Community-Based Risk Assessment (CBRA)

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com.liferay.portal.kernel.util.DateUtil_IW@1baedb34 — Photographer: Vale's Archive

Over the last two decades, Vale (formerly Inco) worked closely with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (now the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, or MECP)

the community of Port Colborne and consultancy partners to analyze the effects of historical mining operations on soils in the Port Colborne area.

These studies culminated in the Community-Based Risk Assessment (CBRA), which concluded that metals in the soil from historical refinery activities do not result in unacceptable risks to health. A supplementary Community Health Assessment Project (CHAP) confirmed that health outcomes in Port Colborne are no different than in other Ontario communities.

Learn more

CBRA Action Plan

Vale Canada Response to MECP comments on CBRA 2014 Update Report

Reply to Letter dated June 10 2021

Preliminary Aquatic Survey Report (Draft) 25 June 2021

MECP letter to Vale June 10, 2021 FINAL

Guidance regarding soil pica behaviour

Guidance for Ornamental plants

Guidance for Copper Sensitive dogs

Guidance document sheep CCP

CBRA Action Plan - Community Presentation_FINAL

CBRA Documentation

Community Health Assessment Project (CHAP) Study

Chap Study

CHAP Overview of Proposed Research in Port Colborne

Study A Chap

Response_CHAP A Comments

Study A - Sept 24-04

Recruitment and Communications Strategy for Studa A

ChapStudyA_ExecutiveSummary

EAC Comments Study A

Protocol A

Study B Chap

Protocol B – July02

Protocol B – Sept03

Study C Chap

Study c oct 04

Response Chap c Comments

Eac Comments Study Jan02

Executive Summary Study C

Protocol c July 2002

Study A+C Chap

Draft Report 2009

Study A+C Scope of Work

Study D Chap

Study D

Study E Chap

Study E surrogate Kola Peninsula Study (on reproductive impacts in women in Russian area high in industrial nickel)

Community-based Risk Assessment (CBRA) & Public Liaison Committee (PLC)

Processes

PLC Terms of Reference of the Public Liaison

CBRA Technical Scope of Work

The Final Public Liaison Committee on the Port Colborne CBRA

Summary Report of the Independent Consultant Review of the CBRA in Port Colborne, Ontario

Crops Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA)

ERA Complementary Documents

Independent Consultant QA QC Review of the Crops ERA

ERA – Crops – Addendum Report Sept 2006

Vale's consultant response to Independent consultant - Oct 2008

Independent Consultant Review of the ERA Report on the Agricultural Systems of Port Colborne

Volume I Main Report Binder

Complete Version

Executive Summary

Volume I Appendices Binder 2

VOL I Appendices Binder 2

Volume II Protocols Binder

Crop Studies Volumes II, III, IV, V and VI

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) Natural Environment (NE)

Volume I Main Report

Executive Summary

Complete Version

Volume II Protocols

Volume III Supporting Data

VOL III Supporting Data

Volume IV Consultants’ Reports

ERA Complementary Documents

Independent Consultant QA QC Review of the Natural Environment ERA

Addendum Report CBRA Environmental Risk Assessment – Natural Environment ONT33828

Vale's consultant response to Independent Consultant Natural Environment Report - January 2009

Independent Consultant Review of the ERA Report on the Natural Environment

Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)

HHRA Complementary Documents

Towards an exposure narrative for metals and arsenic in historically contaminated Ni refinery soils Relationships between speciation

Independent Consultant Review of the HHRA

Independent Consultant QA QC Review on the HHRA

Working Group Report – Nickel Oral Reference Dose for Non-Carcinogenic Effects

Final Report

Executive Summary

Complete version

Integration Report

Integration Report Complementary Documents

Vale's reply to comments by Independent Consultant and the PLC on the Integration Report

Independent Consultant Review of the Integration Report

Final Report

Executive Summary

Complete version

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks' Comments & Vale's

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (formely Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change) Comments

UPDATE~1

MINIST~1

MINIST~2

MINIST~3

MINIST~4

CBRA Update Report

CBRA 2014 Update Report

Supporting Reports

Chemical of Concerns

Potential CoC Identification Using Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling of INCO and Algoma Operations

Summary Report on Chemicals of Concern Evaluation

Potential CoC Identification Using Statistical Analysis

Potential CoC Identification Using Soil Chemical Concentration Data in Exceedance of MOE Generic Guidelines

Public Health Reports

Technical Report Assessment of Potential Health Risks - May 1997

Niagara Region Cancer Report (1986-2003) – 2007

Ministry Reports

MOE Phytotoxicology Investigation Re-sampling of Soil at St. Therese Catholic Shcool (2001) - April 2001

MOE Phytotoxicology Investigation - Re-sampling of Soil at Humberstone School and Arsenic in Soil at all Schools 2001 - April 2001

MOE Phytotoxicology Soil and Vegetation Survey Report (1991) - July 1994

MOE Phytotoxicology Soil Investigation INCO – Port Colborne (1998) – Jan 2000

MOE Soil Contamination in Selected Port Colborne Woodlots (2000) - February 2000

MOE Phytotoxicology Soil Investigation School Yards and Beaches, Port Colborne (April 2000) - December 2000

