montana, Environment Canada and other agencies as well as an independent scientist.

Public input was received through three phases of consultation conducted in Elk Valley communities.

Teck noted that the plan established short-, medium- and long-term water quality targets, which were protective of the environment and human health for selenium, nitrate, sulphate and cadmium, as well as a plan to manage calcite formation. The approved plan was a public policy document that would guide future regulatory decision-making regarding water quality and mining in the Elk Valley.

Teck would implement aquatic monitoring, water quality testing and various water quality management measures to achieve the target levels in the plan. This work was expected to include construction of water diversions and water treatment facilities at a number of the company’s Elk Valley operations, which included a water treatment facility at Line Creek Operations, currently undergoing commissioning, with expected full operation in early 2015; a water treatment facility at Fording River Operations, planned for 2018; and it was anticipated that a water treatment facility would be necessary at Elkview Operations following the Fording River facility.

Teck explained that it was reviewing its estimate of the capital and operating costs based on the approved plan and intended to provide an update in its year-end results. Based on work conducted to date, the company expected that the revised cost estimate would not vary materially from those previously disclosed.