TAKING ACTION

For over 10 years there has been many concerns from the public that the ambient air quality monitoring (AAQM) network around Algoma Steel is very deficient.  It has been limited to only two air quality monitoring stations at Wallace Terrace and Patrick St. compared to more than ten in Hamilton.  The AAQM network is operated by Algoma Steel and no longer has a monitor to measure PM 2.5 fine particulate which is recognized as causing many serious health issues.  The ministry moved the PM 2.5 monitoring equipment in 2003 from Patrick St. to Sault College which was over twice the distance away.  The ministry felt that the location at Patrick St. was not "representative" of the overall air quality in the city.  In January of 2019, the effectiveness of the air monitoring network around Algoma Steel was addressed in an e-mail by the local supervisor to the ministry's technical support (TS) branch. In the e-mail the local supervisor asked: 

• "Is Algoma Steel's monitoring and reporting reliable an accurate?" 
• "Is the current monitoring program sufficient to determine the company's impact on local air quality? i.e. more monitoring required...parameters, locations, etc"
• "How the SSM monitoring compares with other Steel Plant locations, i.e. Hamilton"
• "Any other recommendations TS staff may have for improving monitoring of Air Quality in SSM."

The local senior environmental officer on September 03, 2019 stated, "On January 21, 2019, a request to review air monitoring in SSM was made to our MECP Northern Region Tech Support office to review and determine the level of reliability and accuracy of the current monitoring program for SSM. Due to limited resources and priority ranking, a definitive date for completion has not been set".  The ministry's technical support branch was requested on March 15, 2021 to provide the response given to local supervisor's questions.  They simply stated they were working on a response but have never provided one to date. 

Although the AAQM needed additional monitors and an evaluation of its effectiveness, a recent residential development approved by our city council will result in the removal of the Patrick St. monitoring station in the summer of 2022. The monitor at Patrick St. was originally placed at this location by the ministry in 1987 to maximize the most effective way to monitor emissions from industries like Algoma Steel.  A recent air quality study completed from 2018-2019 stated:

"This monitoring location was selected due to its proximity to a residential neighbourhood northeast of the Algoma facility (Steelton); its location immediately downwind of the entire Algoma facility during southwesterly winds, a common wind vector for the site; and since it was formerly a public school, was considered a sensitive receptor in the local region".

It important to consider that the location of an air quality monitoring station is more important than the number of stations. There are no definite plans where the station will be relocated.

The environmental registry was designed to allow the public to have input in the decision-making process where there are potential effects on the environment.  It also serves as a source to inform the public on new applications made by businesses and industries in the province that could have environmental implications as well as any changes in current regulations (permits, orders, approvals).  This includes Site-Specific Standards (SSS) that allow industries permission to emit pollutants higher than the provincial limit based on technical and financial reasons.  A notice is placed on the registry for usually 30-days that provides the relevant information for a member of the public to comment.  You can send a comment through e-mail or directly on the registry by creating an account.  By creating an account, you can create a profile with keywords (ex. "Algoma Steel", "Integrated steel") that will notify you by e-mail of any new notices that contain your keywords, and you can tract all your ERO comments.

Your comments are important in making the changes to keep your community safe and protect the environment in Ontario. You can write a simple response or a more complex response with attachments.  By placing your comment directly on the registry, this allows all of the public to see the concerns and ideas you have proposed.  As long as your comments are on topic and do not contain any personal information (names, e-mails, phone numbers, etc.), it will be approved. The following are examples of comments submitted by the public to previous EROs:

"We are not comfortable wit the Steel Plant hosting and being responsible for the maintenance of monitoring stations, be it on their property or not. The Fox guarding the henhouse comes to mind. And averaging measurements of air quality on the web-site is a problem, we should be able to see what the highest reading's are".  Comment on ERO: 010-3759

"Interestingly (and not surprisingly), the Air Quality Index today shows that the air quality is good. I beg to differ. Perhaps the only people who are safe from the Algoma Steel air pollution are those who live by Sault College where the air monitoring station is located. In contrast, the reality in the West End of Sault Ste. Marie is frequent envelopment in noxious gases. We have often seen brown and orange substances billowing from the coke oven stacks. We have been surrounded by pollution so thick it appears to be fog. The reality of living in Sault Ste. Marie means doing a "sniff" test of the outside air before allowing children out to play or opening household windows. It also means not being able to leave windows open at night during sweltering hot weather because the wind may change and fill the house up with pollutants".  Comment on ERO: 010-3759

"There is no rationale (other than human delay tactics) for delaying the release and enforcement of new SSS.  The current Site Specific Standards are already above recommended healthy and safety guidelines.  Further delay in implementing more stringent standards only prolongs the detrimental effects on peoples' health and environmental degradation.  Locally, there are frequent "incidents" where the current standards are violated and no penalties are applied.  We need more stringent SSS and stricter enforcement of the current SSS".   Comment on ERO: A-019-2301

It is important to comment on EROs since the ministry often states that there was little or no public comments or complaints regarding air quality in the Sault.  It is very beneficial to our community if we can take the time to prepare a comment for any new notices on the registry.

