Glencore deploys response teams in Falconbridge

Public Health in Greater Sudbury is advising caution as residents in Falconbridge deal with a film of black dust that covered the area overnight Tuesday.

As the cleanup continues in Falconbridge, Glencore says it has deployed response teams to help residents deal with the black dust that blanketed the area overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday morning.

“Our smelter employees responded to inquiries door-to-door throughout the day yesterday, and those efforts are continuing today,” Glencore spokesperson Yonaniko Grenon said in an email Thursday.

“Today, over 20 smelter response teams are visiting members of the community to assess any requirements for cleaning. Professional cleaning companies have been engaged to support us with this work. We have also deployed professional cleaning companies throughout the community to support us in cleaning public spaces and parks. That cleaning is already underway and will continue as necessary.”

Grenon said the company is still offering cleaning vouchers directly to residents, or they can be picked up at the Smelter Gate House for those who are affected.

Happened during ‘routine maintenance’

The black substance was discharged from Glencore’s smelter stack in Falconbridge between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Grenon said the “dust incident occurred during routine maintenance while cleaning a dust collector called an electrostatic precipitator.”

Glencore was alerted by a resident who said the black dust was on their vehicle and around the exterior of their home early on Wednesday morning.

“The smelter team responded swiftly and in person to the resident’s home,” she said.

“In parallel to this, and throughout the day, multiple other inquiries from residents were reported. The operations team at the smelter quickly mobilized an investigation of operational procedures and reported the incident to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks immediately.

Ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler confirmed that Glencore “shared its sampling results with the ministry, which are currently under review.”

“In addition, samples have been collected by the ministry’s local environmental compliance officers and submitted to the ministry’s lab for analysis,” Wheeler said in an email.

Grenon said Glencore is working “diligently to determine results and the root cause of this event” and she encouraged residents to follow guidelines issued by Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

“We remain committed to working in partnership with Public Health and (the ministry) and will continue to provide regular updates,” she said.

Members of the community who have been affected can reach the company’s community line at 705-693-2761, ext. 3989, or by email at [e-mail]