The Kootenai River, just upstream of Libby. Researchers have found evidence of selenium pollution in the river downstream of the Libby Dam from coal mines in British Columbia. (Duncan Adams/The Western News)
May 1, 2020
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Commissioners issue new letter panning selenium standards
County commissioners put the finishing touches on a letter opposing the state Department of Environmental Quality’s new selenium standards for Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River on Feb. 23.
Teck fined $60 million for polluting Koocanusa tributary
A Canadian coal mining company faces $60 million in fines after pleading guilty to polluting a tributary of Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River.
Libby City Council passes on supporting selenium standards
Since environmental regulators approved new heavy metal standards for Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River last year, conservationists have petitioned local officials to endorse the measures.
Resisting status as ‘Canada’s settling pond’
One study published last year found elevated levels of selenium in the eggs of mountain whitefish collected from three sites on the Kootenai River downstream of the Libby Dam.