Guest Post written by Cabot Martin
On VOCM BackTalk with Pete Soucy yesterday, Nalcor VP Gill
Bennett, the regulator, examined Gill
Bennett the regulated and pronounced – risk of a North Spur Collapse during
construction ? - no problem! Does not exist !
And repeated that assertion at the end of his call supposedly
to really clinch the argument.
According to Bennett the risk of a North Spur collapse
during construction was , not – acceptable risk; not -low risk; not – negligible
risk;, but 100% pure –unadulterated NO RISK.
So go back to sleep people – no problem here.
All accompanied by a pious and disdainful statement on the superiority of the
engineering way of thinking and the high standards they hold themselves to –
what tripe !
Heard the same crap up at MUN Engineering last fall when
Bennett personally attacked Dr Stig Bernander, a gentle and gentlemanly world
renowned Quick Clay landslide expert and
far, far more experienced in managing large construction projects than
anyone up at Nalcor, with a
similar “How dare you come over here and question my engineering code of honor” attack
- when Dr Bernander was merely raising serious valid questions about the safety
of the North Spur.
Simply put, Engineers are in any event fallible - putting
aside Mr Bennett’s (and Mr Ed Martin’s ) total lack of previous experience on
any kind on major construction projects , and putting aside Nalcor’s documented
track record of incompetence and “imprudence” .
There cannot be “No Risk” of a North Spur Collapse during
construction – not unless Bennett et al have by some mystical process achieved
“God like” status and has changed naturally “unstable” to “stable”.
Acceptable maybe; low maybe; negligible maybe - all are possible
(though unlikely) outcomes from a proper risk assessment for North Spur
collapse during construction – along with Medium and High Risk.
But for a naturally unstable mass like the North Spur containing
Quick Clay - NOT – never- “no risk”!
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The very first engineering study of the
stability of the North Spur was carried out for Brinco in April 1964 by Acres Canadian Bechtel (builders of the
Upper Churchill).The lead investigator was a Norwegian engineer who went on to
found the prestigious Norwegian Geotechnical Institute which specializes in
Quick Clay.
The Acres Canadian Bechtel study warned,
in particular, that it would not be
feasible to carry out major earthworks on the North Spur.
Nalcor and SNC Lavalin’s friend’s
Fernand Gilbert Construction are now up on the North Spur going at it hammer
and tongs.
Ever since the big 1978 North Spur
slide, NL Hydro (and now Nalcor) have been putting increasing amounts of
perfume on the North Spur pig – enabled
by SNC Lavalin.
But as it turns out ,the public does not have to take my
word on the risk of North Spur collapse -- or Mr. Bennett’s word either.
Nor should they.
In all civilized countries, the duty and process of
assessing such risks is a public one – entrusted to some branch of their
democratically elected government.
And this is exactly where, Minister Dan Crummell and his
officials are supposed to earn their pay
under the Water Resources Act for which they are responsible.
Under that Act, which governs Dam Safety and the mucking
around with rivers , the procedure is simple:
– Nalcor is supposed to
prepare (in a timely fashion) a proper
detailed Risk Assessment of the Risk of North Spur collapse during construction
(backed up by proper engineering studies) along with the Emergency Preparedness
Plan specifically aimed at handling a North Spur collapse during construction
commensurate with that Risk.
-Nalcor is supposed to (in a timely fashion) submit that North
Spur (under construction) Risk Assessment and specifically related Emergency Preparedness Plan to the Minister for approval.
-Minister Crummell and his officials are then supposed to examine
Nalcor’s Risk Assessment and Emergency Preparedness Plan and approve or
disapprove them with any appropriate
changes or conditions.
One would think that these steps under the Dam Safety
sections of the Act would be done very carefully, particularly as if any Loss
of Life should subsequently occur from –in this case- a North Spur collapse –
criminal charges may be laid.
All this is missing .
If Nalcor has done such a “No Risk” Risk Assessment of North
Spur collapse during construction let them make it public.
But don’t hold your breath - Nalcor treats the Provincial
government and the public like patsies .
Nalcor, through Gill Bennett , has gone all in – no problem;
no need for an Emergency Plan; no
effective regulation.
Ah yes; Who knew What
? When ?
The Devil take the lot of them- but God protect those
downstream.
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Cabot Martin writes from St. John's