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e-4324 (Environment)
E-petition
Initiated by Sydnee McKay from Gaetz Brook, Nova Scotia
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Whereas:
- St Barbara operates the Touquoy open-pit gold mine at Moose River, Nova Scotia;
- Situated at the headwaters of Scraggy Lake and amid 3 important wetlands that drain into rivers relied upon by all life;
- January 3, 2019, approx. 400,00 litres of contaminated slurry leaked from this mine due to Stormwater management system being overwhelmed by heavy rains and silt run-off;
- A permit to raise the tailings pond 2.5 meters above its current height (130 meters above sea level) was issued in August, 2022;
- Risk of failure increases as dam height increases, tailings volumes increase and rainfall increases due to climate change;
- Atlantic Gold has permission to self-regulate contamination testing and mitigation;
- From August to Dec 2022 “Citizen Scientists” took water samples from Scraggy Lake and the wetlands surrounding Touquoy Mines and found high levels of arsenic;
- Baseline measurements taken at Scraggy Lake before mining commenced showed undetectable levels of arsenic;
- Measurements taken on Dec 2, 2022 showed 12ug/L whereas 5ug/L is acceptable
- This leak runs through the wetland into Fish River then Scraggy Lake. The contamination will flow through to Ship Harbour-Long Lake, into Lake Charlotte and out into the ocean affecting the fishery
We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to, along with the Government of Canada, work under but not limit itself to the Canada Water Act, the Environmental Protection Act, Wetlands Protection Act and true Peace and Reconciliation, to stop open-pit gold mining in Nova Scotia and across Canada.
- Open for signature
- April 5, 2023, at 4:02 p.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- August 3, 2023, at 4:02 p.m. (EDT)
