Muggah Creek Watershed
News for Saturday, May 8, 1999
More bad news for Pier street
Rail bed’s orange-coloured ooze includes arsenic levels above limit
By Steve MacInnis
The results come as little surprise
to the residents of Frederick
Street.
Testing of an orange-coloured
ooze from a rail bed running near
the street indicates the presence
of arsenic at levels four times
higher than recommended by the
Canadian Council of Ministers of
the Environment (CCME).
“I’m not the least bit surprised,”
said Frederick Street resident
Juanita McKenzie.
She said now residents must
wait another week for the results
of testing of a similar ooze found
in their basements.
The level of arsenic from the rail
seep recorded 50 parts per
million. The acceptable standard
is 12 ppm.
Provincial Environment
department spokesperson
Angela Poirier said the quest
now is to find the source of the
contamination and trace the
water flow in the area.
She said the department has
contacted the Cape Breton
Development Corp. – which
owns the rail line – Environment
Canada and Public Works for
their input into tracing the cause
of the seep.
Similar tests last year on the rail
bed put arsenic levels at 18
times higher than recommended
standards.
Saturday, May 8, 1999
The Halifax Herald Limited
Tera Camus
Cape Breton Bureau
Sydney ooze arsenic-laden
Study finds toxins in soil well above accepted level
Debbie Ouellette says the ooze in her basement contains the same toxins found
outside her door.
Sydney - Test results delivered to Frederick Street residents Friday revealed
levels of
49.9 parts per million of arsenic in the soil - four times the amount found
last year.
The 13.2 parts per million found in 1998 was considered 18.5 times higher than
the
acceptable level set by the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the
Environment.
"I'm not surprised one bit," Juanita McKenzie said of test results from the
substance
taken from the embankment near her home.
"My worst fears came true again, only it's worse this time because now we have
the
same stuff in the basement."
The tests also showed levels of molybdenum seven times higher than
acceptable.
Last week, yellow-orange ooze seeped into her and her neighbour's home, as
well
as in
the basement of a house two streets away.
"If this was in the premier's or prime minister's backyards, they'd be picking
out a
house and they would be moved," neighbour Debbie Ouellette said. "I'm very
very
concerned about my kids. ... You don't have to eat (arsenic) to be sick.
I'm in
it, and
we're sick."
The provincial Environment Department took samples from their basements, but
those
results won't be ready until next week.
That's when the province will decide what to do, Environment Minister Michel
Samson
said.
"We will make our conclusions when we have the proper evidence, and right now
it's a
matter of a few more days before we get that," he said Friday. "Until we get
the
results back from the tests we've done in the homes, we can't conclude at this
time this
is the same stuff."
He said any decision to move residents would be made by his and other
provincial
departments, along with the Joint Action Group.
About a week ago, JAG decided to move out the residents by June 1 if the
government
fails to define a separation zone. Mr. Samson said he wasn't aware of that
decision.
When asked how he would feel if ooze appeared in his backyard in Richmond
County,
Mr. Samson said: "It's hard for me as minister ... I'm not going to say I
understand
what the people are going through. I don't think it's a fair (question)."
The Nova Scotia Environment Act includes a passage saying that in "decisions
where
there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, the lack of full
scientific certainty
shall not be used as a reason for postponing measures."
Ms. McKenzie says it's time the province heeds its own regulations. "The
government
is stalling," she said. "We have to get back to the basics to the rules and
...
guidelines
that were put there for people's safety. If they weren't going to abide by it,
why put it
there?"
Mr. Samson said Ottawa and the province are trying to determine the source of
the
problem. "Basically, we want to know what's causing this, what is the
extent of
it and
is there any impact to the groundwater in the area," he said.
Ms. McKenzie said the government was asked to find the source last year, but
instead
the arsenic was dug up and replaced by gravel.
Letter from Roger Dixon
To whom it may concern:
In reporting arsenic at "four times the acceptable level" in
the Ouillette's basement, the media are causing
misunderstanding and confusion. There ARE NO GUIDELINES for
toxic substances (including arsenic) present as seepage in
the basements of dwelling houses, therefore there can be no
"acceptable" levels. The guidelines being referred to here
by the media are the CCME's guidelines for zones designated
as either industrial, commercial, agricultural, or
residential/parkland. All for OUTSIDE - non for INSIDE a
building. Thus "four times the acceptable level" in the
Ouillette's basement is a totally meaningless concept, based
on no health risk assessment knowledge whatsoever. Any
reference to "acceptable level" in this context should be
immediately withdrawn by those media which have made this
statement.
