Media Release
June 10, 1997

TORONTO. A number of environmental groups have formally requested that the Investigations and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy officially investigate Ontario Hydro for discharging tonnes of toxic substances into Lake Ontario. From the Pickering nuclear facility alone, Ontario Hydro may have discharged over 800 tonnes of copper, 360 tonnes of zinc and 25,000 pounds of tin into Lake Ontario since the early 1980s. The toxics come from copper condensers used to cool the processes within the facility. It is not known what the discharges are from other facilities, but it is suspected that other Ontario Hydro facilities using this technology are emitting toxic substances.

The groups, who are making the formal request under the Environmental Bill of Rights, allege that Hydro violated a number of environmental laws and regulations and want the Ministry of Environment and Energy to formally investigate as soon as possible. "We know that Ontario Hydro has announced its own investigation, but in light of the quantities of toxics emitted into the environment and the allegation that Ontario Hydro knew of these offences for a long time, it is only appropriate an independent review of matter be taken. Those suspected of wrongdoing cannot be expected to conduct an impartial investigation on their own activities." noted Irene Kock of the Durham Nuclear Awareness, who co-sponsored a request for an investigation.

"We have learned that the suspect brass tubes are in use not only at Pickering but at coal fired stations in Mississauga, Nanticoke, and Sarnia as well as one reactor at the Bruce station. The public is entitled to a comprehensive assessment," stated Tom Adams, Energy Probe’s Executive Director. This view is re-iterated by Jane Wilkins of Sierra Club of Eastern Canada and Great Lakes United.

The requests for investigation were filed this morning at the offices of the Environmental Commissioner. Under the Environmental Bill of Rights, the Commissioner must pass the requests to the Minister of the Environment and Energy. The Minister must proceed with the investigation unless the request is found to be frivolous, vexatious, not serious, unlikely to cause harm to the environment or is duplicating an on-going investigation. The minister must inform the applicants that no investigation will take place within 60 days or complete the investigation within 120 days (or to give notice as when it will be completed.)