"Once inside a jurisdiction, they tend to lobby hard against any kind of environmental regulations. More often than not, they support anti-union laws. They don’t like enforcement by public officials. They want tax loopholes and government support for billionaires." — Tom Urbaniak
Don't Look Up . . .
Coal Miner Fatality at Donkin
Honour Westray: Enforce the Law
A coal miner death occurred within days of Donkin mine September 2022 reopening. Source: Community Liaison Committee Meeting (Mine Official), September 2022.
Over a year later, and the Nova Scotia Labour department still has not released independent preliminary or final reports.
The police and the regional coroner's office have not released the results of their investigations.
The special crown prosecutor for workplace safety has not released any statements. Provincial press release: 2014
Negligence is . . .
Injury of Coal Miner
Less than a month after it's reopening, there was a coal miner injury at Donkin that involved a faulty roof bolter machine.
- Mine inspectors only became aware of the incident because the local police reported to the Labour department. National Observer (Cloe Logan), February 9th 2023.
Nova Scotia Politicians were Warned
To take another hard look at Donkin because questions surrounding the safety records of people running the day-to-day operations of the mine still remain unanswered by government officials. Global News Investigation (Gil Shochat, Francesca Fionda, Sandra Bartlett), April 23, 2016.
Seven Years Later
One coal miner death occurred within days of Donkin mine September 2022 reopening;
In less than a month, an injury of underground employee occurred. The incident only became public after local police reported to the provincial labour department;
Thirty-two (32) rockfalls –– the latest roof fall happened while miners were underground. In response to a roof fall incident on July 15, 2023, Department of Labour's 118-day long stop work order;
Belt fire negligence, workers were sent underground to extinguish the fire. Mine officials stated that workers were not forced;
Ventilation problems –– the main fan at the mine stop working, and the mine's standby power supply, required under the province's mining regulations, was not available;
Methane fire at coal face –– a year earlier, mine inspector reported observing sparks at coal face;
Adverse geological conditions –– Donkin mine was put in idle and maintence for two-years due to adverse geology.
Political and regulatory capture and local politicians feel emboldened to misrepresent community concerns.
- Deputy Mayor James Edwards said the list of safety violations reported shouldn't be taken as worrisome to residents in his district, there's nothing that's going to affect the overall safety of the operation. "I still feel that this is and will be, a safe mine." Cape Breton Post (Ian Nathanson), January 20, 2023.
A Warning from United States Officials
The Pit
A must watch 20 minute video –– The Pit.
Political capture is . . .
Strange Bedfellows
Ho-hum, the revolving door between politicians and corporations they regulate is so well greased that it's been normalized which is corrosive of public trust in democracy.
The billionaire owner of Donkin mine is a major shareholder of Morien Resources.
Morien Resources receives millions of dollars in royalties from all of the Donkin coal sold.
Morien's president and CEO is a director of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia.
Morien Resources cautioned that the Donkin Coal mine could close for good. CBC News. (Tom Ayers), April 28, 2022.
Within days, Premier Houston Conservative government hires Geoff MacLellan for top job as the Premier's deputy minister. Geoff MacLellan will report directly to Houston and the two men will work closely together on key files. CBC News. (Jean Laroche), April 27, 2022.
Six weeks later, Donkin mine announces reopening of the coal mine. CBC News. (Tom Ayers), June 16, 2022.
Premier Tim Houston thanks Geoff MacLellan for his 7-month service. Premier's office press release, November 16, 2022.
Within days, Geoff MacLellan is hired by Donkin mine as their vice president. Canada's National Observer. (Cloe Logan), December 2, 2022.
- MacLellan is also now a director of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia.
Eleven months later, Donkin mine made the decision to lay off remaining workforce and place the operation into an idled state with no timeline to resume operations. Corporate Media Release (Morien Resources), November 13, 2023.
Morien Resources expresses the view that a potential return to production will not be imminent. Corporate Media Release (Morien Resources), November 16, 2023.
The next day, the night of November 17th –– Premier Houston called Geoff MacLellan to schedule a meeting. Executive Council Minister (Brian Comer's Facebook), November 23, 2023.
Negligence is . . .
Underground Belt Fire
Earlier, fines included "infractions ranging from unsafe operation of conveyor belts to accumulations of coal dust." Toronto Star (Canadian Press), May 22, 2019.
