The Mt. Polley Mine and the Vancouver offices of its owner, Imperial Metals, received search warrants from the B.C Conservation Services Tuesday evening.
Inspector Christ Doyle, with the Conservation Services, says the warrants were issued to support an ongoing investigation by the RCMP, Environment Canada, and DFO on the Aug. 4 tailings pond breach that released millions of cubic meters of toxic materials into Hazeltine Creek, Polley Lake, Quesnel Lake, and Quesnel River.
Doyle says an independent panel that blamed the breach on a critical design flaw Friday morning will have no influence on the investigation.
Doyle says there is no timeline for the investigation will be complete, and adds that he cannot go into any details as to what occurred on site when the search warrants where executed.
Imperial Metals who issued a brief written statement said they understand the warrants to be a normal means of investigation and cooperated fully.
The Chief Inspector of Mines, with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, is also conducting an ongoing investigation as well.