Government should have released environmental assessment documents instead of hiding the information

The unwillingness of the Williams Government to release environmental assessment documents related to AbitibiBowater sites in the province is unfortunate, especially when the documents were made available publicly through the courts in Quebec, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones.  The issue was raised earlier today in the House of Assembly.

The Minister of Environment had environmental assessment documents in her possession since last fall. While issues identified in Buchans were addressed and information provided to residents, none of the reports on the other four contaminated sites were discussed.  The reports highlight significant environmental concerns at the former mill sites in Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville, sites in Botwood and logging camps.

“The courts in Quebec released these documents publicly for people in the country to view, but our government decided to keep them hidden,” said Ms. Jones. “This certainly shows the continued lack of openness and accountability within our provincial government.”

Jones says the reports highlight many issues including the presence of carcinogens and chemicals in Botwood, including at a soccer and baseball field. There are also 16 sites of concern identified at the former Abitibi mill in Grand Falls-Windsor, including the leaching of chemicals into the Exploits River. The Stephenville mill site also has a legacy of chemicals and pollution that still hasn’t been fully addressed.

“I don’t understand why the minister didn’t hold public meetings in these communities to outline the problems that exist and let people make up their own minds as to the severity of the problem. It is clearly outlined in the documents that there remains an environmental mess in Stephenville, there are cancer causing agents present at the sites in Botwood and the consultant has identified chemicals such as Chloroform, Arsenic, Mercury and PCBs along with seven other chemicals leaching into the Exploits River that are above the guidelines established by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Residents have a right to know this information, regardless of the minister’s decision that there are no immediate health impacts. There are enough red flags being raised in these documents that questions should be asked. I encourage the public to review the documents themselves and come to their own conclusions regarding this environmental mess and whether they feel they had a right to know.”   

Exhibit NL-5 (Botwood) – 14MB

Exhibit NL-5 (Grand Falls) – 230MB

Exhibit NL-5 (Stephenville) – 40MB

Exhibit NL-5 (Logging Camps) – 660MB

Exhibit NL-5 (Buchans) – 426MB

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