If one were to speculate on a "guideline" (acceptable level)
for arsenic in the basement of a dwelling house, although
the very idea is preposterous, - such a level would be
significantly below those derived by the CCME for exterior
zones. Consequently, the present " four times" would be
increased enormously, to who knows what - 400 times, 4000
times "guidelines" for inside a house?
To summarize, any reporting based on soil contamination
guidelines (acceptable levels) for INSIDE a house is
patently absurd, because such guidelines do not exist.
--
Roger Dixon, B.Sc.(Tech), MPH, CIH, P.Eng
Consultant - Health, Safety & Environment
Dixon Lakusta Associates
258 Wynford Place
Oakville, Ontario L6L 5T3, Canada
Tel (905) 469-0948
Fax (905) 469-9938 Email Roger Dixon
PUBLICATIONThe Gazette (Montreal)
DATE Sat 08 May 1999
EDITION FINAL
SECTION/CATEGORY News
PAGE NUMBERC12
STORY LENGTH 148
HEADLINE:
Pollution is no surprise
Residents of this city's infamous Frederick St., were unmoved
yesterday when notified that an orange goo oozing from a rail bed
behind their homes contains arsenic at four times the acceptable
level.
"I'm not the least bit surprised," said Juanita McKenzie.
Provincial inspectors found the ooze coming from the rail bed
contained arsenic at a level of 50 parts per million. The
** acceptable standard set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of
** the Environment is 12 parts per million.
The results weren't as bad as last year, when a similar test of
the rail bed found arsenic levels were 18 times higher than
recommended standards.
The homes along the street border what is considered the country's
worst toxic-waste dump. A watershed in the area receives runoff
from a steel plant, abandoned coke ovens, an overstuffed municipal
landfill and tar ponds that contain 700,000 tonnes of highly toxic
sludge.
GLOBE AND MAIL
SAT MAY.08,1999
PAGE: A15
CLASS: National News
SOURCE: CP
WORDS: 123
HEAD: NATIONAL REPORT
HEAD: NOVA SCOTIA
HEADLIN E:
Arsenic near Frederick Street
SYDNEY Residents of this city's infamous Frederick Street, which
borders what is considered the country's worst toxic-waste dump, were
unmoved yesterday when notified that an orange goo oozing from a rail
bed behind their homes contains arsenic at four times the acceptable
level. "I'm not the least bit surprised," said Juanita McKenzie.
Provincial inspectors found the ooze coming from the rail bed
contained arsenic at a level of 50 parts per million. The acceptable
standard set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
is 12 parts per million.
The results weren't as bad as last year, when a similar test of the
rail bed found arsenic levels were 18 times higher than recommended
standards. CP
PUBLICATIONThe Moncton Times and Transcript
DATE Saturday May 8, 1999
PAGE A10
HEADLINE:
Toxic street residents get more bad news; Goo oozing from
rail bed four times acceptable level
- Residents of this city's infamous Frederick Street were unmoved
yesterday when notified that an orange goo oozing from a rail bed
behind their homes contains arsenic at four times the acceptable
level.
I'm not the least bit surprised, said Juanita McKenzie.
Provincial inspectors found the ooze coming from the rail bed
contained arsenic at a level of 50 parts per million. The acceptable
** standard set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
is 12 parts per million. The results weren't as bad as last year,
when a similar test of the rail bed found arsenic levels were 18
times higher than recommended standards.
The homes along Frederick Street border what is considered the
country's worst toxic waste dump.
Residents started complaining last year about a multitude of
illnesses, which prompted officials to stop a clean up of the coke
site.
A similar orange-coloured ooze was found in the basements of two
Frederick Street homes last week. The government gathered samples
quickly and residents expect results in a week, said McKenzie.
The department has contacted the Cape Breton Development Corporation,
** which owns the rail bed; Environment Canada and Public Works for
help, she said.
But most residents just want out of the area. Their year-old calls
for the government to relocate the people of Frederick Street
continued yesterday.
Debbie Ouellette, a mother of three, said she's tired of the
headaches, the nausea, the sore throats and the fatigue.
I'm going to pick out a house and send the government the bill.
It's as simple as that,> she said.
PUBLICATIONCP Wire
DATE Fri 07 May 1999
SECTION/CATEGORY National general news
STORY LENGTH 353
HEADLINE:
AM-Frederick-Street-Arsenic code:4; INDEX: Environment,
Politics, Social; More bad news for Frederick Street
SYDNEY, N.S. (CP) - Residents of this city's infamous Frederick
Street were unmoved Friday when notified that an orange goo oozing
from a rail bed behind their homes contains arsenic at four times
the acceptable level.
``I'm not the least bit surprised,'' said Juanita McKenzie.
