Bacteriological contamination - St. Margaret's Bay (from Environment Canada).
"No person shall deposit...a deleterious substance of any type in water frequented by fish"
Section 36[3], Fisheries Act.
Bacteriological contamination - St. Margaret's Bay (from Environment Canada).
York Friesen is the Head of Inspections, Environmental Protection Branch, Environment Canada. Below are excerpts on the investigation that his office did on the lot owned by Dr. Pat Croskerry at 50 Indian Point Road, including a warning to Gerard MacLellan, the Executive Director of Nova Scotia's Environment Department.
From: "Friesen,York [Dartmouth]" <York.Friesen@EC.GC.CA> I was finally able to contact Mr. MacLellan earlier this week. As discussed, in my conversation with him, I reminded him of the wording and requirements of the Fisheries Act and that a deposit of untreated sewage into the Cove would likely contravene that Act. He assurred me that the system was being designed and constructed to prevent any deposit. |
From: "Friesen,York [Dartmouth]" <York.Friesen@EC.GC.CA> Yes there is some data that can I can share with you. I will advise you that it is focused on fecal count rather then any other parameter. I'm on leave for the next couple of weeks and will see if I can compile a data table upon my return. |
From: "Friesen,York [Dartmouth]" <York.Friesen@EC.GC.CA> I'm currently on an assignment and have forwarded your e-mail to my Acting Manager of Inspections Neil Codner. I will work with Neil over the next few days to draft a response to your concerns including that of possible remediation. |
From: "Codner,Neil [St. John's]" <Neil.Codner@EC.GC.CA> I would like for you to know that the complaint in the attached e-mail will be looked into by our Nova Scotia staff. As well the concerns you have raised in earlier e-mails to York Friesen are being addressed by this department. I have spoken to several people and once I am able to develop a full picture of the issue as it relates to Environment Canada I will be contact. If you would like to contact me directly please feel free to either e-mail me or call the number below. Thank-you for your concern and I look forward to speaking with you in the future. Neil Codner |
After six months of excuses, bureaucratic hand-offs and inaction during this supposed investigation, the Concerned Residents of Frost Fish Cove made three attements to get a follow-up from Mr. Codner in October and early November 2008. These calls and emails were not returned. Finally a complaint to Mr. Friesen's office was returned on November 6 2008. York Friesen explained that a letter on the investigation would be sent out "within a few days".
Mr. Friesen also commented that there is no evidence that sewage effluent from Pat Croskerry's septic field on the shore of Frost Fish Cove will kill fish, and that is the standard required. His department took a water sample over the past year and found no detrimental effects on rainbow trout (because the septic system was not operating yet). Although the Environmental Protection Branch of Environment Canada could send a warning letter or a stop-polluting order to Patrick Croskerry, they will be taking no further action.
Rainbow trout is an interesting choice of species to test, because it is not native to St. Margaret's Bay. It is not even a salt-water fish. However, there are virtually no fish left here to test.
History will be the judge of whether our fisheries and environment have been well managed by these public servants.
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