INDEX PCB Digest - 1/31/02
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1) Press Release - 1/29/02` - Witmer Allowing U.S.
Companies to Target Northern Ontario for Hazardous Waste Imports
2) Summary of Quebec Delegation Meetings - January
25-26, 2002
3) Temiskaming Speaker - 1/30/02 - Front Page
Quebec brings BEI concerns to Temiskaming
4) Temiskaming Speaker - 1/30/02 - Editorial Page
Letters to the Editor
5) Northern Daily News - 1/30/02 - Editorial Page
Letter to the Editor
6) Northern Daily News - 1/31/02 - Page 3
Ramsay looks into Bennett
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1) Press Release - 1/29/02
For Immediate Release
January 29, 2002
Witmer Allowing U.S. Companies to
Target Northern Ontario for Hazardous Waste Imports
Kirkland Lake -- Environment Minister Elizabeth
Witmer's promise to strengthen Ontario s lax hazardous waste import
policies is little more than double-speak on the leadership campaign
trail. That s the charge being
made by Temiskaming residents after learning that a
New Jersey company is helping to finance a hazardous waste
incinerator in Northern Ontario.
IT Corporation of New Jersey has provided Bennett
Environmental with a $3 million loan to help build a PCB incinerator
in Kirkland Lake. In exchange for taking the money, Bennett has
promised to burn up to 30,000 tonnes a year of contaminated soil from
the New Jersey corporation.
Terry Graves, spokesperson for Public Concern
Temiskaming, points out that even though this hazardous waste
incinerator will be the largest of its kind in Canada, Witmer's
Environment Ministry is exempting the project from full public
hearings or even an independent peer review.
"Ontario residents are being asked to import risk
from across North America," says Graves. "US and Mexican
companies will be invited to burn toxic compounds in Ontario, and
then they'll get to dump the leftover soils
which are still contaminated with heavy metals.
Meanwhile the citizens of this province are being muzzled by the EA process."
Witmer has come under fire for her Ministry's lax
standards following a amning report by Environment Commissioner Gord
Miller. In the report, Miller states that Ontario is becoming a
magnet for hazardous waste
shipments because its standards are lower than in
Quebec and the United States. Witmer, who is also running to be
Ontario's next premier, has promised to improve Ontario s standards.
Graves says Witmer's promise is hollow. "Toxic
waste flows to the jurisdiction with the lowest standards," says
Graves. "While she's campaigning, we're facing an a massive
influx of U.S. hazardous waste into
our region. Thanks to our own Ministry of Environment,
nothing could be easier than siting a hazardous waste incinerator for
U.S. waste in Ontario."
-30-
For more information, contact:
Terry Graves (705) 647-7307
===============================================
Northwatch
Acting Together Today - for Tomorrow!
Box 282
North
Bay
tel 705 497 0373 fax 705 476 7060
P1B
8H2
email [email protected]
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2) Summary of Quebec Delegation Meetings - January
25-26, 2002
Concerned Citizens of Temiskaming:
The visit by four people from Quebec was highly
successful. There is now a much larger awareness of the risks and
impacts of incineration both in Quebec and here in Ontario. There
were some good media stories and I understand that the story hit the
provincial level of news in Quebec with CBC French Radio and
Television. The local newspaper in the St. Ambroise area picked up a
Canadian Press story on the meetings in its Saturday edition. There
will be additional impacts in the future since Global Television
taped the meetings in preparation for a future feature on the issue
of incineration.
There were also some new relationships forged during
the trip with the people from Quebec as well as French media people.
We learned that while many people understand the threat of dioxin due
to its toxic mobile nature, some people prefer to believe it is a
local problem that will not affect them. There is more work to be
done in this area.
Trip Review
Elise Gauthier, Jean-Marc Brisson, Monique Laberge and
Renee Dubois arrived in Rouyan, had lunch, and then proceeded to two
separate press conferences in Rouyan at the local CJEP (community
college) with Canadian Press, Radio Canada and two local press representatives.
Both press conferences were in French. The major
message was that while incineration and the release of contaminants
to the environment was a problem in Ontario, the people of Quebec,
however, had a role to play in informing their government through
their Ministry of the Environment, that they did not want to take
risks and the project should be stopped.
