B.C. Hydro proposed that the Hat Creek coal deposit could be used to fuel generators for electric power generation. Because this large coal deposit contained high levels of sulphur and other toxic trace elements, environmentalists were concerned that even with pollution control devices, the mining would result in the drift of acid rain which would threaten the fragile ecology of the dry alkaline interior. The people of the Bonaparte Reserve who live closest to the project were concerned as well and were already being negatively impacted by having their livelihoods threatened. Since B.C. Hydro had been buying out ranching operations to secure the land for the project, half of the people on the Bonaparte Band List were forced to leave their homes to look for other employment.
