The Ministry of the Environment has opened a criminal investigation into the Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, due to copper particles that escaped from the smelter a few weeks ago.
Since March 7, Glencore, owner of the Horne smelter, has been carrying out copper dust “recovery work” in the Notre-Dame district of Rouyn-Noranda.
“The ministry inspects and requires concentrate recovery across the entire impacted area and monitors the recovery work carried out by Glencore on a daily basis. This recovery work is continuing in the Notre-Dame district, including residential land, “said Sophie Gauthier, regional spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment, on Wednesday.
Several citizens had shared, on social networks, photos of “black snow” on March 7 and in the days that followed.
On March 16, The Canadian Press found that the snow on several lots in the Notre-Dame district was sprinkled with black particles.
Also on March 16, Glencore’s communications and community relations manager, Cindy Caouette, commented on the situation during a press conference in front of the foundry: “As soon as we were informed that there was a possible wind washout of copper concentrate, the teams were sent to the field observed visually to try to delimit the sector, samples were taken and we are currently collecting the snow on which we find dust. »
But the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) indicated on Wednesday “that a breach was notified to the company in the notice of non-compliance was issued on March 13, 2023 for the emission of this contaminant under article 20 of the Environment Quality Act (EQA) and for not having recovered the contamination”.
A maximum fine of 6 million
In an interview with La Presse canadienne, the regional director of environmental control at the MELCCFP, Annie Cassista, explained that the department “carries out the assessment, then the investigation, and then the objective is to send the file to the Director of criminal and penal proceedings”.
She explained that for this type of offence, the law provides for a fine that can reach the sum of 6 million dollars.
Two breaches on the same day
The Department of the Environment said the Horne smelter was also fined $10,000 for another violation that occurred on March 7.
“There was a washout of mine tailings from Noranda 5 park, in the Lac Pelletier sector,” said Annie Cassista.
A notice of non-compliance was also issued against Glencore after this event.