Provincial inspectors found the ooze coming from the rail bed
contained arsenic at a level of 50 parts per million. The
** acceptable standard set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of
** the Environment is 12 parts per million.
The results weren't as bad as last year, when a similar test of
the rail bed found arsenic levels were 18 times higher than
recommended standards.
The homes along Frederick Street border what is considered the
country's worst toxic waste dump. A watershed in the area receives
runoff from a steel plant, abandoned coke ovens, an overstuffed
municipal landfill and tar ponds that contain 700,000 tonnes of
highly toxic sludge.
Residents started complaining last year about a multitude of
illnesses, which prompted officials to stop a clean up of the coke
site.
A similar orange-coloured ooze was found in the basements of two
Frederick Street homes last week. The government gathered samples
quickly and residents expect results in a week, said McKenzie. In
the meantime, Environment spokeswoman Angela Poirier said the
department is working to trace the source of the contamination.
The department has contacted the Cape Breton Development
** Corporation, which owns the rail bed; Environment Canada and
Public Works for help, she said.
But most residents just want out of the area. Their year-old calls
for the government to relocate the people of Frederick Street
continued Friday.
Debbie Ouellette, a mother of three, said she's tired of the
headaches, the nausea, the sore throats and the fatigue.
``I'm going to pick out a house and send the government the bill.
It's as simple as that,'' she said.
Sunday will mark her family's 15th year on Frederick Street.
``I'm tried of my friends always being concerned for me and I'm
tried of my children not being allowed to play in the yard or the
basement,'' said Ouellette. (Cape Breton Post)
PUBLICATIONThe Halifax Chronicle-Herald
DATE Saturday May 8, 1999
PAGE A3
BYLINETera Camus
HEADLINE:
Sydney ooze arsenic-laden
Study finds toxins in soil well above accepted level
Sydney - Test results delivered to Frederick Street residents
Friday revealed levels of 49.9 parts per million of arsenic in the
soil - four times the amount found last year.
The 13.2 parts per million found in 1998 was considered 18.5 times
higher than the acceptable level set by the Canadian Council of the
Ministers of the Environment.
"I'm not surprised one bit," Juanita McKenzie said of test
results from the substance taken from the embankment near her home.
"My worst fears came true again, only it's worse this time because
now we have the same stuff in the basement."
The tests also showed levels of molybdenum seven times higher than
acceptable.
Last week, yellow-orange ooze seeped into her and her neighbour's
home, as well as in the basement of a house two streets away.
"If this was in the premier's or prime minister's backyards, they'd
be picking out a house and they would be moved," neighbour Debbie
Ouellette said. "I'm very very concerned about my kids. ... You
don't have to eat (arsenic) to be sick. I'm in it, and we're sick."
The provincial Environment Department took samples from their
basements, but those results won't be ready until next week.
** That's when the province will decide what to do, Environment
** Minister Michel Samson said.
"We will make our conclusions when we have the proper evidence, and
right now it's a matter of a few more days before we get that," he
said Friday. "Until we get the results back from the tests we've
done in the homes, we can't conclude at this time this is the same
stuff."
He said any decision to move residents would be made by his and
other provincial departments, along with the Joint Action Group.
About a week ago, JAG decided to move out the residents by June 1 if
the government fails to define a separation zone. Mr. Samson said he
wasn't aware of that decision.
When asked how he would feel if ooze appeared in his backyard in
Richmond County, Mr. Samson said: "It's hard for me as minister ...
I'm not going to say I understand what the people are going through.
I don't think it's a fair (question)."
** The Nova Scotia Environment Act includes a passage saying that in "
decisions where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage,
the lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason
for postponing measures."
Ms. McKenzie says it's time the province heeds its own regulations. "
The government is stalling," she said. "We have to get back to the
basics to the rules and ... guidelines that were put there for
people's safety. If they weren't going to abide by it, why put it
there?"
Mr. Samson said Ottawa and the province are trying to determine the
source of the problem. "Basically, we want to know what's causing
this, what is the extent of it and is there any impact to the
groundwater in the area," he said.
Ms. McKenzie said the government was asked to find the source last
year, but instead the arsenic was dug up and replaced by gravel.
PUBLICATIONCape Breton Post
DATE Sat 08 May 1999
EDITION FINAL
SECTION/CATEGORY Cape Breton
PAGE NUMBER1 / Front
BYLINESteve MacInnis
STORY LENGTH 602
HEADLINE:
More bad news for Pier street: Rail bed's orange-coloured
ooze includes arsenic levels above limit
The results come as little surprise to the residents of Frederick
Street.
