Local News in Mi'kma'ki



ACTION ALERT!!

Tiny aboriginal band faces paper giant
Wednesday, April 12, 2000
Reserve calls landfill 'environmental racism'

Eel Ground First Nation Fights Repap Over Toxic Waste Dump Letters of Support Needed

Dear Members of the NBEN,

On May 31, the Eel Ground First Nation announced that we will be pursuing a court case against the provincial government’s approval of an industrial waste dump near our reserve. The approved industrial waste landfill site is less than 2 km North of our community and the existing industrial waste landfill site is approximately 1 km Southeast. The waste will be trucked through the community to the landfill site. I am asking that each and every one of you write a letter supporting our worthwhile cause, to Repap NB and to the Environment NB and to also fax or mail me a copy of your letter. My address is: Eel Ground Community Development Centre attn: Katherine Barnaby 40 MicMac Road Eel Ground First Nation, NB E1V 4B2 Department of Environment PO Box 6000 Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1 Repap New Brunswick Inc. 345 Curtis Road Miramichi, NB E1V 3N3 Please see additional information below. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Yours truly, Kathy Background Information: During the summer of l996, the Eel Ground First Nation initiated an intervention process to stop construction and use of an industrial waste landfill site in the NE Millstream area. Repap NB and Environment NB have been for 4 years prior to l996 for a site location and permit. The federal representatives for the Eel Ground First Nation were never consulted or invited to sit on the Government's Technical Committee. As of December l996, the Department of Environment has approved the NW Millstream as the official site location for the industrial waste landfill site. Repap NB and Environment NB have been informed of our disapproval of the location and construction of the industrial waste landfill site. The construction of the proposed new industrial waste landfill site will increase traffic on highway 425 passing through our local communities. Leachate spillage from the double axle tandem trucks belonging to Repap NB is presently an existing problem and is of great concern for our people and for the affected communities. As we are all aware, tandem truck spills expose a serious threat to our health and environment. We informed Repap NB and Environment NB that an impending court action will be initiated to discontinue construction of the proposed NW Millstream industrial waste landfill site. The people of the Eel Ground First Nation have occupied and used the Territory since time immemorial. This territory includes large portions of the geographic area currently known as the Miramichi River basin and drainage. It forms part of the Miramichi River basin and lies at the heart of the Eel Ground First Nation. We have never surrendered our rights to this land or any of our territory. Repap NB are presently constructing this toxic waste landfill site and is to be open and in use as of September l999. This proposed dump site will be several hundred feet away from the dam where the salmon pool is. The Miramichi River is known for its salmon fishing. New Brunswick Environmental Network Réseau environnemental du Nouveau-Brunswick 167 Creek Rd, Waterford, NB, E4E 4L7 Tel: (506) 433-6101 Fax: (506) 433-6111 nben@nbnet.nb.ca website http://www.web.net/~nben e-zine http://elements.nb.ca

Listuguj Stand-Off ~ 1998



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