On August 4, 2014 the tailings pond dam at the Mount Polley Mine site breached and released an estimated 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of fine sand into Polley Lake. Contaminated water flowed out through Hazeltine Creek and into Quesnel Lake...
In response to this event the Government of British Columbia with the support of the Soda Creek Indian Band and Williams Lake Indian Band ordered an independent engineering investigation and inquiry into the breach incident...
The independent investigation and review is authorized under Section 8 of the Ministry of Energy and Mines Act.