Nalcor downplays study findings into methylmercury fears at Muskrat Falls

Officials at Nalcor Energy are refutingthe alarming findings of a scientific study into methylmercury fears at Muskrat Falls, but are pledgingto consider the information in its human risk health assessment for the massive project.

"We will take the time to study the findings further," a spokesman for Nalcorstated in an email Monday evening.

In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Gilbert Bennett, vice-president of the Lower Churchill Project, said some of the findings in the study are consistent with Nalcor's findings, but added,"we do not predict that creation of the Muskrat Falls reservoir will heighten risk to people in Lake Melville."

Bennett's statement came hours after theNunatsiavut Government released a study, sayinghundreds of Labrador Inuit will be exposed to dangerous levels of toxic methylmercury if the Muskrat Falls reservoir is not fully cleared of before it is flooded.

• No thanks! Nunatsiavut rebuffs request to talk about mercury in Lake Melville

Inuit leaders said Monday they are prepared to consider "all options," including a legal challenge,to force Nalcor into action and clear all the trees, brush and other organic material from the reservoir site.

"We are reallyhoping the regulators look at this and say 'we need to act now.' Frankly, we are running out of time," Darryl Shiwak, Nunatsiavut'sLands and Natural Resources Minister, said during a news conference in St. John's.

Nalcor touts nationallyrecognized experts

Bennett said Nalcor has been closelymonitoring methylmercury as it relates to Muskrat Falls for many years, and understands that people are concerned.

He said the issue "has our full commitment," and Nalcor will "continue tomonitor and measure mercury levels in the environment as long as necessary, including in fish, seals and people. We will continue to collaborate with regulators and work with stakeholders on this important topic."

He added that environmental studies for the project "havebeen undertaken by nationally-recognized technical experts."

Bennett's statement did not address a request by the Inuit to have the reservoir site cleared.

Levels could spike by 380 per cent, study finds

The Lake MelvilleScientific Report isastudy by experts in Canada andtheUnited States onhow methylmercury will affect Inuit who rely on Lake Melville for food.

The study found there will be a "sharp increase" in methylmercury production in the Muskrat Falls reservoir immediately after it is flooded, and those levelswill remain high for decades.

Downsteam in Lake Melville, the report finds, methylmercury levels are expected to increase by as much as 380 per cent if only partial clearing take places in the reservoir, but would be reduced to 13 per cent if it is fully cleared.

"The bottom line is hundreds of Inuit individuals will be affected by this development," said mercury researcherElsie Sunderland of Harvard University, "to the point that they exceed regulatorythresholds for exposure."

The Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project will require the flooding of a large reservoir, and Nalcor has only committed to partial clearing of the wood, brush, vegetation and topsoil.

As this organic material breaks down, it will createhigher levels of methyl mercury, which is then ingested by marine life.

Methylmercury is proven to betoxic to a human's central nervous system.

Sarah Leo says concerns are 'valid'

Nalcorhas saidthat much of the increased methylmercury will be diluted in Goose Bay, before ever reaching Lake Melville and the abundantmarine life that is routinely harvested by Inuit.

If levels do increase, the corporation has said it will issue warnings about consuming fish or seal.

The Inuit have said that's not good enough, and that the findings of this study reaffirm theirconcerns.

"Our concerns are valid," said Nunatsiavut Government president Sarah Leo.

"Until full clearing is carried out, flooding must not be allowed. It's as simple as that."

Under the current plan, Leo said there is a potential for over 200 Inuit to be pushed above Health Canada guidelines for methylmercury exposure, while that number doubles when American guidelines are applied.

The community of Rigoletwill be especially affected because so many of its residents lead a more traditional lifestyle, which includes eating wild food such as fish and seal.

"Our culture and the health of our people is being directly threatened by this development," Leo stated.

In addition to a demand that the reservoir be cleared, the study contains three other recommendations, including a requirement for Nalcor to negotiate an impact management agreement with the Inuit before any flooding, and that the Inuit have a greater say on environmental monitoring.