Britannia Contaminated Sites Investigation Stage I Preliminary Site ...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents the findings of the Stage I Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) completed by
URS Norecol Dames & Moore (URS) of the Britannia Mine Site (Britannia Mine) on Howe
Sound in British Columbia. The purpose of this work is to identify the known and potential
sources of contamination associated with surface activities at Britannia Mine. This work was
commissioned by the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
(BCMWLAP) and meets BCMWLAP’s requirements for submission for review.
The Stage I PSI included the following tasks:
• interviews with people having personal knowledge about the history of activities at the
Britannia Mine;
• a review of historical information from a variety of sources, including historical aerial
photographs, historical maps, plans and historical photographs from the Britannia Museum of
Mining archives and historical photographs, Insurance Advisory Organization (IAO) fire
insurance maps, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines (BCMEM) annual reports,
reports of previous environmental investigations at Britannia Mine, books on the history of
Britannia Mine;
• online searches of the BCMWLAP Site Registry and Groundwater Well databases;
• a visual reconnaissance along with photographic documentation; and
• preparation of this written report.
The Britannia Mine covers a large area divided between the Britannia Creek and Furry Creek
watersheds that encompasses numerous distinct and separate sites where mining and related
activities have occurred (shown on Figure 1). For purposes of the Britannia Contaminated Sites
Investigation, a distinction has been made between Britannia Beach (Fan Area), located adjacent
to Howe Sound, and the rest of the Britannia Mine area (Additional Areas). The Fan Area was
the site of milling, processing, and support activities related to the mine operation. Activities at
the various Additional Areas locations consisted primarily of open pit and underground mining
and operations with limited mineral processing. The following sites comprise the Additional
Areas:
• 2200 Portal (Tunnel Mine);
• Mt. Sheer Townsite;
• Victoria Camp;
• Beta Camp;
• Empress Camp;
Britannia Contaminated Site Investigation
Stage I Preliminary Site Investigation
Project No. 50319-001-310 i