Here’s a copy of the file we left with NSE staff today. The soil sample results are attached and the following is Ian Fraser’s, JIF Consulting, summary. Soil Sampling Results - Boat Harbour NS JIF Consulting (Ian Fraser for the Clean the Mill Group) Samples were collected on June 17, 2014 with the assistance of a resident of the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve. Being a chemist with the federal government for over thirty years, as a professional in environmental sampling and chemistry, the absolute care was taken to ensure the integrity of the samples. All sampling equipment was non-metallic as were the sample containers used to transport the samples to Maxxam Laboratory in Bedford N.S.. All samples were labeled at the point of collection. Only new plastic sampling scoops were used to collect the soil samples and polypropylene tubing to collect core soil samples. As well, the collected samples were contained in new glass containers (for food storage applications) and were subsequently sealed with polyethylene plastic (again food grade) lid liners. The samples were in the personal custody of Ian Fraser until delivered in person at the Maxxam Laboratory. The test methods for the analyses were appropriate, reference standards were used. The analytical method calling for atomic absorption spectroscopy for the 26 elements identification and quantification is well known for accuracy. In the attached summary report for the samples collect, Maxxam reports RDL on the right side column. RDL is the reported detection limit. All the sample results were accurately determined and are above the limits of detection. Analytical results falling below the RDL are reported as ND - not determined. In the picture below on the upper right corner is a yellow line representing Highway 348 Above this line is an arrow pointing to “Point D” , this is the water outfall from Boat Harbour into the Northumberland Strait. Sample S1 was collected halfway between the road and the water release point D” the S1 sample was collected on the embankment away from the Reserve (north east). Samples S2 and S3 were collected on the other side of Highway 348 accessed from the water pumping station roadway. This location is closest to the well site where the drinking water for the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve is collected for their domestic consumption. Samples S4, S5 and S6 were collected along the back side of the Reserve. Drawing a line from Point C in the photo (above), strait up through the “B” in Boat Harbour to the lake’s embankment will locate the general sampling area. This location was selected to detect if metals were present in the soils which are part of the reserve lands. Sample S4 was a root ball from a plant floating on the water’s edge. It was selected to see if the bullrush root was accumulating metals. Five metres back where soil was present underfoot sample S5 was collected. S6 was a soil sample collected on the peninsula embankment but back 15 meters from the water’s edge. The S6 sample would be slightly closer to the aeration machines than either S4 or the S5 sampling points. Sample S7 was collected between the well site (highway 348) and Point C by the Pictou Landing First Nation representative. At no point was there any trespassing on the Provincial lands or beyond fencing. Please note: the area within the centre lower portion of the photograph is labeled Sludge Disposal Site. This area is fenced and there are reported “no trespassing signs posted”. No samples were collected near this zone. Second note: the soil sampling occurred on June 17th during the Mill shutdown due to the East River pipeline failure. The Northern Pulp Mill had been closed for more than seven days at that time. Observations from the Maxxam Test Results: The samples were hand delivered to the Maxxam Environmental Laboratory in Bedford N.S. This laboratory was independent and has sufficient quality control practices within its testing procedures, that everyone should be assured the results are both precise and accurate. Maxxam had no information as to where the samples were collected. The samples were submitted under my company JIF Consulting. I shared the laboratory results with our Facebook team leaders in July and made reference to the results on CBC radio during an interview in August, 2014 on the CBC MainStreet afternoon/supper hour broadcast. Below is a listing of the metals and a brief notes for the sample results. The samples as collected should be considered representative of the sampling sites we visited and that heavy metal contamination has occurred within Boat Harbour. These heavy metals are a concern. I trust the drinking water for the Pictou Landing First Nation’s residents is routinely tested for the presence of heavy metals. Aluminum was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 4 times more aluminum (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Arsenic was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 4 times more arsenic (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Barium was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 3 times the metal present (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Cadmium was found in the samples below the 348 highway and in the Boat Harbour “embankment sample closest to the water tower and domestic water well Chromium was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 4 times metal present (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Cobalt was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 4 times metal present (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Copper was found at low levels in all samples. Iron was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 3 times of this metal present (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Lead was found in each of the soil samples with increased concentrations found at the third site - on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve. Lithium was found at each of the sampling sites, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 6 times more lithium (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Manganese