Superior Fine Papers has blown the deadline for removing chemicals from the property of the idled mill.
The company had until Oct. 31 to remove chemicals stored on the property. After a site visit Tuesday, the Ministry of the Environment confirmed they had not been removed.
Ministry spokeswoman Lisa Brygidyr said some of the chemicals are expired and are considered waste chemicals; they need to be removed to an appropriate facility and disposed of properly.
“This in fact is a very serious matter,” said Brygidyr, adding it’s especially worrisome with winter temperatures arriving soon.
“If they are in portions of the mill that are not being heated, there is a concern if the chemicals freeze, the containers could crack and there could be a spill,” she said.
“The chemicals need to be removed in order to protect a risk to the environment and to Lake Superior.”
The order to clean out the chemicals was issued to Superior Fine Papers in June and one extension was given. Last year the owner of the mill had the buildings storing the containers heated, but due to a fire at the site in May, they are no longer connected to a power source, Brygidyr said.
Repercussions for the company are still up in the air. The ministry is meeting with the legal team to determine what steps they will take; one route they make take is referring Fine Papers to the MOE’s investigation and enforcement branch.
Work is underway on the site by the owner, but Brygidyr said if the company doesn’t remove the chemicals, the ministry would send out a request for proposal with Superior Fine Papers likely getting the bill.
