Thank you for taking action! While this action campaign is now closed, we sincerely thank the 300 individuals who wrote to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as well as their local MPP calling for industry’s compliance with provincial air quality standards.
Want to learn more and keep in touch? We invite you to read LAND’s comment to the Ministry here and sign up here for updates on this and other critical environmental matters in the North.
The provincial Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is poised to make a decision for steel mill operator Algoma Steel in Sault Ste Marie for a request for an environmental permit, known as an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for emissions at its iron and steel manufacturing plant.
If the province says YES, it would allow Algoma Steel emit benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter at levels vastly exceeding the provincial standards.
We asked the province to:
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- Prioritize restoration over environmental degradation
- Safeguard clean air and reduce exposure to toxic air pollutants
- Prevent ongoing environmental injustices
See our letter to the Ministry below.
Dear Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
I provide these comments to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) in response to Algoma Steel’s request for an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for emissions at its iron and steel manufacturing plant in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.
In providing these comments, I am voicing my support for a decision by the MECP that will:
Prioritize restoration over environmental degradation
Safeguard clean air and reduce exposure to toxic air pollutants
Prevent ongoing environmental injustices1 – Prioritizing restoration over environmental degradation
The Algoma Steel Mill is located beside the St Marys River – a 100+ km passageway, connecting Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The river has been recognized for its high biodiversity potential, unique riparian environment and cultural significance. Whitefish Island, part of Batchewana First Nation and located near the steel mill, is both a sacred and designated historic site.
Unfortunately, after more than a century of navigational and industrial activities, the St Marys River has endured significant toxic loading from discharges of coal, tar, and highly toxic compounds such as ammonia, cyanide, oil and phenols. We are deeply concerned that the current request by Algoma Steel that would allow it to continue discharging toxic contaminants to air would perpetuate this legacy of harm to the river and the adjacent lands and air.
We submit the province, in making a decision on Algoma Steel’s ECA, must prioritize lessening environmental impacts and degradation. This is keeping with our international obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which sets out in Target 2, that by 2030 30% of degraded areas be under effective restoration in order to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions. This approach is also supported by the Framework’s ‘mainstreaming’ approach to biodiversity protection, that seeks to ensure goals of protecting and restoring biodiversity are appropriately and adequately integrated into all government policies and practices.
2 – Safeguarding clean air and reducing exposure to toxic air pollutants
Sault Ste. Marie has a serious pollution problem, as evidenced by having one of the highest cancer rates in the province of Ontario and the area around the Algoma steel plant, having one of the highest rates of acute myeloid leukemia in Canada.
While Ontario has prescribed air emission standards under O Reg 419/05 Air Pollution – Local Air Quality, under the Environmental Protection Act, we understand that not all polluters conform to these emission standards.
We oppose any continuation of approvals by the Ministry that would allow Algoma Steel to be exempt or allowed to operate above provincial air quality standards. Algoma Steel is seeking an ECA for emissions of benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter that vastly exceed provincial air quality standards. Specifically, they request the following:
- Benzene: Algoma Steel’s most recent Site-Specific Standard (expired) was 2.2 μg/m3 annually. They now seek a Site-Specific Standard of 3.98 ug/m3 annually. The provincial standard is 0.45 μg/m3 annually. Algoma Steel’s request is 884% of the provincial standard.
- Benzo(a)pyrene: Algoma Steel’s most recent Site-Specific Standard (expired) was 0.004 μg/m3 annually. They now seek Site-Specific Standard of 0.0053 ug/m3 annually. The provincial standard is 0.00001 μg/m³ annually. Algoma Steel’s request is 53000% of the provincial standard.
- Particulate Matter: Algoma Steel’s most recent Site-Specific Standard (expired) was 127 μg/m3 per 24 hours. They now seek a Site-Specific Standard of 135 ug/m3 per 24 hours. The provincial standard is 120 μg/m3 per 24 hours. Algoma Steel’s request is 112.5% of the provincial standard.
- Sulphur Dioxide: Algoma Steel’s seeks a Site-Specific Standard of 615 ug/m3 per 1 hour. The provincial standard is 100 μg/m³ per 1 hour. Algoma Steel’s request is 615% of the provincial standard. Algoma Steel also seeks a Site-Specific Standard of 34 ug/m3 annually. The provincial standard is 10 μg/m3 annually. Algoma Steel’s request is 340% of the provincial standard.
We are strongly opposed to the granting of Algoma Steel’s ECA and submit these air emissions levels cannot be justified – under any circumstance – given their known toxicity and carcinogenic effects and the already heightened health burden borne by community members in Sault Ste Marie.
3 – Preventing ongoing environmental injustices means enabling public awareness
It is absolutely critical that if we are to close the gap on industrial air pollution and its regulation, that we – as members of the public and affected community members – have a full and fair opportunity to provide our views, concerns and comments to the Ministry. First though, we must have the requisite information allowing us to understand the proposed air emissions and what air quality monitoring and mitigation parameters will be in place to protect and improve our air, environment and public health.
The province is legally required to consider public comments when making its decision, and yet the abatement action plan, proposed site-specific standard and any documentation setting out how Algoma Steel will achieve conformance with provincial air quality standards are lacking from the public domain.
The Environmental Registry posting for Algoma Steel’s requested ECA contains very limited disclosure of information, which in turn dissuades public engagement. Given the significant adverse and repercussive health and environmental impacts posed by Algoma Steel’s requested ECA, this matter ought to attract the highest degree of community participation, awareness and involvement.
Requested Action from the Ministry
Thank you for considering my comments. In closing, I reiterate that I find it to be an egregious failure of our environmental laws if a citizen can be exposed to 50,000% the allowable limit for toxic pollutants in the air they breathe.
The promise of one day meeting provincial air quality standards does not remedy the ongoing environmental injustice in Sault Ste Marie. No person, city or town is less deserving of the protection our laws ought to provide, to safeguard our health and air and I ask that the province deny Algoma Steel’s request for the ECA and instead, require conformance with provincial air quality standards.
Algoma Steel Inc., Sault Ste. Marie, ON. Photo Credit: Eric Treleaven