Arvida (Saguenay), April 18, 2023 - The Coalition of citizens concerned by the
environment in Arvida (CCCEA), the Fjord Coalition, the Emma Goldman Collective,the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee of the Association retireesfrom education and other public services in Quebec - Chicoutimi-Valin sector(AREQ CEDD) as well as the Mères au front collective - Saguenay reactednegatively to the possibility raised by Rio Tinto of requesting an extension ofits decontamination certificate beyond the deadline of December 31, 2025. Thecompany made the announcement at the Aluminum Summit held in Saguenay on March 30and 31. It would like to continue to operate pre-baked type pots at the WestElectrolysis Center (CEO) of the Jonquière Complex, in Arvida.The groups are taking a strong stance against an extension of Rio Tinto's"pollute license" beyond December 31, 2025 and urging regional politicians totake the same position.A closure delayed by 8 yearsAs reported by Radio-Canada in a report on October 27, 2022, the Arvida aluminumsmelter is "the most polluting in the country" and "ejects up to 25 times moretoxic substances into the air than a modern aluminum smelter. ". It should benoted that since the entry into force of the Clean Air Regulation in 2011, thecompany has requested three times, in 2013, 2015 and 2018, that its "pollutionpermit" be renewed, requests which have all been accepted by Quebec.Significant impacts on public healthThese extensions were granted despite the reluctance of the Public HealthDepartment of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean. The Ministry of Health had also sent a letterto the Ministry of the Economy in 2017, in which it said it was "concerned aboutthe exposure of the population of Arvida to fine particles, BaP and SO2. TheRegional Directorate of Public Health had also issued an opinion in which itstated that "[t]he intermediate targets and the guidelines of the World HealthOrganization (WHO) for the protection of public health are frequently exceeded.in the Arvida sector".Solutions rejected by the companyThe Ministry of Health had then recommended the implementation of two permanentgas treatment centers, replacing four wet scrubbers, to reduce pollutingemissions, a solution which would have demonstrated a "strong desire to includethe activities of the Jonquière complex in a process of continuous improvementfor the benefit of the community"[1]. However, the solution was ruled out by thealuminum smelter[2], which, with the agreement of Quebec, chose instead to makeother modifications to its equipment, which led to a reduction of only 10% offine particle emissions. However, the missive from the Ministry of Health wasclear: "a new authorization for an extension of operation should be accompaniedby measures leading to a significant improvement in atmospheric emissions[...]"[3]. The largest fine particle emitter in QuebecOn February 25, the Journal de Québec reported that, according to the latest dataavailable in 2021, the Quebec plant that emits the most fine particles in Quebecis Rio Tinto's Arvida CEO plant. These emissions are far from harmless, while theexpert consulted by the Journal de Québec mentioned that "[t]here is no minimumthreshold above which fine particles have no effect on health. "[4]This samearticle reported that a study published last September in the scientific journalSciences Advances demonstrated that "mortality due to fine particles is high evenwith very low levels[...]", and that "[t]idren, the elderly, and those withchronic respiratory conditions (such as asthma) are particularly susceptible tothe effects of fine particulates" while studies "are increasingly showing linksto diabetes, premature births and cognitive problems[...]". As a reminder, thetotal emissions of the Jonquière site place the site in 7th place among thelargest GHG emitters in Quebec.[5]Our groups and organizations are therefore firmly opposed to a fourth extensionof the company's "pollution permit" so that it can continue to operate one or itspre-fired potrooms beyond December 31, 2025 since the quantities of contaminantsemitted into the atmosphere by these tanks are worrying and have real impacts onpublic health.Quotes"Fine particles are recognized as carcinogens by the International Agency forResearch on Cancer. More than 90% of total and fine particulate emissions fromRio Tinto's Jonquière Complex are attributable to the CEO[6]. This companyannounced in 2006 that its potrooms would have to close. AP-60 technology hasbeen available for a long time. It is not up to the regional population to bearthe brunt of Rio Tinto's lack of planning or will in the matter. We are talkingabout almost 100 years of pollution in Arvida. That's enough. - Mélanie Minier,spokesperson for the Coalition of Citizens Concerned by the Environment in Arvida."Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is a region that is known for its territories and itsnature. We must take care of what still exists. We must stop making politicaldecisions that benefit multinationals rather than our children and the specieswith whom we share the territory. Let's instead reorient our economy towardsprojects that respect the environment and local communities. - Alix Ruhlmann,spokesperson for the Fjord Coalition"What is most revolting is that elected officials are reducing environmentalconstraints to protect the interests of big industry, knowing the risks. Duringthis time, the health of people and children is undermined. - Emma Goldman CollectiveCoalition of citizens concerned by the environment in ArvidaFjord CoalitionEmma Goldman CollectiveAREQ Chicoutimi-Valin Environment and Sustainable Development CommitteeMothers at the front - Saguenay[1]Letter from the Ministry of Health and Social Services to the attention of Mr.Philippe Lacasse, Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation of August 10, 2017.[2]Radio-Canada, October 27, 2022.[3]Letter from the Ministry of Health and Social Services to the attention of Mr.Philippe Lacasse, Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation of August 10, 2017.[4]https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/02/24/pollution-de-lair-plus-mortelle-que-la-covid-19-au-quebec[5]Quebec Inventory of Atmospheric Emissions (IQEA), Halocarbon Inventory andManagement Department, Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against ClimateChange, Wildlife and Parks, December 2, 2022.[6]Document: Jonquière Complex - Modeling of atmospheric dispersion - Rio Tintoaluminum -Revision 1 - Project no: 171-12943-00 - WSP Canada inc. - May 2018by Emma Goldman Collectivehttp://ucl-saguenay.blogspot.com/2023/04/communique-des-groupes-citoyens.html_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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