Lead contamination closes Corner Brook armoury

Concerns about lead contamination have caused a temporary closure of the armoury used by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in Corner Brook.

Lt.-Col. Clyde Russell said a routine environmental inspection found higher than normal levels of lead dust in some rooms in the building.

He said the lead levels may have come from an indoor rifle range in the building about a decade ago.

"We suspect that some of the dust from this firing range got up in the rafters and wind blew it around and that's where we think the contamination came from," he said.

Russell said a contractor began removing lead from the Gallipoli Armoury on Monday and should be finished the job by late next week.

He said the building will be tested again before the Royal Newfoundland Regiment is allowed to use it again.

The federal government issued a request for bids on the contract to clean up lead dust at the amoury in November.

It estimated the contract to be worth about $68,000