PUBLICATIONCape Breton Post
DATE Tue 15 Jun 1999
EDITION FINAL
SECTION/CATEGORYCape Breton
PAGE NUMBER3
BYLINESteve MacInnis
STORY LENGTH 495
HEADLINE:
Residents told to return home:
Hotel stay over for Laurier
Street family; house not part of government buyout plan
If you ask Ann Ross just how deep and lasting the provincial
government's level of compassion runs she'll tell you exactly 31
days.
Ross and her 13-year-old daughter were among the 10 families moved
out of a Whitney Pier neighbourhood last month after levels of
arsenic were found in some basements.
In relocating the families to a Sydney hotel, Environment Minister
Michel Samson said it was done for compassionate reasons.
Ross was told over the weekend her 31-day hotel stay was over and
she must return to her home. She is also not being considered for
the voluntary buyout offer presented to 24 families living on
Frederick Street and Curry's Lane.
``I want to be relocated. I still have a major health concern in
my basement and someone has to take action,'' says Ross.
The level of arsenic found in Ross's home on Laurier Street
registered 49.9 mg/kg, the same level found to be seeping from a
rail bed running near Frederick Street.
There is only one street separating Laurier Street from Frederick
Street which has received national attention because of
contamination found in the homes, soil and water.
Ross received a letter from the provincial Environment Department
advising her water samples taken from her basement reveal no
traces of contaminants.
However, she says, arsenic is still continuing to come into her
home.
The department explains that the metals found are likely
associated with natural soil conditions and not related to any
activity on the coke ovens site - the main culprit being suggested
as the source of contamination on Frederick Street.
The department further advises Ross investigate her own options to
resolving water leaking into her basement which may prevent
leaking of sediment containing arsenic.
``It is not as if I want to drink the water off the basement
floor. I'm concerned about the arsenic,'' says Ross.
She says her neighbourhood and others in the Pier were covered
over the years with contaminated fill from the coke ovens property
and feels that's where the arsenic is coming from.
Ross and the other families have hired lawyers to represent them
in their bid for relocation.
The coke ovens property is part of the highly contaminated Muggah
Creek Watershed which is now the focus of a remediation effort
being spearheaded by the Joint Action Group.
The site contains a host of highly toxic substances such as
polychlorinated biphenyls.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Municipal Affairs
said Monday that five families remain at the hotel. Two others
have found temporary housing in the private sector and a third has
accepted public housing.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Public
Works said there have been no firm acceptances by any of the 24
families of the buyout offer. Negotiations are continuing with
several families.
A spokesperson for the Environment Department was not available
for comment Monday.
``I need answers. I just can't believe the provincial government's
compassion has suddenly run out,'' says Ross.
PUBLICATIONThe Halifax Chronicle-Herald
DATE Tuesday June 15, 1999
PAGE A5
BYLINEThe Canadian Press
HEADLINE:
Province pulls plug on toxic hotel bill
Sydney - The province will no longer pay the hotel bill of a
mother and daughter who live in a polluted Sydney neighbourhood.
Ann Ross was told by the government on the weekend to return to her
home on Laurier Street in Whitney Pier after 31 days in a hotel.
"I just can't believe the provincial government's compassion has
suddenly run out," Ross said.
Ross and her 13-year-old daughter were among 10 families who moved
last month after levels of arsenic were found in some basements.
In moving the families to a Sydney hotel, Environment Minister
Michel Samson said it was done for compassionate reasons.
Ross is also not being considered for the voluntary buyout offer
presented to 24 families living on Frederick Street and Curry's Lane.
"I want to be relocated," she said. "I still have a major health
concern in my basement and someone has to take action."
The level of arsenic in Ross's home registered the same level found
seeping from a rail bed near Frederick Street.
Only one street separates Laurier Street from Frederick Street,
which has received national attention because of contamination found
in the homes, soil and water.
Ross received a letter from the provincial Environment Department
advising her water samples taken from her basement reveal no traces
of contaminants.
The department believes the metals found are likely associated with
natural soil conditions.
The department told Ross it's her responsibility to stop water from
getting into her basement.
"It is not as if I want to drink the water off the basement floor,"
said Ross. "I'm concerned about the arsenic."
PUBLICATIONCape Breton Post
DATE Tue 15 Jun 1999
EDITION FINAL
SECTION/CATEGORYLetters
PAGE NUMBER5
BYLINEJohn Nardocchio
STORY LENGTH 106
To the Editor:
I am very pleased that the federal and provincial governments have sealed a commitment to clean Muggah Creek.
I hope the same thing doesn't happen that did in 1986 when the two governments signed an agreement to clean the tar ponds over 10 years.
This turned out to be a complete failure and a waste of taxpayers' money.
I am very concerned the Liberal MP Charles Caccia, chair of a federal standing committee of the environment, says that there is no money in Ottawa for a Muggah Creek cleanup. It seems that the latest announcement is just political.
John Nardocchio Newlands Avenue, Sydney
