https://kenoraonline.com/local/domtar-offers-to-help-with-mercury-assessment

Domtar in Dryden is offering to assist with the mapping of the bedrock under the mill property.

Recently, researchers have suggested mercury is still leaking from the mill site, causing contamination downstream. The Domtar has also agreed to allow the province access to the mill site.

The historic mercury deposits may date back more than 30 years. Domtar has only owned the mill site for 10 years.

Mercury contamination at Grassy Narrows and Whitedog was the subject of a settlement agreement in 1986. However, the new report suggests the contamination may be ongoing.

The statement from Domtar:

Earlier this week, we saw news media reports that testing of sediment in the Wabigoon River, conducted by the Grassy Narrows First Nation, revealed very high levels of mercury contamination near the Dryden mill.

We do not have a copy of the report and are not familiar with how the study was conducted.  However, we are pleased that Grassy Narrows has shared the results of their study with provincial government authorities, and that the government has publicly committed that Ontario will find and clean up any legacy pollution from mercury in the area.  As the current owners of the Dryden mill, we will provide access to the provincial government so that it can do this work.

In addition, Domtar has volunteered to pay for an independent expert to map the bedrock under the mill property.  We believe this will help inform and accelerate the government’s plan to find and clean up any legacy mercury contamination.