Gov’t must fix uranium damage: Opposition

Drilling allowed Metro woman’s well to fill up with ground water

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By Mary Moszynski
Times & Transcript Staff

FREDERICTON – The Department of Natural Resources is giving a mining company the benefit of the doubt that it will fill holes it left uncovered while drilling for uranium in the Moncton area, says a department spokeswoman.

But Kent South Conservative MLA Claude Williams is calling on government to fix the situation immediately, especially given that a local resident’s well is now full of murky water.

“How many times did the premier, his minister of natural resources, and the minister of environment, time after time, tell New Brunswickers in the legislature that they didn’t have to worry about uranium exploration and mining in New Brunswick, that they had everything in place?” said Williams.

Earlier this week, Debbie Hudson, who lives near the Gorge Road, said the company left four holes uncovered on property several houses away from hers.

Although the holes are only about two inches in diameter, leaving them open is allowing ground water to seep into her well, said Hudson.

The company wasn’t required to fill the holes because the drilling took place prior to provincial guidelines monitoring exploration.

However, the government says it isn’t responsible for filling the holes and wants the company to fill them instead.

Meanwhile, Hudson is wondering when she can start drinking her water again.

The CEO of Sparton Resources Inc. has said no one has contacted him about the situation and that all the holes were filled.

Williams said government should step in and help.

“New Brunswickers need to be protected and it is the government’s responsibility.”

Sheri Strickland, spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources, said the department hasn’t given the company a firm deadline for filling the holes. It also remains unclear what will happen if the company doesn’t follow the government’s request.

Numerous messages have been left for company officials, she said.

“We’re going to try first to give this company in question an option of going in and fixing it and doing the right thing first,” she said. “After that . . . we’re going to have to take action.”

As well, the environment department has agreed to test Hudson’s well.