Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Enterprise (Jan 07/02) - Residents here are nervous about a facility handling a powerful explosives ingredient that was built quietly in the community of 85.

What most upsets local leaders is that the hazardous commodity ammonium nitrate falls through a gaping loophole in territorial rules. Environmental regulations don't cover the facility because it's within the 96 square-mile settlement, which is considered a municipality. Residents were never informed it was being built.

Western Explosives set up the operation to transfer rail-hopper loads of ammonium nitrate to plastic bags, for trucking to both diamond mines.

The chemical is mixed with diesel fuel at the mines to create ANFO, a dynamite replacement. ANFO was used in a truck bomb by Timothy McVeigh that in 1995 killed 168 people and destroyed the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Enterprise residents were not informed because Western Explosives wanted to keep a low profile, a spokesman said.

Since the Oklahoma bombing and especially since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, "We're sensitive about making things too public," said environmental and safety manager Bill Moir.

This winter the company plans to move from Enterprise about 23,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in the 1000-kilogram bags.

Moir says the chemical is safe, but safety sheets list many ways it can be harmful and explosive.

The Enterprise settlement will hire a lawyer, hold community meetings and do whatever it can to halt the operation, says Mayor Winnie Cadieux.

She said the community's two firefighters are not trained or equipped to handle a chemical emergency.

Cadieux and councillors criticize a lack of communication from the company and territorial government. This week Western Explosives and government agencies finally got in touch, but the facility is already operating and "they're not answering questions sufficiently for my liking," Cadieux said.

"They're not taking this seriously...they didn't tell us sweet tweet until we started asking questions."

"When you ask them they'll just tell you it's fertilizer but it's a lot more than that. There are a lot of major concerns here."

Coun. Chaal Cadieux said "The Oklahoma bombing was a few barrels, this is trainloads."

Several months ago part of Toulouse, France was levelled by an ammonium nitrate explosion that measured 3.4 on the Richter scale. Twenty-nine people died, 2,500 were injured and 10,000 homes were damaged. In 1947, 600 people died from a similar explosion in Texas. In between, several other ammonium nitrate explosions have caused deaths.

The Enterprise transfer station falls short of the national fire code in several areas, said assistant fire marshal Kellie Mitchell. The only specifics she provided is the need for Western Explosives to erect a 1.8 metre-high fence.

"They're in violation," of the code, but Western Explosives has been co-operating since a recent inspection, she said.

Moir said bags of ammonium nitrate are being stored outdoors until the ice road opens. Michell said that's OK.

This is not the first time Enterprise residents have fought development they believe is hazardous. In the late 1980s the Giant Mine backed off when the community opposed a transfer site for arsenic trioxide.

The ammonium nitrate is made in Carsdale, Alta., by ICI. The British conglomerate makes products ranging from J'Adore perfume to Glidden Paint. To sell to the diamond mines, Western Explosives set up a joint venture with Lutsel K'e called Polar Explosives. Polar employs 12 workers at BHP with another 12 planned for Diavik.