2009-03-26
17:47:58
The federal Regional Minister for the province, M-P Greg Thompson, is slamming the provincial Department of Environment for its claims that the Jamer Materials’ quarry in Bayside poses no health or environmental risks. Thompson tells CHSJ News the arsenic levels are approximately 180 parts per million – or 15 times the national Guidelines- in the Jamer Material’s soil.
Thompson says the contamination threatens the water supply for the entire town of St. Andrews. He says it’s clear the province has utterly failed to meet its most basic responsibility of protecting New Brunswick’s environment and the health of its people. Environment Minister Roland Hache is declining comment.
We have placed a call to the general manager of Jamer Materials to get his reaction to MP Greg Thompson’s comments–but–have not received a reply. However, in a release dated February 27th GM Mark Clark says there will be safe guards in place for their expansion plans in Bayside. He also says less than one per cent of the watershed will be impacted by those activities.
Neither a federal nor provincial Environmental Impact Assessment will be carried out for the project.
