By Craig Westcott
Residents of Tors Cove and other interested parties have until May 6 to comment on the environmental preview report (EPR) that Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd., submitted to the provincial environment department on Friday.
The St. John’s-based company is looking for government approval to convert the old fish plant in Tors Cove, which it bought last year, into a seal oil plant.
The move has sparked concern for some residents in the community, who are worried there might be a stench from seal oil processing and an environmental impact from refurbishing the old building, which has lain derelict for years.
In its EPR, the company says it has developed a new cold-water process of refining seal fat into pharmaceutical grade omega-3 oil. It says no chemicals will be used to clean and process the Harp Seal skins that it plans to buy from harvesters. The resulting oil will be shipped outside the province to be poured into capsules and bottles for retail sale.
The company projects the plant will employ some 40 to 50 people, most of them for several months a year.
Ár n-oileán says it also plans to buy some 5,000 to 10,000 skins in its first year of operation with hopes of increasing the volume to 20,000 to 30,000 skins annually. It also plans to buy “limited volumes” of seal backstraps and organs to determine if it’s worth “developing an international seal meat market” for seal jerky and other charcuteries.
If the company gets environmental approval, it plans a major refurbishment of the old fish plant, which has not processed fish since 2007. That includes stripping out and replacing much of the equipment, demolishing a couple of the most dilapidated buildings, and replacing the roof. Ár n-oileán says it has already removed some 30 tonnes of garbage from the plant and is working to remove a further 20 to 30 tonnes. The plant consists of seven structures built onto each over the years with an additional administration building and bunkhouse. It’s those latter two buildings that have been condemned and will be demolished.
Repairs and upgrades to the building are expected to take three to six months, possibly longer if there are supply chain problems, the company says.
“Upon purchase of the property, Ár n-oileán received confirmation from the previous owners that at no time were asbestos or Urea Formaldehyde Insulation used in any part of the property,” the company told the province.
Once in operation, Ár n-oileán says it will use the plant’s existing piping to discharge offal some 200 feet northeast of the wharf. The company says the currents in that area draw the discharge away from the beach and that “increased sea states and tidal movements” during the winter months, when it intends to operate, will increase “the recycle flush rate of the area.”
Water from the fat separation process will be tested before it is discharged into the harbour, the company says. “The wash drums are equipped with self-cleaning pumps that will capture any hair removed from the skins during the washing process,” it adds, “where it will be collected, bagged and disposed of at the Robin Hood Bay waste management facility pending final approval from Eastern Regional Landfill.”
The company notes that as most of the processing will be done in the day, there will be minimal lighting coming from the plant at night. “Environment and Climate Change Canada and the coordinator has communicated to the company that it is not believed the lighting to be used will adversely affect migratory birds in the area,” Ár n-oileán says. “As an added precaution the company will follow a suggestion of making sure security lights are aimed downwards whenever possible.”
Ár n-oileán’s directors include company president Kendall Flood, David Vere-Holloway, Jeffrey Pardy, Mi’sel Joe and Thomas Michael Køllgaard Nielsen.
The minister’s decision on the EPR is due May 14.
