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COLEMAN TOWNSHIP — Thousands of documents obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request have revealed details of hazardous material located at the abandoned Cobalt Refinery Site, located in Coleman Township.
Trina Breault, township resident and chairperson for the group Citizens for a Clean Coleman Township, made a presentation to Coleman council on March 19. She obtained information through an FOI request to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) asking for details on what type of chemicals may still be present at the abandoned refinery site.
“I am here on behalf of the Citizens for a Clean Coleman Township and we would like to refer to the testing that was done on the refinery site and where we see gaps in testing and to identify (where to) follow-up. We are not arguing their results,” said Breault.
She was a bit shocked to learn that there are PCB’s, mercury, arsenic and other chemicals at the Cobalt Refinery which have been found to have leached off the refinery property and the chemicals have been found in a creek where people fish and swim.
The issue of the state of the refinery raised its head when a Coleman resident sought a minor variance on a vacant property near the site. The township then found out the site is listed as an “active landfill site.”
CONCERNS
Breault detailed her group’s concerns with MECP testing done in and around the refinery site saying, “MECP has stated multiple times that unless it is proven that contaminants have migrated from the site, they would not pursue environmental assessment, clean up or remediation. We assert that their testing has in fact proven that.”
She said ministry testing was done on private property and Township of Coleman property and referred council to charts and maps she had submitted to the township.
“Given that the MECP’s results are accurate we can deduce that contaminants have migrated from the site. This gives the Township a strong argument for more thorough testing and monitoring.”
The group has been asking that a hydrogeological study be done on the refinery property, with the costs of the study being absorbed by the ministry.
“Given that the contamination has migrated onto Township property and private property, a hydrogeological study is not only reasonable but essential and should be required of the MECP.”
She said the MECP has not adequately tested for mercury or PCB levels at the refinery site.
Breault says her group is concerned about inadequate testing on a creek in the township near the refinery.
She asked that the township partner with the Citizens group to undertake testing of the creek where the spring runoff occurs each year.
“We believe this warrants further testing, not only of water but also sediment and we ask the township to partner with us in this testing this coming spring. Sediment testing is especially important because it is an accurate way to determine long-term damage.”
ACTION NEEDED
She concluded her presentation to council by saying her group isn’t disputing the lab tests but it is to “ensure the township’s understanding of potential risk” as homes line the creek and families swim and fish there.
“It is vital that the township ensure the health and safety of human life.”
The group asked council to partner with them to do further creek testing, including water and sediment testing and to lobby the MECP to complete a hydrogeological testing of the refinery site and surrounding area and to identify gaps in the ministry’s testing programs.
MAYOR’S NOTICE OF MOTION
During the council meeting a Notice of Motion was brought to the table from Mayor Dan Cleroux stating “Council directs individuals and organizations making inquiries related to the Cobalt Refinery Property to submit their questions or comments to council in writing rather than verbally during the Public Question period.”
This notice of motion was not well received by the group which felt that it was centering them out and preventing them from openly asking questions of council.
“I would argue that this is undemocratic that we would not be permitted to ask our elected representatives questions,” said Breault.
The mayor stood by his motion and said “That is my motion, this (asking questions in public) makes it very difficult for everyone to operate.”
He said that council often has legal issues to consider when questions are posed and if questions are submitted prior to meetings it gives staff more time to look into matters.
“If you are going to do that you have to do it for everybody,” said resident Jim O’Brien.
“If you are going to single out one or two groups of people, this is an important issue in this township. If you are going to single out one project I think that is pretty dangerous stuff.”
The mayor’s notice of motion will be considered and voted upon by Coleman council at its April 7 meeting.
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