American Iron and Metal (AIM) is installing a shipping container wall at its Toombs Street scrapyard to try and reduce noise.
Moncton city staff provided an update to council this week on operations at the site and actions being undertaken.
Elaine Aucoin, general manager of sustainable growth and development, said the wall was a recommendation in the noise abatement plan completed by AIM’s consultant.
“The noise mitigation wall would basically consist of sea containers stacked one on top of each other,” Aucoin said on Tuesday.
The wall, which city staff granted a permit for in late July, will be about 240 feet long, three containers high and painted green, she said.
Under the company’s approval to operate, which the province recently extended until the end of November, AIM has until Nov. 1 to implement the noise mitigation plan.
Residents in the area have raised concerns about increased noise and pollution coming from the site and trains blocking Mill Road.
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin is even considering suspending or revoking the company’s salvage dealers licence, which expires in June 2025.
Aucoin told council that the minister had not made a decision on the matter as of Aug. 28.
The city staff report also included an Aug. 7 letter sent to Austin by Mayor Dawn Arnold sharing concerns from residents.
“Residents tell us they are living in an untenable situation, with unacceptable levels of noise, unpleasant odours, and trains that frequently block residential streets. According to residents, these disruptions are constant, not occasional,” wrote Arnold.
“While it is true there has been a salvage dealership at that location for many years, the complaints we have been hearing from residents have greatly escalated since AIM took over the operations in 2023.
“They have expressed anger, frustration, and discouragement as this has been dragging on for months without a resolution to the difficult conditions that they state they are living under.”
Deputy Mayor Paulette Thériault pressed city staff to provide details about enforcement efforts into the complaints.
Nick Robichaud, the city’s general manager of legal services, said there is very little he can say other than they are being reviewed.
“We can’t get into discussing matters that are going to be before the courts because that could impact the enforcement process, the investigation process and the legal outcomes, so we don’t discuss those publicly,” he said.
Coun. Shawn Crossman asked if the city could organize a meeting with residents to share this information, and staff said they would look into it.