The British Columbia government has issued a conditional permit allowing the Mount Polley mine to reopen, but that the mine’s owner, Imperial Metals Corp., must submit a long-term water treatment and discharge plan to the government by next June.

Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the permit is the first of three steps the mine must take before it can be authorized to operate fully, The Canadian Press reported.

The tailings dam at the central B.C. mine breached last August, and 24 million cubic metres of mine waste and water gushed into area lakes and waterways.

An independent government-ordered report concluded the spill was caused by poor dam design, which didn’t account for drainage and erosion failures associated with glacial till beneath the pond.

The company estimates it will take about 30 days before it can start production, with up to 220 workers on site.

Imperial Metals Corp. (TSX:III) vice-president Steve Robertson said he expects Mount Polley Mine Corp. to immediately recall up to 30 workers.
He said the conditional permit fits the company’s intention to have Mount Polley operating permanently within a year.

“The strategy here is to be able to do this temporary work plan in order to give us the time to get in place a long-term water management plan and discharge plan,” Robertson said. “We expect to be able to go back to the government in the fall with a proposal for a full-time restart of the mine.”