THUNDER BAY – After a concerned citizen sounded the alarm on social media about a hazardous spill in the Kaministiquia River, Fort William First Nation's chief is asking why members of the public were not informed.
Jamie Zaroski told Newswatch on Thursday that while he was boating on the Kam River on Saturday, Aug. 23, he noticed an “orangey tan colour” substance near Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, where the mill discharges (its) sewage.”
“I proceeded upstream; it's everywhere. The whole water was an orange-tan colour, and I kept going, and it kept going. It's right to Lake Superior, six miles up the Mission River. I mean, we're talking a river that's 400 to 500 feet wide, 30 feet deep past the swing bridge. This is a major spill,” Zaroski said.
After witnessing the spill, he immediately tried to contact the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, but couldn’t get through to them until Monday.
The ministry informed Zaroski that they were notified of the spill on Friday, Aug. 22, and they had crews out testing the water.
Newswatch has confirmed the ministry is currently investigating.
“One of my questions was why is the public not being notified, and she said it is not our responsibility, it is up to local officials,” Zaroski said.
He then reached out to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. He has not received a reply.
Newswatch has contacted the Thunder Bay District Health Unit regarding the incident. In an email statement, the health unit said, “the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks are the regulatory authority in this matter and is currently investigating. As such, TBDHU is not involved at this time.”
Zaroski said he is concerned by the lack of communication from the health unit and Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper about the hazardous materials in the water.
He said the Kam River is fairly busy with boaters and jet-skiers travelling down the river, as well as multiple species of wildlife actively using the water.
Newswatch has received multiple unconfirmed reports that a large number of dead fish were observed floating in the river. Zaroski witnessed an eagle eating one of the dead fish.
He said he has sent messages to MP Marcus Powlowski, MPP Kevin Holland, and Mayor Ken Boshcoff, but at this time, he has not received any reply.
However, the one person he did get to speak with was Fort William First Nation Chief Michele Solomon.
After speaking with Zaroski over the phone, Solomon dispatched FWFN’s environmental unit to investigate. Her team was collecting water samples at the Mountdale Boat Launch, where Newswatch met up with the chief.
Solomon said in an interview that she was told about the spill by one of the FWFN members Wednesday evening around 11 p.m.
“Prior to that, I had no knowledge of any spill. I still have no formal knowledge of a spill. I only know what's been reported in that social media post, and of course, I did talk to the gentleman who made the post. I have not been advised of anything formally by any other representatives of the mill or Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks,” Solomon said.
Solomon said the ministry should have notified them immediately.
“We should have been notified. I don't know when this happened, but it's reported to me that this happened up to five days ago. It's seriously concerning, and we will be doing work on our part to make sure that this is brought forward to the ministry and to any representatives who should have been part of informing us,” Solomon said.
She said the First Nation is waiting until they get all the information before “speculating” on taking any legal action for the spill.
But, she said, “rest assured, we will be informing ourselves and asking those people who are responsible to inform us of these types of things, making sure that people are held to account if there is something that needs to be done.”
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper said it suspended production during a review in the cause of an upset in its effluent process – the treatment of wastewater before it's discharged into the environment.
"The company is participating with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks regarding reports of a loss of aquatic life in the river downstream from its facility and will continue to do so until the matter is concluded," the mill said in its statement.
"During its century in the Thunder Bay community, the company has built a long-standing record of responsible, and environmentally compliant, performance and we are unaware of any previous similar event affecting the loss of aquatic life. As a trusted employer, economic driver and community steward, we will continue to make protecting Thunder Bay's natural resources a top priority. "
