Construction is underway for a water treatment plant at Bell Mine on Babine Lake.
Bell Mine was an open pit, copper-gold mine open 1971 to 1992 on the northeast side edge of Babine Lake, and run by Noranda Inc.
The 1992 Bell Mine Closure Plan included a lime naturalization plant to treat runoff water collected in the open pit of the mine before releasing it into Babine Lake.
Construction of the water treatment plant started May 2014 and is expected to finish in November 2014, said a 2014 Bell Mine newsletter.
Managed by SNC Lavalin, the construction employs 30 people, 60 at its height, and uses materials from across Canada.
Workers are staying at Babine Camp on the east side of the lake, across the Babine Charger (barge).
Belvedere Place Contracting is working on the earthworks and concrete portions of the construction and has completed the framework for the concrete foundation.
After the foundation is completed, they will assemble the clarifier and water treatment equipment, which are being made off-site and will be trucked in and assembled August.
