Department of Environment gives AIM permission to restart Saint John operations Monday

American Iron & Metal Inc., (AIM) is set to restart operations at its Saint John facility on Monday, after New Brunswick’s Department of Environment and Local Government cleared all of their operations for a 90-day trial period.

The New Brunswick government ordered AIM to cease all of its operations on Nov. 22, as the result of multiple complaints over explosions and excessive noise in the weeks before New Brunswick stepped in.

The company’s metal shredder was found to be the source of at least some of the complaints, having caused more than 40 explosions in the past 16 months.

READ MORE: AIM says Saint John facility may close if deal with province can’t be reached

The department says it has been working with AIM since the order was issued, and the company has put a plan in place that will allow operations to restart on Monday.

The plan reportedly requires AIM to take measures to eliminate explosions and the impact of excessive noise and vibrations on site and at their supply source.

1:57 Saint John AIM owner fears impending closure

• Saint John AIM owner fears impending closure
• ‘I no longer live at my house’: neighbours speak out against Saint John AIM recycling plant
• Saint John mayor meets with controversial recycling plant
• Calls for government to intervene following another Saint John explosion
• Saint John mayor calling for meeting with industrial partners after explosion

Previous Video

Next Video

“The company needs to ensure their operations are safe for the environment and for their neighbours,” said Minister of Environment and Local Government Jeff Carr in a statement to Global News.

“We will continue to monitor their progress closely and ensure they live up to their commitments.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We will continue to monitor their progress closely and ensure they live up to their commitments."

The decision comes only days after the owner of AIM told Global News that if the shredder wasn’t up and running by Monday, he wouldn’t be able to fill a scrap order for December and would likely be forced to shut the plant down permanently.

“I feel terrible that they are forcing me by not giving me any answers.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I feel terrible that they are forcing me by not giving me any answers."

Black did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday evening.

A group of Saint John residents who have led a campaign as a result of the explosion said on Friday that 24/7 monitoring of the site was needed for it to be reopened.

“If the stop work order was released, we’d be supportive of that if there was a commitment from the province to do the sort of testing that residents have been asking for such a long time,” said Raven Blue of Livable Saint John.