'Positive response': Clearing order step in right direction, says Muskrat Falls study author

The project leader on theonly independent study of methylmercury risks from the Muskrat Falls megaproject says the province's demand to Nalcor on Wednesday is a step in the right direction.

The order to clear more forest cover from the reservoir will help, said Trevor Bell, a field scientist and geographerat Memorial University of Newfoundland.

However, the order to form a roundtable of experts to discuss removing the soil is the more important decision.

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"Research shows soil is probably more important than the trees," Bell said.

"But I think [Environment Minister Perry Trimper's]promise that we would investigate what the effects of the soils would be and how we could feasibly clear them, is a positive response."

Flooding will cause 'sharp increase' of mercury

Bell's work, in conjunction with the University of Manitoba and scientists from Harvard University, was sponsored by theNunatsiavutGovernment and independent of the studiesbeing done byNalcor'senvironmental consultants.

It found there will be a "sharp increase" inmethylmercury a toxin that counts paralysis and intelligence disorders in fetuses among its nastier effects. The study used soil from the area slated to be flooded and was mixed with water from the Churchill River.

Muskrat Falls blockade

8 years ago

Duration 1:51

Protesters blocked workers from Muskrat Falls from entering the site of the mega project on Wednesday night.

The study did not go as far as determining how much vegetation and soil would need to be removed tomitigate the risk. Bell hopes the new roundtable of experts will be tasked with finding out.

"We know in general what the results would be if we leave the soil there, but I think it's a matter of where do we remove the soil, how deep do we remove it, how much of it," he said.

"I think that's something that is site specific and we need to go into the region and actually do those individual measurements."

Order comes hours after Bell's plea

While there's no word yet on who will be included onthe expert panel, Bell has made his recommendationsto the environment minister.

"We have suggested it be representatives from all the stakeholders.If everybody is not involved, and got a stake in it, it's very easy to put that research to the side."

The provincial government needs to look at our study more closely.- Trevor Bell

Bell's comments on Here & Now came less than 12 hours after he pleaded with the government to take another look at his study on theSt. John's Morning Show.

"It is not a difference of opinion," he said Wednesday."There is only one real independently reviewed (study) available for decision-making by the provincial government."

"The provincial government needs to look at our study more closely."

By 1 p.m. Wednesday, the province went public with an order for Nalcor to remove as much forest cover as possible.

By 2 p.m.,Nalcor had sequestered reporters in a technical briefing before announcing flooding would go ahead on schedule.