MOE Phytotoxicology Soil Investigation INCO – Port Colborne (1999) – July 2000

MOE Phytotoxicology Soil Investigation INCO – Port Colborne (1998) – September 1999

MOE Soil Investigation & Human Health Risk Assessment Report for the Rodney St. Community Port Colborne - March 2001

MOE Soil Investigation & Human Health Risk Assessment Report for the Rodney St. Community Port Colborne - March 2002

MOE Soil Investigation & Human Health Risk Assessment Report for the Rodney St. Community Port Colborne - October 2001

Lead Studies

Independent Consultants Review of the Coc and the Status of Lead

Lead CoC Report Volume I

Lead CoC Report Volume II

The Port Colborne Community-Based Risk Assessment (CBRA) was conducted over a 15-year period between 2000 and 2015 and was the first “wide-area” risk assessment conducted in Ontario, focusing on a 29 km² area in and around Port Colborne.

Based on exhaustive research and field investigations, the purpose of this comprehensive scientific study was to assess present-day potential environmental and human health risks associated with concentrations of nickel, copper, cobalt, and arsenic in Port Colborne soils. Vale voluntarily initiated the study following Ministry of Environment (now Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, or MECP) studies in the 1990s that showed elevated levels of metals in Port Colborne soils.

Photographer: Vale's Archive

Following the conclusion of the CBRA, Vale (alongside the City, Public Health and the MECP), created a Port Colborne Community-Based Action Plan to address the findings of many years of scientific risk assessment, both for human health and for the health of our entire ecosystem.

Photographer: Vale's Archive

The Action Plan includes the following key actions:

Remediation activities at a handful of residential properties in close proximity to Vale’s Port Colborne Refinery, such as sodding, ground cover and/or soil replacement. There are no unacceptable health risks to these residents and these actions are being taken on a precautionary basis. All residential property owners have already been contacted by Vale;

Photographer: Vale's Archive

Scoping studies to be conducted on the woodlot and municipal drains just east of the refinery to assess potential remediation activities. Results will be shared with the community when the studies are complete;

Creation of a Community Improvement Fund to deliver both environmental and social benefit to Port Colborne, and to recognize more than 100 years of operations in the community. The Fund, still in development, is envisioned to be in place for the next four years providing support for priority improvement or development projects in the community. Vale will work collaboratively with the City of Port Colborne to prioritize and select local projects and initiatives, with specific consideration afforded to projects with environmental or sustainability themes;

Work with a small number of local farmers to address crop yields.

Additional Studies

In addition to the Port Colborne CBRA, Vale commissioned the Community Health Assessment Project (CHAP) to address community concerns regarding potential human health effects from exposure to the identified metals. Like the CBRA, the CHAP study provided evidence that health outcomes in Port Colborne are no different than in other Ontario communities.

Photographer: Vale's Archive

A Collaborative Effort

Various stakeholders were involved with the CBRA, including the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Niagara Region Public Health, the City of Port Colborne, Stantec (an expert third-party scientific consultant), and a Public Liaison Committee comprised of local community stakeholders interested in participating in the CBRA process. Vale is grateful for the active participation of our community partners in this study.

Photographer: Vale's Archive

The main conclusions of 20 years of study are:

Metals in the soil from historical refinery activities do not result in unacceptable risks to health. Further, the CHAP study provides evidence that health outcomes in Port Colborne are no different than in other Ontario communities.

Port Colborne’s ecosystem is largely like any other community in Ontario, with the exception of some unused woodlots that Vale owns beside the Refinery. Metals in the soil of these unused woodlots may have an effect on some plants and invertebrates (i.e. earthworms);

Nickel in soil may result in increased risk of lower crop yields, however, there is no impact on human health from these crops. This can be remedied with certain agricultural practices and will be implemented on a one-on-one basis with farmers.

We want to hear from you

Voice your views, questions or concerns about Vale’s Port Colborne Operations:

• Call our Community Concerns Line 24/7 at 289-478-VALE (8253)

• Email PortColborne.Questions@vale.com

Want to learn more?

Press Release

Port Colborne Presentation

Over the last two decades, Vale (formerly Inco) worked closely with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (now the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, or MECP)

Learn more

CBRA Documentation

The Port Colborne Community-Based Risk Assessment (CBRA) was conducted over a 15-year period between 2000 and 2015 and was the first “wide-area” risk assessment conducted in Ontario, focusing on a 29 km² area in and around Port Colborne.

Following the conclusion of the CBRA, Vale (alongside the City, Public Health and the MECP), created a Port Colborne Community-Based Action Plan to address the findings of many years of scientific risk assessment, both for human health and for the health of our entire ecosystem.

The Action Plan includes the following key actions:

Additional Studies

A Collaborative Effort

The main conclusions of 20 years of study are:

We want to hear from you

Want to learn more?

Vale

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Initiatives

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