The events in Quebec were all organized and hosted by
Jean Chamberlain with the Rouyan based CREAT (Conseil régional
de l'environnement de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue) group. On the
way to Ville Marie, a phone interview was held with the CBC and Renee
Dubois which was carried on the CBC news shortly there after.
The meeting in Ville Marie was organized by Union
Paysanne (Davis Martineau and Lise Chartrand), an international farm
based rural development group with members in Quebec. This group will
be working with us in the future on common environmental and rural
development issues. There are applications for membership to Union
Paysanne that describe the direction and intent of this international organization.
On Friday night, the guests were hosted by John and
Fran Nychuk, and on Saturday morning, they attended a public meeting
in Earlton.
This meeting was a bilingual meeting with Richard
Carrier translating questions. People learned of Bennett's attempt to
shut up the opponents of their proposal with an injunction against
them. They also learned about the impacts on the small farm community
since Bennett had come to town. Families were divided and farmers
lost business because they were unable to ensure customers that there
was no contamination. A single test for PCB's would cost $1000 which
makes it impractical for the farm community to test. People also
heard of the contamination of the 3.2 square kilometers of land
around the plant. The also learned of the promise of 35-40 and 50-70
trucking jobs. The real economic impact is17 part time jobs paying
$10-12 per hour with forced high turnovers once people were exposed
to PCBs. All of the trucking jobs except one, are done by American
truck drivers.
The Kirkland lake meeting went as well as could be
expected in Kirkland Lake. There were about four supporters of the
projects that attempted to drive home some points. They were given
adequate time to do so, but in my view failed as Elise had some very
effective responses. For example, when one speaker attempted to
corner Elise with a statement that everyone looked healthy and that
there appeared to be no health impacts, Elise replied with, how did
he know that they were healthy. The man stammered and then sat down.
The turnout was respectable with two councillors from
Kirkland Lake and about 120 people.
Some very good points were made. We learned that there
is no emergency plan or publication of "emergency releases"
and that the public was not aware of them until months later, when
freedom of information forced the publication. Another point was that
incineration is a sunset business and that there are safer
alternatives available involving batch processes that could be
operated in a mobile manner and without impact to the environment.
Bennett appears to be the only company in North America that is
pushing this cheap and dirty technology. The US has not put in a
toxic waste incinerator in seven years as the American emission
standards have been improved to the point that no incinerator can
meet them.
There is additional work to be done over the next few
weeks as we ramp up the local, provincial and international campaign
against toxic waste incineration.
Ambrose Raftis
Public Concern Temiskaming
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3) Temiskaming Speaker - 1/30/02 - Front Page
Quebec brings BEI concerns to Temiskaming
by Diane Johnston
Speaker Reporter
EARLTON -
Several residents living near a Quebec operation
similar to a hazardous waste treatment plant proposed for Kirkland
Lake had warnings for Temiskaming.
Pollutants in the soil, health worries, and community
divisions have followed the start up of a Bennett Environmental Inc.
(BEl) plant in St-Ambroise, say the Regroupement régional de
citoyennes et citoyens pour la sauvegarde de l'environnement
(Citizens for safeguarding the environment).
But BEI's vice president says many of their concerns
are unsubstantiated.
The four spoke to more than 110 people in Earlton
January 26.
Speaking for the most part through a translator, they
said they hoped to save Temiskaming the time, money and struggle
they've endured.
"Why do we fight? It's for our kids, it's not for
us. It's for our kids so they will live in a world, that is
clean," said Renée Dubois, president of the group.
The residents live in and around St Ambroise and
Jonquière, located about 15 kilometres to the southeast, in
the Lac St-Jean region.
The plant, Récoupère Sol, opened in
February, 1998, in St-Ambroise.
It uses a two stage, high temperature process to treat
soils and materials contaminated by a variety of substances,
including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
BEl proposes to build a similar but larger plant in
Kirkland Lake.
The St-Ambroise area residents say they're worried
about the impact of emissions from the plant.
But many of their concerns are unsubstantiated, said
Danny Ponn, BEl vice-president and chief operating officer, earlier
this week.
