Sturgeon Landfill Accepts 8,000 Tonnes of Contaminated Soil

With more on the way, WNES is generating significant income but faces questions about local risks.

The decision to transport approximately 8,000 metric tonnes of contaminated soil from Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) to the Sturgeon Falls landfill in West Nipissing is sparking concerns over environmental and public health risks.

The contaminated soil originates from the former Cutler Acid Plant, which operated from 1955 to 1963 to produce sulfuric acid for uranium mining in Elliot Lake. Its legacy includes severe deforestation, damage to property, and chronic health problems for residents. The soil in question contains elevated levels of arsenic and sulfates—metals that pose significant environmental and health risks if they contaminate groundwater or waterways.

Last week, in an interview with MyEspanolaNow.com, Mathieu Gervais, Environmental Coordinator for the First Nation, revealed that the contaminated soil was being transported over 200km away to the Sturgeon Falls landfill. He noted that the contractor leading the project (Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.) chose Sturgeon because it was the closest site that would accept the materials.

Risks to Water

One of the driving factors behind the ongoing remediation at SRFN’s Cutler Acid Plant site is its location near critical water bodies, including Aird Bay and Lake Huron. However, the disposal site is within one kilometre of West Nipissing’s own primary drinking water source, the Upper Sturgeon River.

Arsenic contamination in water is particularly dangerous because even low concentrations can accumulate over time, leading to long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Sulfates, while less immediately toxic, can also degrade water quality, causing ecological harm by altering the chemical balance of aquatic ecosystems.

While 8,000 metric tonnes* have been transported in just a couple of months, the project is scheduled to continue into 2025.

*Equivalent to over 500 dump trucks.

The community has not been provided detailed information about monitoring systems or containment protocols. Local resident and business owner Denis Deschâtelets says, “People are furious because we don’t need this soil here.” He questions whether local water sources were considered before accepting materials “that nobody else wanted.”

Lucrative Opportunity for Municipality

The latest financial records from West Nipissing Environmental Services (WNES) reveal that the organization earned $142,600 from accepting contaminated soil so far in 2024 — ten times more than they did during the same period last year ($14,580). In 2020, WNES also profited significantly from a similar project, earning $207,795 for accepting contaminated soil removed from Wausauksing First Nation. This amount far exceeded their annual budget of $30,000 for accepting such material, raising questions about whether financial incentives are prioritized over environmental safety.

Inquiries to WNES and its manager regarding the matter, including questions about local risks, have gone unanswered.

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