A few years later, a dangerous underground belt fire, the threat of smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, explosion causing death and mine officials sent workers into the mine to extinguish the underground fire.
Donkin officials state that the reporting by media was false –– mine workers were not pressured to go underground. Source: CLC Meeting Minutes, May 2023.
But, Donkin's main water supply line was shut down the previous shift. CBC News
Regulatory capture is . . .
Provincial mine inspectors arrived the day after the fire and requested the company provide a report on the underground fire.
The Labour department had no way to independently verify the real cause of the underground fire.
No penalties were imposed by the Labour department in relation to the fire. CBC News and National Observer.
Media coverage of the weekend fire may not have answered all the pertinent questions about the incident, but it revealed an interesting truth about the way Donkin operates. Cape Breton Spectator (Mary Campbell), May 3, 2023.
Adverse Geological Conditions
Negligence is . . .
Instead of taking the time to understand the underground geology, Donkin mine decided to skip their feasibility study and go directly into production. Canadian Mining (Marilyn Scales), February 28, 2017.
With only 11 core holes, Donkin mine admits “we took a big risk.” Cape Breton Post (Sharon Montgomery-Dupe), November 7, 2017.
In March, 2020, after approx. 14 fockfalls, Donkin mine announced that it was ceasing production operations at the Donkin Mine due to adverse geologic conditions.
A few months later, Morien Resources states, "the assessment and potential resolution of the adverse geology at Donkin will take substantial efforts by the NS LAE, MSHA experts, Kameron and other professionals in this field and could take a significant amount of time, as the utmost care, caution and expertise must be deployed." Management’s Discussion and Analysis (Morien Resources), September 30, 2021.
The mine continues to experience an additonal 18 rockfalls, two rockfalls within days – a total of 32 rockfalls.
Morien lambasted provincial mine regulator for taking a significant amount of time deploying utmost care, caution and expertise . . . "it should not have taken four months . . . "they believe they handled this file properly and that's categorically false in my opinion" . . . "avoid leaning on outside consultants which tend to drag out the work stoppage time." Cape Breton Post (Barb Sweet), November 17, 2023.
Morien's president and CEO insists Donkin mine –– and all the inspections that have taken place since its reopening in September 2022 –– is safe. Cape Breton Post (Ian Nathanson), November 22, 2023.
- Morien Resources holds a royalty on Donkin coal, amounting to millions of dollars annually which are at stake. The owner of the Donkin mine is a major shareholder of Morien Resources. The president and CEO is a director of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia.
Negligence is . . .
Two Rockfalls in One Week
On Sunday July 9, 2023, the Nova Scotia’s Labour Department received a report of problems with roof supports. Global News (By Staff), July 11, 2023.
- Provincial mine inspectors arrived the next day where they had no way to independently verify the real amount or the cause of the underground rockfall –– the mine was still given approval to reopen.
A week later, the enormous July 15, 2023 roof fall was 50 feet long, 15 feet wide and 3 feet in height. Cape Breton Post (Nicole Sullivan), August, 2023.
Nova Scotia’s Labour Department said the latest roof fall happened while miners were underground. CBC News (Tom Ayers), July 28, 2023.
Rockfall occured in main access tunnel, approximately 1,500 metres from the mine entrance, most likely impaired ventilation and blocked coal miner exit.
Negligence is . . .
Thirty-Two Rockfalls
The mine has experienced 32 roof falls since it opened in 2017, which includes the more than two years the mine was shut down by the operator due to what it called "challenging" geologic conditions following a series of roof falls in 2019 and 2020. CBC News (Tom Ayers), July 28, 2023.
A few rockfalls were never reported and only became public knowledge when government officials showed up for inspections.
It was later revealed that officers of the mine broke a regulation that requires immediate reporting of massive cave-ins. CBC News
Donkin mine also had to abandon and forbidden production work on a section of the underground mine due to adverse geological conditions.
Negligence is . . .
Methane Fire at Coal Face
Prior Warnings
- 'Playing with fire': Former Donkin mine workers describe 'scary' safety practices. Radio-Canada/CBC (Elisa Serret, Frances Willick), March 22, 2018.
A year later, an underground methane fire at Donkin leads to stop-work order. Stop-work orders are issued only in cases of imminent danger to workers.
