‘Shocking to hear these stories’

CBU professor delves into effects of mine's hum

SYDNEY — Since 2019, many residents who live within proximity of the Donkin Mine have complained of a constant noise emanating from industrial fans that has yet to be effectively dealt with.

A new study from Cape Breton University has now documented the toll this industrial “hum” from the Kameron Collieries ULC-owned mine is having on members of the nearby communities.

“I’ve been studying the intersection of sleep and social justice for several years,” said Sarah Barnes, an assistant professor and co-author of “One Thousand Days and Counting: A Report on the Social and Health Impacts of Industrial Noise from the Donkin Mine in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.”

“Then when I read in the newspaper that there was a community about 30 minutes away from me that couldn’t sleep, I knew this was going to be something that I needed to look into and get involved with.”

Through one-on-one interviews with 18 residents in

Port Morien and surrounding areas directly impacted by the mine’s industrial noise, the report — prepared by Barnes and Devon Bate, a music producer and sound designer — breaks down the key impacts of the mine’s industrial noise on community members.

Barnes said she discovered the oft-talked-about “hum” was linked to sleep loss and deteriorating mental and physical health; it eroded residents’ quality of life; and it left many people forced to change their daily routines and develop whatever coping strategies they could find to evade the sound.

“To actually hear people’s stories brought this to a whole new level,” she said. “And it’s not just hearing about a couple of missed sleeps. It’s years and years of (people) not being able to sleep properly and having to change habits because of this noise. People’s lives were turned upside down.”

While no specific names of residents were revealed in the study, Barnes noted that one person she interviewed described “feeling suicidal and being completely pushed to the limits by the noise.” Another individual described steps taken to function during a day: “In the last year, I’ve taken over 400 extra-strength Tylenol. If that doesn’t work, I have to take Tylenol 3 … (which) has opioids, just like fentanyl …”

“It was pretty shocking to hear these stories,” Barnes told the Cape Breton Post. “The other thing was just how much they connected to each other that there was clearly a pattern … of disruption that was also being minimized and downplayed.”

COALITION GROUP INPUT

The study also took into account input from the Cow Bay Environmental Coalition, the group that has staged numerous protests about the mine and the persistent hum — which had been first pinpointed in 2019, continued when the mine was forced to close in 2020 and resurfaced when the mine reopened in 2022.

“Since the end of March (of this year), our emails and our noise complaints are not being responded to,” said coalition chair Catherine Fergusson. “It’s shocking, upsetting and heartbreaking. And other community members in this area are suffering.”

One section of the study referenced “government inaction,” sentiments Fergusson and her group have continued to express during meetings and various rallies.

“Our elected officials can advocate for the jobs that our region needs,” she said. “But they can also advocate for the complete mitigation of the noise. We can stop this noise. And for whatever reason, our officials are choosing not to do this.”

ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPOND

However, the municipal councillor and provincial MLA representing the area both deny this, saying they have heard numerous constituents complain about the noise resurfacing and are doing what they can to ensure the matter is dealt with.

“There still is a noise emanating from those (industrial) fans,” said Cape Breton Regional Municipality Deputy Mayor James Edwards, who also sits on the mine’s Community Liaison Committee. “And we did have a meeting recently to discuss this, as I was getting emails complaining about the noise in the past couple of weeks.

“We’re always looking at possibilities to eliminate this noise.”

NOISE TESTS

Noise tests from 2021 indicated the mine’s monitoring station did not exceed provincial guidelines — decibel levels of 65 dBA in the daytime, 60 dBA in the evening and 55 dBA at night were considered the limit — with the mine measuring 44 dBA at the time.

In February 2022, the mine installed a noise mitigation device which was intended to muffle the hum. But many residents, including Fergusson, said at the time it did little to resolve the matter.

Cape Breton East MLA Brian Comer, also a CLC member, told the Post that he too is aware of the noise issue, saying he’s been “actively involved with the local Environment and Climate Change department, and they’re very attentive to ensuring that the noise levels comply with the regulations provincially.”

“I have had a number of conversations with the current provincial minister, Tim Halman, so the department is now in the process of updating those noise measurement and assessment guidelines. They’re in the consultation phase of that right now,” Comer said Thursday.

‘MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE’

In an emailed statement, a department spokesperson said that “we know people’s well-being can be impacted by industrial noise.

“Kameron Coal has installed ventilation fans to help reduce the noise. The mine is currently in compliance with all regulations and noise standards in the current Guidelines for Environmental Noise Measurement and Assessment.

“We have been very clear with Kameron Coal that our expectation is for them to maintain compliance with all terms and conditions of its approval, including noise, and to proactively keep the Community Liaison Committee informed of any noise mitigation work being performed,” the statement said.

“When we renewed the mine’s Industrial Approval (in December), we also included a condition that the company is required to respond directly to questions or complaints from the local community within five business days. We expect the company to adhere to this complaints process. If people have concerns, they should share them with the company through that process.”

The Post reached out to Kameron Collieries for comment on the hum concerns at the mine but calls and messages went unanswered.

RECOMMENDATIONS

As for Barnes, her study offered six recommendations on how best to address the longstanding issue: stop the noise; make a more realistic and honest assessment of the situation; invest in people and repair the community; invest in a green transition; honour the treaties; and no more sacrifice zones in Cape Breton.

“People need to know how to apply pressure to governments and decision-makers,” she said, “to really convey the full extent of the problem.”