Minister allows AIM's Moncton scrapyard to continue operating
Kris Austin had threatened to revoke company's salvage dealers licence
New Brunswick Public Safety Minister Kris Austin has decided to allow a controversial scrapyard in Moncton to continue operating, after threatening to revoke its licence.
Austin informed the City of Moncton of the decision about the American Iron & Metal (AIM) site days before the provincial election began, according to a letter the municipality released to Radio-Canada last week.
"Upon careful consideration of the concerns provided to this office in addition to the reports filed by AIM, the compliance actions taken thus far, and the plans AIM must implement to mitigate noise concerns, I have determined that the salvage dealers licence issued to this location will not be suspended or revoked at this time," states Austin's letter, which is dated Sept. 13.
AIM's operations in New Brunswick have faced increased scrutiny since a fire broke out at its Saint John port location last year. With the port site shut down, the company increasingly used the Moncton location off Toombs Street to ship scrap metal.
Residents like Roy MacMullin who live near the Moncton scrapyard raised concerns about noise, dust and debris falling into an adjacent waterway. They have called for the facility to be relocated.
MacMullin described living nearby as "like going to hell without dying."
He said Austin's decision will affect how he votes in Monday's provincial election.
"I don't need this in my life," MacMullin said in an interview.
Conditions imposed
Instead, Austin's letter says the province has opted to impose various conditions on the Quebec-based company.
The conditions include complying with fire and building codes, provincial legislation and municipal bylaws.
Another requires implementing a sound mitigation plan that involves a wall of stacked shipping containers. The facility is also not allowed to increase the scale of its operation or to process scrap from outside New Brunswick.
"Should AIM violate the conditions, it will result in a potential revocation of AIM's salvage dealers licence," the letter states.
A request for comment from AIM and a lawyer that has represented the company were not answered Friday.
The licence in question expires on June 30, 2025.
Austin's letter was sent to the city in response to one from Mayor Dawn Arnold in August outlining resident concerns about the scrapyard.
His decision came months after a May 23 letter to the company that said he was considering suspending or revoking its salvage dealers licence.
That letter said the scrapyard is within 300 metres of two parks, a playground and a children's centre, all of which are against the Salvage Dealers Licensing Act and the Unsightly Premises Act.
The salvage dealers licence is one of two provincial approvals the scrapyard requires.
Earlier this year, its approval to operate through the Department of Environment and Local Government was extended to Nov. 30. That extension included a provision to implement the noise mitigation plan by Nov. 1.
Some residents have expressed concern about that plan.
"I think that's just ridiculous," said JoAnn McCarthy told CBC in September, saying that building a wall out of shipping containers could make the noise worse for other residents in the area.
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With files from Pascal Raiche-Nogue