Steve Drake at the Donkin Mine site in July of 1994 just before he climbedover the chain link fence to take pictures of the two sealed Donkin tunnels.Article contentThe ongoing media coverage related to the low frequency noise generated by the Donkin Mine industrial ventilation fans is a strong indication that the Cow Bay Environmental Coalition is not going away any time soon. After seven years of low frequency sound waves penetrating their homes, I can’t say I blame them.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe coalition is rightly expecting the provincial government to provide a resolution to the legitimate health and safety concerns impacting the community. The elusive solution to this health hazard could benefit from a bit of critical thinking and logical reasoning on the most practical and pragmatic way to silence the fans.Article contentArticle contentArticle content One issue still seemingly unresolved revolves around the continuous low-frequency hum emanating from the Donkin mine’s fans. CAPE BRETON POST FILE CAPE BRETON POST FILEArticle contentMINE HISTORYArticle contentHistory shows us that for the past century or so the ventilation fans in our coal mining communities have never resulted in documented complaints about harmful sound waves annoying, or causing physical or mental harm to, the tens of thousands of residents living near the mines. History also shows us that when the Donkin Mine was operated by the Cape Breton Development Corporation (DEVCO), from the mid 1980s to 1992, the people of the Donkin-Morien area made no complaints about low frequency fan noise. For the eight years that Xstrata operated Donkin Mine, in maintenance mode only, there is no evidence that the mine ventilation fans produced any health-harming noise.Article contentThe single exception to these indisputable facts is the now idle Donkin Mine operated by Kameron Coal, which is owned by the Cline Group and, to date, Kameron Coal has been unable to silence the fans.Article contentIn 1994, coal miners entrusted me with the privilege of representing their interests as president of the miners’ union and it was my firm belief that our only hope to work and retire with dignity was inextricably linked to the start-up of the Donkin Mine.Article contentArticle contentIn July 1994 I drove to the Donkin site, climbed over the chain link fence and walked around the abandoned site taking pictures. The portals for the two tunnels were bulldozed shut and the only sounds that could be heard were the ocean, the wind and the birds – there was no fan noise.Article content High horsepower industrial ventilation fans can produce harmful low frequency sound waves due to something as simple as vibration from loose mounting bolts to the very complex acoustic resonance from fan blades amplified by the connected ductwork and tunnels, according to Steve Drake, a former coal industry employee.Article contentDuring my first few months in office, I scoured every filing cabinet for any information on the Donkin Mine and came across a DEVCO press release dated Sept. 1, 1992 that is relevant to the current problem with the ventilation fan noise at the Donkin Mine.Article contentThe press release indicated that after almost a decade of development and maintenance, DEVCO was adopting an “alternative maintenance strategy for the Donkin tunnels.” Following equipment recovery, the pumps and ventilation fans would be shut down and the two, $80 million tunnels at Donkin would be allowed to flood.Article contentAccording to then union president Ray Holland, the unions were told that DEVCO had hired an expert who advised that mines in England and Scotland had been flooded and later re-opened with a minimum of repair.
OPINION: Flooding the answer to Donkin mine noise
