Snuneymuxw raise concerns about industrial pollution incidents around Duke Point

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Snuneymuxw First Nation is calling for investigation and enforcement around two incidents related to the marine environment in the Duke Point area.

In a February press release, the nation raised concerns about a January oil spill and environmental impacts related to discharge from a sawmill, which they said dates back 40 years.

Midcoast Morning spoke with Snuneymuxw Councillor William Yoachim about the issue. The program also spoke with fish and wildlife ecotoxicologist Mason King to better understand the potential environmental stakes.

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UPDATE—Following broadcast of the program, the provincial Ministry of Environment and Parks submitted the following information in response to a follow up query around its knowledge of effluent discharge from a Western Forest Products sawmill:

“In 2021, Western Forest Products (WFP) constructed stormwater collection and aerated treatment ponds, which now discharge to the Northumberland Channel.
Prior to 2021, the Ministry of Environment and Parks is not aware of any active stormwater treatment systems managing runoff from paved surfaces at the sawmill site. Historically, the focus has been on the more concentrated effluents emanating from the process itself however as new information has become available, industry and the province have begun to address the more dilute contaminants in stormwater that have contacted wood and bark debris as well as buildings and mobile equipment.
As previously stated, WFP is working with the ministry to develop monitoring and assessment measures to ensure that whatever treatment is commissioned is both effective and protective of the environment.”

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