Group asks Saint John to prepare for possibility AIM will resume operations | CBC News

A community group in Saint John is calling on the city to prepare for the possibility American Iron & Metal will resume operations at its waterfront scrapyard, pending the outcome of legal action by the company.

Liveable Saint John wants the city to take a leadership role in gathering data on AIM’s health and environmental impacts on the community, including testing soil for contaminants after the massive fire that erupted Sept. 14.

It also wants the city to push for more stringent regulations, revisit Saint John Energy’s agreement to provide power to AIM and any possible liability involved, and develop a relocation and remediation plan.

“We feel that the city is in a unique position because they are not a regulator,” or a landlord, member Raven Blue told the city’s public safety committee during a presentation Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the province, which is the regulator, is in the middle of a court case, with AIM seeking to have a judge quash the environment minister’s suspension of its approval to operate following the fire, he said, and Port Saint John is the landlord.

I think any return to business as usual, or business close to as usual on the AIM site, is a failure of government at every level.– David Hickey, Saint John city councillor

“Some of these are big asks, some of them are small asks,” Blue said. “But we think these are things that can really help to move this file along to the public.”

Coun. David Hickey, who chairs the committee, said he’s been pleased with the city’s advocacy on the file to date, citing four letters and numerous meetings with provincial officials about closing AIM since 2018.

“I think any return to business as usual, or business close to as usual on the AIM site, is a failure of government at every level,” he said.

AIM deadline to seek judicial review extended

Liveable Saint John believes there are three possible outcomes: AIM could close its Gateway Street facility, it could relocate, or it could resume operations “in some way,” said Blue.

But it’s difficult to say what will happen because “there’s complex jurisdictional things going on; the wheels are turning legally.”

He noted that in addition to AIM’s suspended approval to operate, Public Safety Minister Kris Austin revoked AIM’s salvage dealer licence in December, based on the joint provincial-port task force investigation of the fire.

The company has up to 90 days to request a judicial review of that decision.

The deadline is March 31, according to Public Safety spokesperson Allan Dearing, “but due to the holiday weekend they have until April 2 to file,” he said, declining further comment.

Even if AIM succeeds in getting the Department of Environment suspension lifted, its salvage dealer licence for the port site remains revoked and operations remain suspended, Dearing previously told CBC News.

“A site cannot receive, sell, process or store salvage without a salvage dealer licence obtained from the Department of Justice and Public Safety,” he said.

Still, Liveable Saint John is urging the city to consider all of the possible outcomes and what it can do to “bring us to the best possible outcome,” said Blue.

Impacts on properties, health

The group wants to be proactive, fellow member Bryan Wilson told CBC.

It has been gathering the views of residents through public meetings and an online survey, and shared its findings with the committee Wednesday.

“People talked about not having the ability to simply just enjoy their yard,” or open their windows, because of the dust or noise, said Wilson.

One woman said she moved because of the noise, while some people said they were afraid to speak out for fear it would hurt their ability to sell their homes or affect their property values, he said.

Of the roughly 50 respondents, nearly half said AIM’s operations have affected their physical health and nearly half said their mental health has been impacted, Blue told the committee.

Complaints ranged from respiratory illness to lost sleep, anxiety and depression, he said.

“And a lot of people feel that there’s been reputational damage to the city.”

Coun. Barry Ogden said his home overlooks the harbour and AIM. “I see it every day and can smell anything coming from it and can hear everything coming from it,” he said.

“So I would encourage you to keep up your advocacy.”

The committee unanimously approved a motion to have city staff report back on the group’s recommendations.

Fredericton lawyer Romain Viel, who is representing AIM, could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.