NunatuKavut Community Council urges provincial government to make Muskrat Falls monitoring and mitigation a priority following Auditor General’s report on wetland capping
HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR, December 3, 2021 – NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) President Todd Russell today issued the following statement in response to the recently released Auditor General’s Report titled “Physical Mitigation of Muskrat Falls Reservoir Wetlands:”
“NCC was extremely disappointed to read that the wetland capping of the Muskrat Falls reservoir, which was a significant recommendation from the Independent Expert Advisory Committee (IEAC), did not proceed because of a breakdown in communications and a slow decision-making process. NCC had numerous conversations with the Premier, Ministers and departmental officials on the urgency of responding to all of the recommendations submitted by the IEAC. It is obvious they did not see it as a priority.
This same inaction is now being experienced at the Muskrat Falls Monitoring and Health Management Oversight Committee (MHMOC), where there has been little or no movement since the Terms of Reference were developed. We call on the provincial government to adequately resource the MHMOC and immediately start implementing the important work laid out in the Terms of Reference. This includes activities such as building a community-based methylmercury monitoring program, developing possible benchmarks for methylmercury in the ecosystem, and carrying out human health management and public education campaigns.
NCC remains committed to the monitoring and mitigation of potential methylmercury impacts from the Muskrat Falls project. We want to see real and tangible action that will ensure the protection of the health and well-being of NunatuKavut Inuit, other Indigenous peoples and the local population, both now and for future generations.”
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NCC Media Contact:
Kelly Broomfield
Director of Communications
709-280-5965