By Rosalind Russell – Nairn & Hyman Township Mayor Amy Macey and township clerk Belinda Ketchabaw say they received some positive response from Minister of Mines George Pirie at the recent ROMA conference held in Toronto in January.
Macey says they outlined their concerns to the minister about the ministry’s plans to transfer tailings, called NORM, from the North Bay area to the Agnew Lake Tailings area.
She says they had many questions for Pirie including what the exact composition of these tailings is, if they contain uranium and/or other heavy metals, how they could potentially affect drinking water and more.
Macey also pointed out the Agnew site has problems with containment since previous disposal sites have now been exposed and need to be remediated.
She says the minister told them he would get answers to their questions, and that there will be remediation of the Agnew Lake site.
However, she adds he would not reassure them that the transfer of the materials would not take place, and they have yet to receive the answers to their questions from his office.
The proposed transfer of tailings has been on hold since the fall. Photo: Nairn & Hyman Township Mayor Amy Macey and township clerk Belinda Ketchabaw met with Minister of Mines George Pirie in January about their concerns to transfer tailings to the Agnew Lake area. Photo provided.
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