was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 3 times more of this metal present (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Mercury was found in three soil samples which is cause for concern. Mercury would not be a normal mineral within the soils at Pictou Landing. Below please see my recommendation. Nickel was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 4 times more nickel present (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Rubidium was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 4 times more present (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Vanadium was found in all samples, with the soil samples collected at our third sampling site having 3 times more vanadium (on the Pictou Landing First Nation’s Reserve). Zinc was found in all the samples but the highest concentration was found at our first sampling site below Highway 348. The waste water from Boat Harbour is attacking the galvanized coatings (galvanized = hot dipped zinc coatings) on the drainage pipes and water level controls. As mentioned the samples was collected using non metallic tools and every care was taken to ensure the integrity of all samples. The samples were hand delivered to Maxxam Environmental Laboratories with field sampling identifiers on each container. The laboratory staff took custody of these samples on Wednesday June 25 in Bedford Nova Scotia. The samples were subjected to an acid digestion and an alkaline digestion to ensure all potential metals were extracted from the soils. The subsequent chemical analysis was performed by atomic absorption for 27 different minerals and metals. The laboratory staff provided quality control in their analysis via calibration standards and good lab practice of standard addition to reference samples. The soil samples were analyzed to one part per million and down to 0.1 parts per million. There was a seventh sample which contained sea water and sediments. This one sample was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy for the same 27 metals. Quality control samples were also analyzed with this one sea water sample from the Northumberland Strait. This one sample was taken three to four kilometres from where the waters from Boat Harbour enter into the Northumberland Strait. Results The sample collected below the road where Boat Harbour empties into the Northumberland Strait contained low levels of cadmium, significant levels of lead, nickel, chromium and arsenic. High levels of iron were also found in this sample but is not cause for concern. The detection of Cadmium and other toxic heavy metals, lead, nickel, chromium and arsenic should be noted. Two samples collected adjacent to the water pumping station also displayed the presence of similar metals and in concentrations just slightly higher than those at Point D. This initially suggests the metals are coming from “upstream as the lake water empties at Point D. The metal concentrations were not significantly higher but were slightly increased. The third sampling site was approximately halfway between the settling pond/aeration equipment and Point D as referenced by Northern Pulp. The soil samples from this site contained significantly more arsenic, chromium, lead and nickel. At this third site, heavy metal concentrations were more than doubled the concentrations found within the Point D field samples. Mercury was detected in three of the six soil samples collected (at low concentrations). While I am not a geologist, I suggest mercury but would not be a native mineral to the area of Pictou County. In reviewing the results, they suggest to me as a chemist, that minerals from the pulp mill construction are present in Boat Harbour. The chemical analysis of the soils indicated very high concentrations of aluminum, increased iron, chromium and vanadium as being elevated by sampling closer to the settling pond/aeration zone… For example, Vanadium is added to steel alloys to harden the metal for applications such as tool steels, rollers, and presses. Chromium is used as an electroplated coating on steel to resist wear and abrasion. Chromium is also used in stainless steel alloys along with nickel to resist chemical attack, corrosion and can withstand other fluids better than mild steels for piping and chemical storage applications. The fact that chromium and nickel were found the in soil samples is a concern Conclusions: The presence of mercury suggests a spill may have occurred in the past on soils adjacent to Boat Harbour. The source of the mercury needs to be investigated in a timely fashion (3 to 6 months). The contaminated soil dumpsite (reportedly where Abercrombie Point facilities dumped materials, and) where Northern Pulp currently dumps settling pond wastes adjacent to the Boat Harbour should be carefully investigated for mercury contamination. Soil sampling around the full perimeter of Boat Harbour should be continued, especially for the testing of metals and to more accurately identify the presence of Mercury. Analytical results by Maxxam Laboratory testing clearly indicates the presence of several heavy metals. These heavy metals are flowing with the Northern Pulp Mill’s waste waters along the course of Boat Harbour. Heavy metals are produced with pulp mill wastes and infrastructure degradation. Heavy metals as a waste by-product have not been addressed as a waste management activity. I express this point of view, based upon my participation in touring the Northern Pulp mill accompanied by the management, the metals in Boat Harbour suggest degradation of the Mill’s industrial equipment/piping along with the digested wood effluents. The current operations at Boat Harbour waste management are not addressing the emission of heavy metals into the Northumberland Strait. I recognize the lignin from the pulping processes are attempted to be digested by micro-organisms in the lake. Northern Pulp monitors pH and dissolved oxygen in the lake water but does not address the presence of heavy metals and this pollution issue. Sincerely yours, Ian Fraser Chemist
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:09:41 +0000
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