Methylmercury levels expected to rise at Muskrat Falls reservoir: Nalcor
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Protesters at the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador were again blocking access to the work site late Wednesday in violation of an earlier court injunction.
Nine people had been arrested early Monday after Nalcor Energy secured an injunction on Sunday forbidding obstruction of its main entrance. RCMP said they each faced one count of disobeying a court order.
The new blockade comes hours after Nalcor confirmed that methylmercury levels are expected to rise in the reservoir created by construction of the project. Company officials said saying local residents can eventually expect an advisory warning them to limit their consumption of fish.
The prediction came soon after the provincial government ordered Crown-owned Nalcor to remove more forest cover from the land that will be flooded to create the 41-square-kilometre reservoir — a process that is expected to begin later this month.