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There are 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide dust underground at Giant Mine. The federal government, through the Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, has undertaken a clean up of the site. - NNSL file photo |
Eyes on the air as work begins Concern raised about monitoring as deconstruction starts at Giant Mine
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 17, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Remediation work at Giant Mine has been going on for weeks, but as crews tear down the toxic site, trust they'll do it safely is waning.
Kevin O'Reilly, with Alternatives North, a social justice coalition in the Northwest Territories, said his questions about the air monitoring at Giant Mine are not being answered.
"They seem to be able to do the toxic work but public information and communications doesn't seem to be a priority," O'Reilly said.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) have been monitoring the air at Giant Mine since 2004, but the department stepped up its efforts due to the remediation work.
Decontamination and deconstruction at the arsenic-laden site began on June 24. Jane Amphlett, operations manager at Giant Mine, said precautions are in place to ensure contaminants such as arsenic, asbestos and heavy metals don't get into the air people breathe.
Workers first wrap and decontaminate the buildings before doing any work, to ensure any disturbed dust won't get into the atmosphere. If it does, Amphlett said, they'll know.
"We want to target it if we have an issue, we want to know where it is," she said. "We're so focused on prevention and controlling issues before they become issues, we're very confident in our program."
Air quality monitors are set up at the mine's roaster complex, there are numerous monitoring sensors on a fence line which surrounds the area, there are community monitors in Ndilo, and monitors at the marina near Giant Mine and in the city itself.
The air monitors are designed to test for particulate matter floating in the air. They test for particles of 2.5 microns and 10 microns in size. But the particles could be made up of many things. A spike in particulate levels registered on July 1 and 2 was due to forest fire smoke in the area.
"You can't measure arsenic in the air unless you suck lots of air through a filter and analyze what's on the filter," O'Reilly said.
Amphlett said they're using very stringent guidelines and making sure the air quality stays well below the maximums set for particulate matter.
The measurements are based on concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 microns in the air. These "risk-based action levels" are set to Ontario and NWT guidelines as well as AANDC's guidelines.
But O'Reilly said the levels AANDC set are far too high, meaning proper action wouldn't be taken if dangerous levels of arsenic were in the air.
"In two weeks of monitoring they've never been close to their maximum level. They say it's evidence of their dust mitigation. I think they set the level so high they'll never reach it," O'Reilly said.
If concentrations reach above the risk levels, AANDC will have to inform the city and Yellowknife's emergency responders will take over.
Amphlett said AANDC works hard to keep the community informed about the air quality, noting it's published the results of its monitors on the Internet. She also said there's a clear action plan in place should air quality worsen.
But O'Reilly wants better communication from AANDC. He's asked for live reporting and webcams to be installed at the site so the public can view the work being done.
"We've been waiting three weeks for the webcam. This is a $25-million project and you can't get a webcam working properly?"
O'Reilly said he's losing trust in the project because he feels his suggestions are being ignored.
"When you ask the same question more than once, and you don't get a
proper response, it's very frustrating," O'Reilly said.
Amphlett said the department's work is based on good science and was developed by experts in the area.
"They know what they're doing," she said.
O'Reilly wants more public reporting by AANDC and the appointment of an independent watchdog of the remediation process.
Fact File
Air quality tests focus on particles
PM10 - Large, coarse materials such as smoke, dirt and dust. Travel shorter distances and stay in the air for less time
PM 2.5 - Fine particles, such as toxic organic compounds and heavy metals. Travel hundreds of miles and cause the most harm to lungs, passing through smaller airways.
Source: Air Info Now
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