- 'That's all it takes, is one spark.' A year of safety violations at Donkin coal mine. Source: CBC News (Frances Willick), May 28, 2018.
"Any fire underground is serious, and Donkin coal is known to be higher in methane production than other underground coal mines." CBC News (Tom Ayers), May 22, 2019.
Negligence is . . .
Ventilation Problems
Just three weeks after miners started coal production, the province ordered the entire operation closed because of ventilation problems.
The main fan at the mine stop working, and the mine's standby power supply, required under the province's mining regulations, was not available.
The company assured the province that workers were pulled from the mine immediately after the power went out. But, the government has no way to independently verify that. CBC News (Frances Willick), August 4, 2017.
How did Donkin get government approval to start coal production without an operational backup power supply?
Uncontrolled Greenhouse Gas Leak
Climate deniers . . .
The Nova Scotia government likes to call itself a climate leader but in reality it's a rogue super-emitter of greenhouse gas.
- "Donkin coal is known to be higher in methane production than other underground coal mines." CBC News (Tom Ayers), May 22, 2019.
Fossil gas methane and CO2 is becoming a serious threat to humanity, and Nova Scotia’s coal industry is underreporting and overwhelming emitting a uncontrolled amount of methane and carbon dioxide gas directly into the environment.
All of which translates into more severe heatwaves, wildfires, storms, flooding, and sea level rise in the years ahead.
A Parade of Misery
Donkin keeps laying off mine workers . . .
A few weeks before Christmas, forty-nine (49) workers laid off Novenber 2017.
- Nova Scotia's business minister Geoff MacLellan stated that . . . "this isn't a sign of worse things to come. CTV News
Then, 18 workers laid off January 2019 following a roof collapse two weeks earlier.
A year later, 135 workers lost their jobs March 2020 after two roof collapses within two-weeks.
Recently, over 40 workers laid off August 2023 after two roof collapses within one week.
Again, before Christmas, approximately 100 workers were laid off. CTV News (Kyle Moore) November 3, 2023 and Cape Breton Post (Ian Nathanson) November 7, 2023 and CTV News Atlantic (Sean Mott) November 10, 2023.
Non-disclosure Agreements
'Playing with fire': Former Donkin mine workers describe 'scary' safety practices. CBC has agreed not to identify them, as they signed a confidentiality agreement with the company and agreed not to talk to the media." CBC News, 2018.
Operations suspended after roof collapse. "The miners, granted anonymity by CBC News because they had signed a confidentiality agreement with the company." CBC News, 2019.
Justice Minister Brad Johns says his government will not ban the use of non-disclosure agreements, but he cannot explain why.
Black Lung Disease
Black Lung Disease, "there’s a small resurgence in Canadian coal mining, but with limited data and testing, compensation boards are ill-prepared for the harm to workers’ lungs." The Globe and Mail (Greg Mercer), April 28, 2023.
False narrative matrix is . . .
Potemkin Community Liaison Committee
Volunteer Community Member "We have a meeting once maybe every couple of months and they tell us what they want to tell us." Cape Breton Post, (Greg McNeil), May 2, 2023.
A Public Health Crisis
The Fox guarding the Henhouse . . .
People are sleeping in their basements, temporary leaving their homes, and some have contemplated selling their homes - all to get rid of this annoying and stressful noise which some classify as “torture.” Cape Breton Post, Saltwire.
Mysteriously, there is NO noise emanating from the industrial complex during company controlled noise monitoring.
Donkin then informs the provincial regulator that there is NO noise emanating from the complex.
The politicans then misinform news media that Donkin is within provincial noise guidelines.
Mysteriously, the adverse industrial noise immediately returns after noise monitoring is completed by the company, not the provincial regulator.
Residents of surrounding communities have endured four years of suffering -– some residents are on the verge of developing chronic health effects.
Minister Rejects Expert Report
Delay and denial shenanigans . . .
"The industrial noise is linked to sleep loss and deteriorating mental and physical health," says Cape Breton University sleep expert Dr. Sarah Barnes.
Environment Minister Tim Halman says a study from Cape Breton University sleep expert Sarah Barnes “does not definitively identify the mine as the source of the release of tonal noise components.” National Observer.
The following audio was recorded seven (7) kilometres from the mine's ventilation fans.
