Contaminated water spills from Teck's Trail operation

TeckMetalshas confirmed a spill of metal-contaminated water at its operations in Trail, B.C.

The company says it thinks the spill lasted 15 to 20 minutes and wascaused by a break in a water runoff line leading to a treatment plant. It says some of the contaminated water may have gone into nearby Stoney Creek, which flows into the Columbia River.

The Ministry of Environment saysan estimated 90 litres of contaminated water was spilled.

The spill has been contained, said a company spokesperson in a written statement, and there is "no human risk as a result of this incident." Teckalso saidan environmental assessment of the spill will be undertaken.

• B.C. judge issues $3.4M fine toTeckmining for polluting the Columbia River
• Washington lawsuit claimsTecktoxins caused disease

Teck was recently fined $3.4 million for polluting the Columbia River from itszinc and lead smelter in Trail over about16 monthsending inFebruary2015.

During the 16 month time frame, there were 13 separate discharge incidents andthe company admitted to discharging elevated levels of toxins such as ammonia and cadmium from its zinc and lead smelter.

Teck also told a U.S. courtin 2012 their smelter had been polluting the Columbiafor more than a century, with discharges of hazardous materialdating back to 1896.

With files from Kamil Karamali.