Testing of an orange-coloured ooze from a rail bed running near
the street indicates the presence of arsenic at level four times
** higher than recommended by the Canadian Council of Ministers of
** the Environment (CCME).
``I'm not the least bit surprised,'' said Frederick Street
resident Juanita McKenzie.
She said now residents must wait another week for the results of
testing of a similar ooze found in their basements.
The level of arsenic from the rail seep recorded 50 parts per
million. The acceptable standard is 12 ppm.
Provincial Environment Department spokesperson Angela Poirier said
the quest now is to find the source of the contamination and trace
the water flow in the area.
She said the department has contacted the Cape Breton Development
** Corp. - which owns the rail line - Environment Canada and Public
Works for their input into tracing the cause of the seep.
Similar tests last year on the rail bed put arsenic levels at 18
times higher than recommended standards.
``We have shared the results with the residents and encourage them
to call us any time and we will be available to talk to them in
person about any concerns they have,'' said Poirier.
Meanwhile, Debbie Ouellette isn't waiting for the government to
make up its mind regarding relocation which the residents have
been demanding since last year's results were made public.
``If the government doesn't come up with answers then I'm moving
and sending the provincial and federal governments the bill,'' she
said.
``I just can't keep my family in this situation any longer. I'm a
fighter and more importantly, I'm a mother. I want to go some
place where my kids can play outside and not fear being exposed to
toxic chemicals like arsenic.''
Ouellette, a mother of three, said she's tired of the headaches,
the nausea, sore throat and fatigue.
``I'm going to pick out a house and send the government the bill.
It's as simple as that,'' she said.
She said she fails to understand how the government and the
companies hired to do testing can suggest that workers cleaning up
the coke ovens wear protective clothing and masks while it's OK
for residents not to be protected.
Sunday will mark the Ouellette family's 15th year of living on
Frederick Street.
``I'm seeing red today. I'm tried of my friends always being
concerned for me and I'm tried of my children not being allowed to
play in the yard or the basement.''
Her neighbour across the street, McKenzie, is equally disturbed at
the lack of government action.
``I just don't know anymore. It seems the government doesn't
care,'' she said.
McKenzie plans on spending her weekend in front of her computer
comparing the latest test results with those recorded last year.
``I'm not the least surprised at this. I would like to know why
the government isn't following the precautionary principle given
the social, economic, and physical effects this problem is having
on all of us.''
The basement seeps were discovered last week and environment
officials moved quickly to begin testing.
The homes along Frederick Street border the
which is considered Canada's worst toxic waste dump. The watershed
area includes a steel plant, the contaminated remains of coking
and byproduct facilities, an overstuffed municipal landfill and
the tar ponds which contain 700,000 tonnes of highly toxic sludge.
The area is fenced in with signs warning of a human health hazard.
The watershed is now the focus of a remediation plan being
developed by the community-based Joint Action Group (JAG).
Environment Canada Weekly Roundup
Tar Ponds
The Halifax Chronicle-Herald reported that the federal government will
provide funding to clean up the Sydney tar ponds when the community asks for
it, Minister Stewart said. The Minister told New Democrat MP Peter Mancini
that the environmental mess is a concern for the government. She denied
suggestions nothing has been done about the problem. "Tests have been done.
They are undergoing analysis right now and there will be reports out on them
shortly," the minister said in the Comm
ons. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald, May
6, 1999, Page A8)
The National Post reported on the "orange ooze" seeping into basements on
Frederick Street. (Graeme Hamilton, May 7, 1999, Page A5)
A front page story in the Cape Breton Post indicated that Nova Scotia's
environment minister says any decision on the relocation of Frederick Street
residents will be made in conjunction with the partners involved in the
Joint Action Group (JAG). ``We will present the findings of the testing to
the partners in the process. In would be unfair not to include them in this
decision,'' says Michel Samson.
Samson did tour the watershed area and met with residents of Frederick
Street last year. Meanwhile, the opposition parties are crying foul over
Samson's handling of the case. ``Is the government waiting for the ooze to
reach the premier's chin before it acts?'' asks Cape Breton The Lakes MLA,
Helen MacDonald. MacDonald, a New Democrat, said the residents must be
given the option of moving immediately because their emotional and physical
health is at risk. (Steve MacInnis, Cape Breton Post May 1, 1999, Page 1)
Residents of Frederick Street in Sydney will stay put while tests are done
on yellow ooze found in a resident's basement. Samson said his department is
taking this issue very seriously but is not planning an evacuation right
now. "It's essential we get the proper scientific information on what this
is," he said. (Amy Smith, Halifax Chronicle-Herald, May 1, 1999, Page A7)