Minister Rejects Community Concerns
For over 6 years . . .
Reader defends Cape Breton coal truck protesters. Cape Breton Post, May 31, 2023.
Donkin coal trucks too big for Port Morien-area roads, residents say. CBC News, June 1, 2018.
Tired of the Traffic: Community Meeting. Source: Cape Breton Post, May 18, 2018.
Safety Concerns: Donkin-Morien residents unhappy with heavy coal truck traffic. Source: Cape Breton Post. May 25, 2017.
Residents near Donkin mine unhappy about coal truck traffic. Source: CBC News, May 24, 2017.
Elected officials have refused resident's numerous requests to hold a public meeting in the community.
Lobby's Green Puffery
The lobby is greenwashing Donkin's thermal coal as an exportable metallurgical steel making coal –– gaslighting federal, provincial politicians and the public with green puffery misinformation.
Donkin' bituminous coal contains a tar-like substance called bitumen –– hence, the environmental disaster of the Sydney tar ponds.
Donkin's high sulphur and mercury content coal is not steel making metallurgical coal. The high sulphur content produces poor-quality coke. Offtake customers for Donkin's "blending" coal within global metallurgical markets is questionable.
Donkin's primary market is thermal electricity generation requiring coal plants to install flue gas desulfurization units to meet environmental regulations. Halifax Media Co-op (Robert Devet), December 15, 2014.
Nova Scotia Power uses Donkin's thermal coal as feedstock for it's nearby Lingan Generating Station, a short 20 kilometre truck haul from the Donkin Mine. The remaining portion of Donkin coal is sold overseas as thermal coal. Source: Management's Discussion and Analysis (Morien Resources), June 30, 2019.
Strong lobby forces do not want to stop exporting and burning Donkin's thermal coal in 2030.
Calling for Change
Grounded in shared demands for updated environmental laws and industrial approvals, including legally binding environmental assessment requirements for climate change, cumulative effects and impacts on the public.
"Once inside a jurisdiction, they tend to lobby hard against any kind of environmental regulations. More often than not, they support anti-union laws. They don’t like enforcement by public officials. They want tax loopholes and government support for billionaires." — Tom Urbaniak
A transparent separation of politics would also provide hope that mining in Nova Scotia is inclusive and sustainable.
References
Canadian federal Minister decision and related documents, please visit the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada website here.
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. April 2013. Comprehensive Study Report. Donkin Export Coking Coal Project
Cape Breton coal mine cited for breaking reporting rules in 'massive' cave-in. February 05, 2019. CBC News.
Cap-Op Energy Inc. March 2016. GHG Mitigation Options for Underground Coal Mines Report to Nova Scotia Environment.
CBCL Consulting Engineers. October 2008. Donkin Underground Exploration Volume One Environmental Assessment Report.
CBRM councillor mentions coal miner fatality during Bob Murphy’s Maritime Noon show that aired September 15, 2022. CBC Live Radio
Community Liaison Committee (CLC). January 6, 2020. Minutes of Conference Call Meeting.
Community Liaison Committee (CLC). March 1, 2022. Minutes of Conference Call Meeting.
Community Liaison Committee (CLC). May 8, 2023. Meeting Minutes.
Ellen Smith's Summary of MC#1 Violations
Government Hires Safety Prosecutor: 2014. Press Release
Industrial Noise and Vibration Centre (INVC). 2021. Spectral Analysis Report. Email.
Justice K. Peter Richard's Report of the Westray Mine Public Inquiry –– The Westray Story: A Predictable Path to Disaster
Marston Technical Report. November 2012. Donkin Coal Project.
Nova Scotia issues tender for mine greenhouse gas consultant. January 02, 2016. CBC News.
Nova Scotia provincial Minister decision and related terms and conditions, please visit the Nova Scotia Department of Environment website here.
Novus Environmental Inc. August 2014. BLAST Music Event Noise Monitoring Report.
One Thousand Days and Counting: A report on the social and health impacts of industrial noise from the Donkin Coal Mine in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Barnes, S., & Bate, D. (2023).
Per Facie Evidence. 2019 & 2020. Audio Recordings of Donkin Mine Noise are Available.
World Health Organization (WHO). 1995. Community Noise.
XSTRATA Coal Limited. July 2012. Environmental Impact Statement for the Donkin Export Coking Coal Project.