Residents of Penobsquis, New Brunswick are concerned about their well water. About sixty wells have run dry there and many feel it's a result of seismic testing done on a potash mine nearby.
“They pinched the veins off,” says longtime resident Gordon Fraser, “and our water dissolved, gone. That's my opinion though.”
A hearing resumed Wednesday in Sussex where residents are hoping to get some answers from Potash Corporation which owns the mine.
In addition to subsidence issues, which has caused homes to sink and crack, the residents say a total of 60 wells have been lost.
“Penobsquis is fractured,” resident Carl Wolpin told a crowd of protesters outside the hearing, “no New Brunswick community should have to put up with this.”
Since the last hearing the landowners relieved the legal team of their duties and opted to represent themselves from here on out, partly for financial reasons and partly because they believe no one knows this issue better than them.
“I think that going forward as we are now is good,” says Beth Nixon of the Concerned Citizens of Penobsquis group, “it's empowering for the group and I think it shows the rest of New Brunswick what they could expect, there's a couple different mines proposed.”
There are 26 complainants and despite recommendations from the mining commissioner and Potash Corporation to get legal representation, the group is pressing on and they know they have a big learning curve ahead of them.
“Everybody in the group has the ability to ask questions themselves,” says Nixon, “so it gives everyone the chance to have their say and to confront anybody and get the truth out of them.”
Potash Corp is confident they have a solid case.
“Largely what they've been presenting has been emotional testimony and we would hope to present the facts as we know them which will refute most of what they've been saying,” says Potash Corp’s Brian Rolston.
The hearings will continue in October.
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