Ivy league challenge: Perry Trimper asks Harvard boss to clarify methylmercury research

A difference of opinion between a Harvard University professor and the Newfoundland and Labrador government is being pushed to the top ranks of the Ivy league university.

• Harvard says N.L. government wrongly cited professor for planned methylmercury study
• 'Apparent confusion' over Harvard role in future methylmercury research unresolved

Minister of Environment Perry Trimper on Friday released a copy of a letter he sent to the president of Harvard, asking Drew Faust to clear up the confusion.

At issue is whether a professor of environmental science and engineering, ElsieSunderland, has agreed to participate in future research involving soil sampling to measure methylmercury levels in the Muskrat Falls reservoir.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced Wednesday that Nalcor Energy would foot the bill for future research to be done through Sunderland's lab.

Both Sunderland and her department immediately denied that."That's not the sort of work that professor Sunderland does or would do,"Paul Karoff, assistant dean of communications, told CBC News earlier this week.

"We are totally perplexed," Trimper wrote in his Oct. 21 letter to the Harvard president.

History of contact with Nunatsiavut, province

According to Trimper,Sunderlandtook part in an Oct. 3 teleconference with his staff and officials of the Nunatsiavutgovernment, offering advice about an enhanced environmental monitoring plan to measure methylmercury levels in the Lake Melville area.

He said the Nunatsiavut government asked to have the soil samples tested at Sunderland's lab.

"Dr. Sunderland was copied on the final proposal from the Nunatsiavut Government and my officials were advised to contact her directly with any technical questions. A budget prepared by Harvard officials was subsequently submitted associated with this proposed sampling," Trimper wrote in his letter.

• Inuit, scientists monitor water quality near Muskrat Falls

Trimper said the professor was involved in an earlierstudy which determined that methylmercury levels would rise with Muskrat Falls flooding, andpresented her findings to a workshop in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in August, findings now being used by protesters to justify their concerns.

"Civil unrest, hunger strikes, and widespread demonstrations have ensued," Trimper said, demanding that Harvard clarify the scope of Sunderland's work, and whether the university endorses her research on the Labrador hydroelectric project.

Harvard insists Trimpergot it wrong

Following Friday's press release from the government, an official with Harvard reiterated what they said earlier in the week, that Dr. Sunderlanddid not agree to do future monitoring work for the Newfoundland and Labrador government, Nalcor or anyone else.