INDEX PCB Digest - 6/2/02
______________________________________________
1) The Temiskaming Speaker's Weekend Publication
- Weekender - 5/31/02 - Front Page
Bennett incinerator proposal in Kirkland Lake loses
Haileybury's support
2) North Bay Nugget - 5/30/02 - Editorial
Ontario needs to clean up
______________________________________________
1) The Temiskaming Speaker's Weekend Publication -
Weekender - 5/31/02 - Front Page
Bennett incinerator proposal in Kirkland Lake loses
Haileybury's support
HAILEYBURY - Haileybury council has unanimously
rescinded its support for the Bennett Environmental Inc. proposed
thermal oxidizing facility in Kirkland Lake.
Haileybury council has expressed its viewpoint that
the proposal is not undergoing a full environmental assessment.
Councillor Chris Oslund noted that Haileybury council
had stated in its previous motion of qualified support for Bennett
Environmental Inc.'s proposal, that it would wait until a full
environmental assessment was held before making a decision on the
project. At that time Haileybury council did not clarify its
interpretation of a full environmental assessment, he pointed out.
While he said he supports rescinding the town’s support for the
project, based on its failure to meet a full environmental assessment
as the town council sees it, he expressed regret that Haileybury
council's decision, is "somewhat in bad faith."
He went on to say the problem is, actually with the
Ontario Ministry of Environment and its handling of such projects.
"I think we still have, a battle there," he said. He stated
Haileybury council should be it demanding that the legislation
regarding environmental assessments should be enforced by the
ministry. Until that is done, "we are going to just be going
through a succession of (controversial proposals such as) Adams Mines
and Bennetts and similar types of industries," he said.
Mayor Wells noted the town has addressed its concerns
to the ministry "and has gotten no response."
Councillor Jeff Laferriere "expressed his
agreement that the matter "is a ministry issue."
"IF MUNICIPALITIES CAN'T WORK TOGETHER"
He expressed concern about the impact on the region
"If Northern municipalities can't work together" because
environmental assessments fail to satisfy the concerns of the
surrounding region. "Within the last two years we have had to
pull our support away from a close northern municipality, for the
right reasons,” he stated. But the ministry is "really
where we should be fighting."
Councillor George Culhane expressed his determination
that his legacy will not be to leave "Temiskaming to become a
dump site."
He called into question Bennett's emissions testing at
its facility in Quebec. He suggested the testing should be based on
continuous monitoring, rather than controlled burns. Whether Bennett
is taking advantage, or the ministry is soft-pedalling, I'm totally opposed."
Councillor Tom Cambridge stated that he does not feel
comfortable supporting "something as controversial as this issue
without being given (detailed information through a full
environmental assessment) that it's going to work."
Councillor Brian Hughes stated he is worried about the
transportation of the materials, and the destructive implications if
a load of waste were to be spilled. He also expressed concern about
the impact on the environment that might occur if the plant were to
experience a power failure. Mayor Wells noted that while the company
will state that it has plans for back up power "other people say
you can't guarantee you have all these things covered."
Haileybury council specifically noted that the process
has not included a review of alternative methods of handling and
disposing of contaminated materials - a process which should be
included in a full environmental assessment. For this reason "the
environmental assessment is not being executed in its entirety,"
said Mayor Wells. He also stated that Bennett has not demonstrated
that there will not be contamination impacts at Gull Lake in Kirkland
Lake, which eventually flows into Blanche River, and finally to Lake
Temiskaming. Haileybury draws its water from Lake Temiskaming. It was
also noted that after Bennett Environmental Inc. receives approval to
build the incinerator, the company plans to conduct its baseline
studies to determine what contaminants already exist or do not exist
in the environment in the vicinity of the plant. Interested parties
want to know that information now. It could be determined that some
contaminants in the environment already exceed provincial guidelines,
and the addition of the facility to the region would further raise
the levels of these contaminants. The company has stated the studies
are expensive, and it is not willing to invest in this process until
it has approval for the facility. The process of interpreting the
results of the study was also a topic of discussion between the
company and the ministry.
