LATCHFORD - Additional soil and water were removed Sept. 24-30 from a forest site where a glyphosate spill occurred Sept. 10.
Aerial-spraying operations on the forest west of Latchford had been taking place, but were discontinued for the remainder of the year after a truck tipped on Eagle Lake Road northwest of Lake Anima-Nipissing and spilled 600 litres of GlySil (glysophate) concentrate into a ditch.
SEE: First Nations call for ban of aerial spraying after spill
The site is about 12 kilometres from the community of Latchford.
The company warns users the product is an environmental hazard.
"Avoid direct applications to any body of water. Do not contaminate water by disposal of waste or cleaning of equipment. TOXIC to aquatic organisms and non-target terrestrial plants. Observe buffer zones specified under DIRECTIONS FOR USE. To reduce runoff from treated areas into aquatic habitats, avoid application to areas with a moderate to steep slope, compacted soil or clay.."
Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that can kill certain weeds and grasses. Glyphosate works by blocking an enzyme essential for plant growth. The product is used primarily in agriculture, but also in forestry and lawn and garden care.
It is the most widely used herbicide in Canada and plays an "important weed management role in agriculture and non-agricultural land management." Products containing glyphosate are used to control weeds including invasive weeds, and toxic plants such as poison ivy says a Government of Canada website.
Environmental consultants representing both the Temagami Forest Management Corporation (TFMC), which oversees the forest operations in the area and the Temagami First Nation (TFN) and the Teme-Augama Anishnabai (TAA), have been at the site.
Forest Management general manager Mark Stevens said in an email on Oct. 1 that "as a result of the initial test results, additional material was removed on September 24 and 27. Additional samples were taken for testing on Monday, Sept. 30."
He added, "The results from these samples will determine whether any further removal is required."
He noted that the location is restricted to general public access and only First Nation members use the area for hunting.
The TFN and TAA have been opposed to aerial spraying over the forest, which is their claimed territory of N'dakimenan. They are calling for a ban on aerial spraying out of concern for its impact on water, plants, and wildlife that they harvest.
In a previous statement, Stevens explained that aerial spraying is used to achieve the composition of tree species envisioned for the future forest.
In an updated message to the members of the TFN and TAA on September 27, leaders advised 20,000 litres of soil and water were removed from the site on September 24. Additional amounts were removed on September 27 and September 30.
Preliminary reports from environmental technicians are expected in the coming week, the TFN and TAA members have been advised.
A map created by TAA Chief Michael Paul and the Lands and Resources Department indicates a four-kilometre diameter area from the site of the spill, noting that the area had been aerially sprayed shortly before the spill occurred.
First Nation members have been advised by their leaders not to harvest any plants or animals from within that zone.
An outer zone has also been depicted with a 12-kilometre diameter from the spill site, reaching to the edge of the community of Latchford, and First Nation leaders are recommending a level of caution be exercised in that extended area when hunting due to the fact that moose hunted in that area may have been in contact with materials from the spill site.
Darlene Wroe is a Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter with the Temiskaming Speaker. LJI is funded by the Government of Canada.
