Muskrat Falls workers bused out after protesters occupy site in Central Labrador

Busloads of workers are being sent home after protesters occupied the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project work site in Central Labrador yesterday.

Ten buses arrived at the hydro electric project late Saturday to retrieve workers. A number of unscheduled flights have since arrived at the Goose Bay Airport, the closest air strip to the site.

At around 2:30 p.m. AT, a group of about 60 protesters broke through the gate, with about 200 more remaining at the gate.

Several trucks also entered the site carrying protesters, one driven by Cartwright Mayor Dwight Lethbridge.

Protesters have been calling for the clearing of all vegetation and topsoil at the Muskrat Falls reservoir prior to initial flooding, which Nalcor has said to expect by the end of this month.

Moving forward

Neither contractors, nor Nalcor, the Crown company behind the megaproject, have returned request for comment about the level of work at the hydroelectric project.

Premier Dwight Ball released a statement Saturday evening saying a meeting with Indigenous groups and the province has been scheduled for Tuesday.

"Until this meeting has occurred, Nalcor will do nothing to increase water levels above the falls," he said in the statement.

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Controversial project

Muskrat Falls, a multi-billion dollar hydroelectric project in central Labrador, has been the subject of much controversy. 

Cost overruns, a construction collapse and now protests against Nalcor, the province-owned company building it, have plagued the project.

Protesters are demanding Nalcor clear the reservoir of vegetation and topsoil before flooding begins to prevent the leaching of methylmercury into the water.

A study conducted by researchers from Harvard University in 2015 determined that methylmercury levels would rise with Muskrat Falls flooding, increasing the potential for mercury contamination in traditional food sources like fish and seal downstream in Lake Melville.

However, Gilbert Bennett, vice-president of the Lower Churchill Project with Nalcor Energy, said at the time "we do not predict that creation of the Muskrat Falls reservoir will heighten risk to people in Lake Melville."

Increasing opposition to the project led Environment Minister Perry Trimper to order Nalcor to remove more forest cover at the reservoir on Wednesday to further address "anxiety and concern" surrounding methylmercury.

For now, clearing of trees will take place inside the initial 25-metre flooding zone before the flooding begins. Nalcor says it plans to look at clearing options for the second watermark at 39 metres.

The plan doesn't call for soil clearing.

Protester cut lock

Protesters are determined to force Nalcor to complete the clearing process. Darren Sheppard says he cut the lock off a fence at the entrance to the work site to give the protesters access.

"I cut the lock because Nalcor is going to go ahead and do the work," Sheppard said.  

He said the company has the time and ability to clear the vegetation from the site before the flooding begins, and protesters will remain on the site until Nalcor agrees to complete the work.

"If they're not going to do that, then we will stay on site until they say yes," said Sheppard. 

"Once they [say] yes, we'll all walk off freely, we're all friendly protesters."

He said he "doesn't care" about any possible police reaction. "I'm standing up for what I believe in and what's right."

Police close Trans Labrador Highway

Several RCMP vehicles also attended the site Saturday afternoon and closed Route 510, also known as the South Coast Highway, while protests continue. Hundreds of vehicles are backed up on the road. 

About 100 protesters abandoned their vehicles and gathered at the police blockade. Officers on the scene said the situation has become a public safety concern and they are working to gain control.

Nalcor issued a warning on Twitter urging those on the site to use caution. The company said there is a significant safety risk to protesters and workers, as construction sites can be hazardous.