MEETING WITH KIRKLAND LAKE REPS
Mayor Wells noted that Kirkland Lake Mayor Bill Enouy
and Kirkland Lake Councillor Linda Cunningham did meet with him early
in the process and asked that the town "please not come out
against this proposal before you get all the facts."
Haileybury council responded by passing a motion that
they were in support of the Bennett proposal for the Kirkland Lake
incinerator "if and only if it achieved a full environmental
assessment," Mayor Wells continued.
In December, 2001, Haileybury council received a copy
of the draft environmental assessment. Responses were due before
January 15. Haileybury resident Stan Gorzalcznski volunteered to
review the document on behalf of the town. After discussions to
assure themselves of Mr. Gorzalcznski's objectivity on the matter,
the town accepted his offer.
Mr. Gorzalcznski identified four areas of concern, and
on January 9 town noted those areas of concern in its letters to
Mayor Enouy, the ministry and Bennett Environmental Inc.
Mayor Wells says the response was received April 23
from Bennett Environmental Inc.
After review of the letter, it was concluded the
town's concerns have not been answered.
______________________________________________
2) North Bay Nugget - 5/30/02 - Editorial
Ontario needs to clean up
North Bay Nugget
Thursday, May 30, 2002 - 10:00:00 AM
EDITORIAL - Ontario gets a major failing grade when it
comes to protecting the environment and the rest of the country
isn’t far behind.
The overall release of toxic pollution is declining in
the United States and rising in Canada, a new NAFTA Commission for
Environmental Co-operation report found.
Toxic pollution from both countries remained large at
roughly 3.4 million tonnes in 1999, but the U.S. toughened
legislation and is now reporting a decline, especially in
high-polluting states such as Texas and Alabama.
Ontario, with its motto Yours to Discover, is the
fourth worst jurisdiction in North America for polluting.
Toxic releases dropped by six per cent in the U.S.
from 1995 to 1999 and Canada’s emissions rose by the same
amount, not a pleasant statistic for a country that supposedly prides
itself on pristine lakes and wilderness areas.
The Americans, under the presidency of Bill Clinton,
brought in tougher legislation, particularly amendments to the Clean
Air Act, which forced industry to reduce pollution.
While the U.S. made progress, the report found Canada
either was “standing still” or actually weakening existing regulations.
It also found Ontario increased its output of
pollution more than that of any other province or state. The province
reported a 19 per cent rise in the release and transfer of chemicals.
There’s no relief when the numbers are merged and
the overall release of toxic pollutants declined three per cent,
especially when Canada lags behind the U.S.
The report’s release, along with the pollutants,
is a major embarrassment for our country, and for Ontario, in particular.
It serves as a wake-up call for the apparent revamped
Tories under new Premier Ernie Eves.
Ontario needs to take concrete action to cut its
emissions of pollutants, mostly from the industrial rich southern
part of the province.
Environmental responsibility doesn’t need to cost
jobs. Companies do business in Canada because it makes economic
sense. With the United States strengthening its regulations,
companies which willingly flout environmental regulations won’t
be packing up and moving south.
These companies are running out of places to hide.
One key problem in Ontario is in many cases it’s
cheaper to pay the fine than fix the problem. Companies know this and
deliberately take a chance on getting caught.
It doesn’t help that the Ministry of the
Environment was cut in an effort to balance the budget.
Ontario must clean up its act.
New, tougher legislation is needed and it would
demonstrate the government’s commitment to the environment, not
just for clean water, but for clean air and soil as well.
The government must move now, ironically just before
it starts to release the summer air quality index that typically
tells us during hot weather the air is bad.
______________________________________________
PCB Digest
http://members.fortunecity.com/toxic/
PCB Information
http://www21.brinkster.com/nopcb/