October 21, 2016 – “We have heard the call for further mitigation measures to address concerns around methylmercury,” said Newfoundland & Labrador’s Perry Trimper, minister of Environment and Climate Change, which is why the province is requiring Nalcor to remove more forest cover at the Muskrat Falls reservoir.

“The Provincial Government has taken the concerns expressed by the Innu Nation, the Nunatsiavut Government, and the NunatuKavut Community Council very seriously,” added Trimper. “We are taking action that clearly demonstrates our commitment to enhance measures which ensure we are best positioned to protect human health.”

SEE ALSO Will Muskrat Falls put more mercury into the food chain? from September 2015.

The province says it has also provided to the Innu Nation, the Nunatsiavut Government, and the NunatuKavut Community Council details on recent activities, including the establishment of a new water quality monitoring program, the establishment of an Independent Expert Advisory Committee, as well as the facilitator’s final report from a workshop held in August in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Following discussions with the Nunatsiavut Government, the province will also be requiring Nalcor to fund a further study, to be conducted by Dr. Elsie Sunderland’s research laboratory at Harvard University.

The Provincial Government has required Nalcor to remove additional forest cover from the Muskrat Falls reservoir site. The final facilitator’s report for the August 4 expert workshop has also been provided to the Innu Nation, the Nunatsiavut Government, and the NunatuKavut Community Council and will be made available to the public online in the coming days. Nalcor will be required to fund a further study on methylmercury, to be designed and conducted by Dr. Elsie Sunderland.