'Apparent confusion' over Harvard role in future methylmercury research unresolved

The Newfoundland and Labradorenvironment minister is trying to square what appears to be a contradiction involving Muskrat Falls, Harvard University and methylmercury research.

• Harvard says N.L. government wrongly cited professor for planned methylmercury study

"The provincehas been engaged with the Nunatsiavut Government and Dr. Elsie Sunderland of Harvard over the last two weeks on the development of an enhanced water quality monitoring program regarding methylmercury," Trimperstated in a news release Thursday.

"Thisengagement has included direct dialogue between the Nunatsiavut Government officials, Dr. Sunderland, and officials of the Department of Environment and Climate Change," said Trimper.

The environment minister told CBC News that the research would delve into the role of soil on the methalyzation of mercury. Protesters have demanded that Nalcor remove all soil and vegetation before flooding the Muskrat Falls reservoir.

"The department received a proposal from the Nunatsiavut Government on October 11, 2016, outlining the work Dr. Sunderland would like to have carried out," said Trimper. "We were also provided with information on the funding needed to do that work at her lab."

The cost is "substantial," he said. During a news conference Wednesday, he said Nalcor had been told to pay for it.

Harvard denial

But a Harvard official told CBC thatSunderland hasn't agreed to do any research funded by the province.

"That's not the sort of work that Prof.Sunderland does or would do," Paul Karoff, Harvard'sassistant dean for communications, said in an interview Wednesday.

"What's being discussed now is follow-upwork that really entails monitoring.There are firms and people who do that sort of thing but that's not the sort of science she does."

CBC News tried unsuccessfullyto reach Sunderlandat Harvard University onThursday.Trimper's officials are trying to reach her too.

"The Department of Environment and Climate Change is reaching out to Harvard officials to clarify the apparent confusion over Dr. Sunderland's involvement in recent discussions with our department as well as her past research on methylmercury and its relationship to the Muskrat Falls project," said the statement from Trimper's department late Thursday afternoon.