The renewed disposal and storage of contaminated soil
at a site in Barachois Brook again begs the question as to why no
consultation has taken place with residents and no environmental
assessment conducted, says Opposition Environment and Conservation Critic
Roland Butler.
Contaminated soil from the Stephenville Airport is
being shipped to a soil disposal and storage site in Barachois Brook with
great opposition from local residents. The approval of the site plan was
given by the Town of Stephenville Crossing without any consultation or
notice to the people living in the Local Service District of Barachois
Brook. Residents are again protesting today to voice their displeasure
with the disposal site in their backyards.
“I have received several calls today from concerned
residents of Barachois Brook and Stephenville Crossing,” said Mr.
Butler. “These people are still frustrated with the lack of answers they
have received regarding the soil disposal site in their community and the
potential impacts on their health and environment.”
Butler also noted that he is getting new complaints
that contaminated soil being transported by the dump trucks is becoming
airborne because there are no tarps covering the loads. People are
concerned that they and their children are breathing in whatever toxins
may be present in the soil.
“I previously called for a mandatory consultation
process that ensures that all local residents are advised of such projects
before they start. The people of Barachois Brook have already stated that
they were not consulted and they still have no answers to their many
questions. With the concerns that are being expressed, I am calling on
Environment Minister Charlene Johnson to do a complete review of this
circumstance to determine whether all regulations were followed and
whether there is a need to conduct a complete environmental assessment to
address the worries of local residents. All the people are asking for is
some information and answers, and government should be willing to step
forward and help rectify this situation.”
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Media Contact:
Darrell Mercer
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (709) 729-6151 or (709) 687-0477