SOIL IMPACTS
Group spokesperson Élise Gauthier cited a
finding by the regional public health department that pollutants had
been located within a one kilometre radius of the plant after only
300 days of operation.
After reviewing a study commissioned by BEl, the
regional public health directorate concluded that emissions from the
stack were the source of very light amounts of lead, mercury,
cadmium, dioxins and furans in neighbouring forest soils. But Mr.
Ponn said the BEl study also found non-detectable levels of PCBs and
a contaminant found in wood preservative - two of the substances in
the soil treated by the plant.
The dioxins and furans identified in the soil also
differ from the specific types produced in the plant's test bum
emissions, he said.
Given the number of smelters in I the industrialized
Saguenay region, "there are many, many sources of these
chemicals," he said.
But Mr. Ponn acknowledged the consultant's report
merits further review.
"We need to clarify a few things," he said.
He said BEl has volunteered to do long-term ambient
air monitoring in the Saguenay area every other year, beginning this year.
He said one of the dilemmas is the absence of a
baseline study that assessed the state of the soil prior to the
plant's start up. But it was not required by the Quebec environment
ministry, he said.
(At an information session earlier this month in
Kirkland Lake, he described the lack of baseline testing on BEI's
part an oversight, and a lesson from which it has learned.)
He said the latest study will serve almost as that
baseline test for the St. Ambroise area.
ECONOMICS
Jean-Marc Brisson, vice president of the St Ambroise
group, is a horticultural producer growing strawberries. In May 2000,
he was elected a municipal councillor in StAmbroise after campaigning
against the plant.
He told the Earlton audience that the impact of the
plant's emissions on his farm produce is difficult to assess without
expensive testing.
.
In the early days of the plant's operation, he said
customers did question him about the safety of his produce. Concern
has since declined.
But he said he has lost local sales to customers who
support the Récoupère Sol plant, and take issue with
his opposition to it.
He added he has no way to measure the business he has
lost because prospective customers fear his produce may be tainted.
Ms. Gauthier said the plant has failed to live up to
economic expectations.
She told the Earlton audience that only 17 to 20 of 35
promised jobs had materialized. Labourers working inside the plant
earn an hourly wage of only $10 to $12, she said.
But Mr. Ponn offered different figures. He said its
work force was not at capacity during the plant's first year, when it
actually operated only about 75 days.
But he said employment now stands at 32 or 33. He said
the lowest paid employees - about five to eight - earn $12.75 per
hour. Wages for the remainder range up to $18 per hour.
The group also noted that BEI has been charged with
environmental infractions even before it started operations.
Mr. Ponn said the company faces three charges relating
to the import of contaminated concrete for use at a test burn at the plant.
He said the plant had permission to import the
concrete, but was charged over regulations defining size
restrictions. Final arguments in the case are expected to be heard
later this spring, he said.
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4) Temiskaming Speaker - 1/30/02 - Editorial Page
Letters to the Editor
Building an Incinerator
Dear Editor:
The Honourable Elizabeth Witmer has banned the burning
of medical waste, why not hazardous wastes?
The risks related to incineration are not well known
to the residents of Temiskaming.
The push by the Mayor and Council of Kirkland Lake for
the building of an incinerator is a significant media story for
Temiskaming. The region of Temiskarning is not having a say, yet the
region will be markedly impacted by this incinerator.
M. McSherry
Kirkland Lake
Not a Safe way to go
Dear Editor:
It was near freezing on January 5 2002 in Kirkland Lake.
Fortunately it was overcast or the sun would have
melted the ice along the boards. The hockey game between Bennett and
those who are opposing the incineration of PCB's was well played. I
did not see any high sticks or elbows in the corners. There was ample
amount of respect shown by all who were present. I would estimate
that there were 200 people in attendance, with at least 90 per cent
of those opposed to the Bennett proposal. I am disappointed that more
people who are in favour of this old technology of incineration did
not come to this community gathering.
What I heard was that the PCB's in our environment
need to be cleaned up, but I think this old outdated technology of
incineration is not a safe way to go about it.
Bob Wolfe
Hudson Twp.
5) Northern Daily News - 1/30/02 - Editorial Page
Letter to the Editor
Will current legislation protect residents?
