The mayor of Saint John wants to see “real action and real change” happening at American Iron & Metal (AIM).
Don Darling’s comments come after another blast rocked the metal recycling facility on Monday.
Darling said it was his understanding AIM submitted a new plan to the province to address health, safety and environmental concerns.
“I would say they didn’t start off very well,” Darling said Monday night, “but certainly we’ll be expecting the regulator to stay on this file and the landlord to stay on this file so we can get to a better place.”
Stop-work order remains
The Department of Environment issued a stop-work order at the site on Nov. 22 after a series of recent explosions.
On Sunday, the department said a plan was in place allowing AIM to resume operations on Monday, but the explosion happened before the amended order had been delivered.
Darling said any goods being shipped to the metal recycling facility are supposed to be free of contaminants, including fuels, and the company is supposed to be making sure of this.
“I don’t think that’s too much to expect AIM to do that,” he said. “It’s in their approval to operate currently and if that was happening then there wouldn’t be explosions.”
Darling said the city still plans on being an intervenor when the company’s approval to operate comes up for renewal next year.
‘We’re making great progress’
In the meantime, the mayor said nothing has changed for him in terms of finding a sustainable balance between industry and citizens in the city, adding some progress is being made.
“I think the fact the provincial government stepped in and put a seize-work order in place, we thank them for that, and we’ve gotten commitments that they’re going to continue to monitor this very closely,” Darling said.
“When you compare that to where we were six months or a year ago, we’re making great progress.”
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Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
(Photo: Brad Perry/Acadia News)
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