AIM’s Operating Permit Renewed By Province

The province has renewed the approval to operate for a controversial metal recycling facility in west Saint John.

American Iron & Metal has been the site of numerous explosions in its shredder, leading to concerns from residents, the city and the province.

Environment Minister Jeff Carr says the new six-month approval, which takes effect June 1, includes stricter conditions to hold the company accountable.

“I think this is a document that will work for the community,” Carr said Friday. “It certainly is an improvement from what we’ve seen in the past.”

The facility was shut down by the Department of Environment in late November after a series of explosions. It was allowed to resume operations for a trial period in early December, but only if it followed a number of conditions.

Province Tightens Sound Level Requirements

Under the last amended order, AIM had to shut down operations if an explosion exceeded a sound level of 109 decibels. The company had to report the incident and could not resume operations until the Department of Environment and Local Government and the Saint John Fire Department were satisfied.

The sound level reading has been lowered to 104 decibels as part of the new approval to operate.

Some of the other conditions in the new approval to operate include requirements to:

• Monitor fine particulate matter concentrations in ambient air and determine the chemical composition of the fine particulate matter.
• Continue with the noise assessment study.
• Continue implementation of the action items from the surface water runoff assessment study.
• Conduct audits at the sites of the suppliers to prevent receiving explosive materials at the AIM facility.

Carr was asked by reporters what makes him think the company will cooperate with the new conditions.

“They have no choice but to abide by the latest conditions,” he said. “It’s in the approval to operate, it’s a legal document.”

“I think the message was sent very clear by myself and the provincial government that it was time to be good corporate citizens and I think the company is starting to come under that idea.”

Fewer Explosions At Site

Carr said he has seen a reduction in the number of explosions since the old scrap metal inventory has been removed from the site. He said company officials are able to itemize the new inventory and know where it is coming from.

Some have called for the company’s shredding operations to be moved out of the city centre, but Carr said that is not a decision his department would make.

“Moving that operation off-site would be a very expensive operation,” he said. “It’s not impossible, but I think that discussion has to take place between the three partners there — the Port [of Saint John], the city and the company.”

Carr said his role would be to make sure whatever proposal comes forward would be regulated properly.