Tumbler Ridge Residents Rally to Restore Historic Mine Site After Dangerous Gas Leak

Tumbler Ridge residents have gathered on a winding street just outside the old Riverside Mine to demand that the mining company and the provincial government repair the site’s dangerous gas leak and restore the historic operation to its former glory.

The Riverside Mine, once a bustling hub of copper and silver extraction, closed in 1987 after a catastrophic collapse that left the underground tunnels unstable and the pit’s tailings untouched. In early March, a sudden surge of methane and radon was detected by a routine soil survey, prompting an evacuation and a swift response from local emergency crews.

'We saw a bright flare on the horizon—there was definitely a leak,' said Emily Hardin, a longtime resident and former miner. 'If we don’t act now, the blast could endanger everyone in the valley.'

City officials fear that the still-active tunnels may have been compromised by shifting rock formations, and that the accumulated gases could trigger an explosion or cause long‑term contamination of nearby wells. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is presently reviewing the site, but residents argue that time is of the essence.

In a public forum last Friday, the Tumbler Ridge Community Council demanded a comprehensive safety audit and an accelerated restoration plan. 'The mine isn’t just a relic; it’s a source of pride for our community. We need a safe and reliable path to bring it back to life,' asserted Council Chair John Mckenzie.

The provincial government has pledged to allocate $3.2 million for remediation efforts, while the mining company, South River Resources, has offered a joint task force to oversee the restoration of the mine's infrastructure, including a new ventilation system and reinforced ductwork to manage gas levels.

The plan outlined by the group involves building a sealed containment unit for the unstable sections of the mine, clearing debris, and introducing a continuous pipeline that will circulate fresh air and remove residual gases. Once the site is deemed secure, the company aims to revive mining operations under a stricter green certification, employing modern techniques such as open‑pit surveying and robotic ground‑penetrating radar to monitor underground conditions in real time.

'We want to keep the heritage alive, but safety cannot take a back seat,' said Mckenzie. 'By moving forward together, we’re promising younger generations a safe environment and the economic benefits that once fueled this town.'

With a clear plan in place and a community’s resolve humming in the hills, Tumbler Ridge is poised to transform a once‑dangerous site into a renewed symbol of local heritage and a model for sustainable mining redevelopment.

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