Keeping a watchful eye on the skies is important to protecting our air quality.  We can see, smell, and hear the environmental pollution in our community.  Observing, recording and reporting air pollution in our community is called "Stackwatching".  The concept and term were first used by Environment Hamilton to encourage the public to document and report air pollution from their local industries.  There is a local community group in the Sault called Stack Watch SSM where you can share your photos and learn about air emissions.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has an online system where you can directly report environmental incidents including pollution to the river. They will respond to your concerns and investigate any serious issues. You can describe what you saw and upload pictures and/or short videos of the event.  

Why Stackwatch?             

A common misconception is emissions are usually "steam".  Although water vapour ("steam") can make up a large portion of certain emissions, there is no emission or haze in the sky that is made up of only steam.  For example, the quench tower emissions at Algoma Steel are predominantly water vapour (steam) but do contain smaller amounts of fine particulate and greenhouse gases. The emissions that are released from the waste stack (chimney) of the No. 7 Blast Furnace are predominately greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. No industrial process is 100% efficient and will result in varied quantities of unburned fuel and combustion by-products.

Hazes in the sky may look harmless but contain many harmful contaminants such as heavy metals, carcinogens, and toxic gases like carbon monoxide.  There are also chemical interactions known as secondary pollution that occur between various pollutants already present in the air which further degrade the air quality. These interactions increase when there are optimal conditions including increased sunlight, temperature and humidity.  

A smell in the air is often a good indicator of higher levels of pollution.  Their effects on our health vary but are a frequent reason for respiratory issues and our ability to enjoy our property.  It is important to realize that many toxic pollutants have no smell or are masked by other odours.  If there is a steady smell you may be used to the smell and not notice the presence of a pollutant.  Our ability to smell varies between people and how we describe smells. Commons smells are "rotten eggs" from sulfur compounds and "industrial or acrid" which could be from coke oven gases.

What should I report?  

These are a few key things to consider when reporting pollution:  

1. When did it happen? What time?   
2. What did it look like? How long did you see it?  
3. Where did you see it? How did you feel?
4. Did it smell? Was there a noise?  
5. What was the weather like? Where was the wind blowing? 

Remember to take pictures and videos of the event to include with your complaint.  

NOTE:  If it is an emergency call 911 and if you caused the incident, call the Spills Action Center. 

Dealing with the impacts of pollution is the responsibility of all of us.  It is often stated that future generations will make the biggest impact in protecting our environment and our planet from  climate change. We can't wait for others to do the things we have the responsibility to do.  We are aware of the issues and can make the changes we need to make a better life for future generations by protecting the natural environment we enjoy.

We need to take a greater interest at a community level to make a global impact. By demanding more input to the issues that affect us, we can assure meaningful change.  In our community that means fighting for the public to be allowed to attend Algoma's Community Liaison Committee (CLC) meetings. The other steelmakers in Hamilton (ArcelorMittal Dofasco and Stelco) allow members of the public to attend their meetings. Algoma Steel's committee does not provide fair access to those who are impacted the most by their operations.  Any person in the community should have a right to ask questions that affect their health and the environment.  

Our lack of involvement in the decision-making process and discussion regarding the impacts of Algoma Steel operations and the air quality in the Sault was highlighted in a story in Sault This Week written by Dax D'Orazio called, "What's in the Air":  

https://www.saultthisweek.com/news/local-news/whats-in-the-air 

Environmental fines in Ontario are small and in many cases, there are none for repeated violations of standards rationalized by "continual improvements" and Site-Specific Standards.  The effects on our planet will not wait for these improvements and change must occur at a faster and more efficient pace that considers the direct impacts to the community's health and local environment. 

There is a common misconception that protecting the environment is going against jobs.  The reality has become that without environmental regulations, not only will we be unhealthier with a degraded environment, but industries will not operate safely and upgrade their equipment to better technology.  We must strive for a better balance between the economy and the environment.