To the editor:
Quite some time ago, I made a decision not to involve
myself in any type of politics in this Riding. The Adams Mine
proposal and now the Bennett proposal has caused me to want to voice
my opinion.
I have avoided attending meetings which I should have
attended. I know very little about Bennett's proposed plant. I would
like to have an open mind to this proposal until I understand the
facts but that is impossible. I am not a chemist, scientist, etc.
thus the terminology is beyond me.
For this reason I have a tendency to oppose Bennett's
proposal because I have such great fear of the unknown. I am sure
that if this same plant was to be placed in any other area of the
province there would be opposition.
I would like to comment on MPP David Ramsay's stand or
"non stand" on this issue. Mr. Ramsay has been in politics
since 1985 and at one time was the Minister of Agriculture. He also
came from a farming community. He should know the repercussions or
the positives of such a plant as Bennett Environmental. He stated
that "Bennett could be shut down if something went wrong".
He further stated, "You can shut off the process at any time if
it appears to be dangerous."
I then turned the page and read Mr. Ramsay's article
from Queen's Park. He criticizes the government with the following
statement "...people died because the Tories turned their backs
on public safety."
Tell me Mr. Ramsay, do you trust the Tory government
to shut down the Bennett plant in time to save the people subjected
to the dangerous chemicals?
Let's face it - you are playing politics again. As a
representative of this Riding, you have a responsibility to the
people to know the pros and cons of such a plant.
You should have had the facts by now so you could take
a stand!
What the people really need to know immediately is if
the present legislation addresses the potential damages that could
come from the process being proposed. We know the government let the
people of Walkerton down. Why should we trust them now?
Has Mr. Ramsay even investigated the legislation in
this particular situation and if so, why can't he take a stand based
on the legislation? Further, Mr. Ramsay should feel obligated to
advise his constituents whether or not the legislation meets a high
enough standard to protect the people of this Riding. We must bear in
mind that once something is contaminated, the process needs to be
reversed and that is where the regulations /legislation comes in.
What man puts together, man should be able to take apart.
Jean Rivard
Kirkland Lake
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6) Northern Daily News - 1/31/02 - Page 3
Ramsay looks into Bennett
JIM PATRICK
Northern Daily News
Kirkland Lake:
Following a meeting with Bennett Environmental Inc.,
Timiskaming Cochrane MPP David Ramsay said he is asking the company
to do a base line study to determine the current level of toxicity in
area air, water, soil, agricultural products and human tissue.
In an interview, Ramsay said his meeting Wednesday
with Bennett "was excellent".
"I got assurances about continuous monitoring to
be done by the company," the MPP said.
Bennett Chief Operating Officer Danny Ponn could not
be reached before press time today.
"It is important we consider the potential impact
of the Bennett proposal, so we have complete knowledge of the present
health of our environment," the MPP said.
Ramsay noted the importance of the company
communicating about its operations.
"We discussed the three things of interest to me
continuous monitoring, the base-line study and standards. The
standards have yet to be imposed and this will be done by the
Ministry of the Environment," he said.
"That's why it is too early for me to say I'm for
or against" this project, he said.
Ramsay added that he wanted to see the outcome of the
studies and enforcement levels imposed by the MOE.
"I did learn if the company exceeds limits
imposed by the MOE, then the environment ministry treats it like a
liquid spill, except in this case, it is an air spill.
"The MOE is supposed to react to that and it's
those safeguards I want there."
Remarking on the standards the company must adhere to,
Ramsay said these are changing this year across the country.
Concerning the base-line study; the MPP commented this
is a concern of New Liskeard and Haileybury municipal councils and
the company is being called upon to expedite this process.
"They're going to have to do it anyway for the
certificate of approval application, so why not do it concurrently?"
Ramsay said Bennett hasn't agreed to do this yet.
"They didn't know I was going to ask for this at Wednesday's
meeting. But why not do it now? They're going to have to take samples
in all four seasons."
Just where that sampling would be done would be left
to the ministry.
"The study would only go as far as the scientists
believe the plume would have any effect on the environment and that's
why the MOE would have to approve the methodology. But I've also
asked for public input on this."
The base-line study would record what impurities may
already be in the environment and whether or not Bennett was adding
more to it.
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