The mayor of St. Clair Township is frustrated by a lack of clear communication surrounding the transfer of radioactive waste to a facility in Corunna.
CBC News reported on August 12 that niobium mine tailings from a former mill in Nipissing First Nation have been transported to the Clean Harbors hazardous waste facility [on Telfer Road].
Jeff Agar told Sarnia News Today late last week, he had been trying to get information but felt he was "getting the runaround."
"It's pretty pitiful that I had to pick this story up out of CBC News or off Facebook," Agar said. "I've been in contact with many people and I feel right now I've got the runaround. I'm getting some answers, but not the answers that I want to see."
Agar said Clean Harbors told him the facility can accept low level waste, and monitors at the gates would detect anything out of range.
"But, they've not told me that that's what is getting accepted there, or that's what's coming there, or they've got a contract... or anything like that," said Agar.
He acknowledges the company's mandate is to accept hazardous waste.
"I'm sure a lot of different stuff comes in, but don't bull crap us," said Agar. "They can accept it here, that's fine, but how's it getting here? I don't have a truck path, I don't have anything. Is it going to get stuck out on [Highway] 402 in all of the trucks? Is it going to come up Petrolia Line? So, I'm very frustrated... as you can tell."
Agar said if he doesn't receive adequate answers to his questions, he will confront officials in person at the AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) Conference in Ottawa this week.
Sarnia News Today has contacted Clean Harbors through multiple channels, and also reached out to the company's Environmental Compliance Vice President Erica Carabott (who conversed with Agar) and has yet to receive a response.
Ministry of Transportation Senior Media Relations Spokesperson Tanya Blazina told Sarnia News Today via email the first delivery was made to the local site last month.
"A stockpile of niobium rock tailings was transported to a private licensed disposal facility run by Clean Harbors near Sarnia in July, in accordance with all regulatory requirements. The Ministry is working with Nipissing First Nation to complete this project and relocate the remaining niobium rock tailings," Blazina wrote.
"As with the transportation of all mining materials, the ministry upholds strict safety and environmental standards when moving niobium rock tailings. Niobium rock tailings are not classified as a hazardous substance, and their movement is considered a low-risk operation," she added.
Sarnia News Today also contacted Ontario's Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
In an email Monday evening, ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler said the material is classified as a naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) waste.
"NORM waste accepted by Clean Harbors is handled in accordance with their NORM management plan," Wheeler said. "If at any time the waste stream is found not to comply with the requirements of this plan, the waste will be turned away. NORM waste that fails to meet the facility’s acceptance criteria is either returned to the generator or is rejected to an alternate receiver capable of treating the NORM waste."
Wheeler said niobium mine tailings waste does not require any pretreatment and will be directed immediately to the landfill for disposal.
"Prior to landfilling, the waste will be driven through a radiation scanner installed at the site, to ensure it meets the applicable limits. Management of NORM wastes would be in accordance with the operational procedures established under the site-specific permissions (Environmental Compliance Approval) for the site to manage any associated risks," he added.
Wheeler said Clean Harbors is approved to dispose of NORM waste at their Corunna facility and has historically accepted NORM waste from various sources.
As reported by CBC News, the tailings have low-level radiation from small amounts of uranium contained in the ore. Nipissing First Nation Chief Cathy Stevens told CBC News that work to remove the tailings started in July and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The material was to be transported to an abandoned uranium mine west of Sudbury, but the plans changed as a result of public pushback.