Environmental Stewardship

Port Colborne Soils: Community-Based Solutions

We have taken full responsibility for elevated levels of metals in the surface soils of Port Colborne, Ontario caused by airborne emissions from our refinery between 1918 and 1984.

Inco has devoted considerable effort and resources over the past several years to deal responsibly with the Port Colborne soils issue and work with the community towards a successful resolution. The company has borne all costs associated with a Community Based Risk Assessment (CBRA) process, a Community Health Assessment Project (CHAP) and a voluntary remediation program. These costs have been substantial, especially given the time and the number of consultants required to ensure that the process is consistently carried out in a fair and equitable manner, that it maintains high scientific standards, and that it meets public expectations in an environment that has often been emotionally charged and subject to a high degree of media scrutiny.

The company accepts these as the cost of our pledge to do the right thing in Port Colborne. Our goal is to ensure that all the proper actions are undertaken so that the Port Colborne lands receive a clean bill of health from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and do not face any impediments to further development, zoning or land use changes due to soil-related issues.

In 2001, following meetings that began in 1998, we helped to establish and fully funded a CBRA process for Port Colborne in cooperation with the City, the MOE and the Regional Niagara Health Department.

“The CBRA is a pioneering community-based approach that is designed both to be highly transparent and to allow generous opportunities for public input,” says Del Fraipont, Manager of the Port Colborne Refinery. “We are trying to scientifically evaluate if there is a problem. If so, we want to correct it and have the City move forward in a positive direction.” The success of the CBRA could provide a model for the assessment and remediation of industrial sites in other jurisdictions across Ontario and Canada, and it is also attracting international interest.

Under the CBRA, consultants have designed and carried out a wide range of studies on surface soils throughout the Port Colborne area to assess the possible impact of elevated metal levels on humans, vegetation and organisms in the environment. The purpose is two-fold: to determine what risks exist and to determine appropriate approaches for remediation, if required.

The CBRA scope of work consists of an environmental risk assessment of valued ecosystem components; a crops study; and a human health risk assessment. Among the specific studies undertaken by the CBRA are ambient and indoor air monitoring, water quality, dietary intake, soils intake, quality and diversity of plants and animals in the area and what effect may be seen on a variety of agricultural crops.

The CBRA also includes a Public Liaison Committee (PLC) appointed by the City of Port Colborne. Representing a cross-section of Port Colborne citizens, the role of the PLC is to provide liaison with the public and to provide input to the CBRA. Input from the PLC has played a major role in shaping the CBRA's work. For example, 20 of 35 amendments to the original draft scope of work for the CBRA were initiated during the discussions with the PLC.

Inco has acknowledged that, despite the lack of scientific evidence indicating any risk to human health, some people in the community continue to express heath concerns connected with the soils issue. In recognition of these concerns, we also agreed to fully fund a Community Health Assessment Project (CHAP).

The CHAP study will help identify indicators that may signal health concerns related to exposure to soil containing nickel, copper, cobalt and arsenic. The scope of the work has been reviewed by all parties, an independent committee of experts, and an independent ethics review board. It is the most extensive community health study ever undertaken in Canada and is expected to be completed in 2004. To date, Inco has spent approximately Cdn. $17 million on the CBRA and CHAP studies. “Inco has reinforced the value of teamwork and civic loyalty,” says Vance Badawey, former Mayor of Port Colborne.

Rodney Street

Inco has been proactive as well in addressing the legitimate concerns of residents of the Rodney Street area adjacent to the refinery.

In 2001 and 2002, the MOE identified that 25 of 179 properties contained concentrations of nickel at depth that, in the most recent Ministry human health risk assessment exceeded an intervention level established in March 2002 of 8,000 parts per million.

In 2002, we extended a 2001 voluntary offer to remediate the 25 properties using professional independent consultants at no cost to homeowners. Remediation would include a detailed survey and plan development for each property followed by removal and replacement of soil to a depth of 30 centimetres. Five of the property owners accepted Inco's voluntary offer, and these properties were remediated at our cost.

In 2003, following an appeal process, the MOE issued an order for remediation of the remaining properties. After consultations with individual residents, Inco submitted a detailed remediation plan for each of the properties to the MOE, which took into account specific concerns and requests of residents. The MOE has subsequently accepted Inco's remediation plan.

“Our goal from the start has been to deal with the concerns residents have expressed about the soil in their yards and we have been offering to remediate their properties since 2001,” says Dr. Bruce Conard, Inco Vice-President, Environmental and Health Sciences. “We would welcome the opportunity to get the job done.”

For more detail on our activities in Port Colborne, please see http://www.valeinco.com/portcolborne/

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