Project probed
 
headline and article on the front page of the Northern Daily News, Thursday, January 4th, 2002
 
 
Bennett proposal to be discussed at information session
 
RICK OWEN
Northern Daily News
 
Kirkland Lake:
 
The Timiskaming Federation of Agriculture is sponsoring a public information seminar on Bennett Environmental's proposal to build a facility to treat contaminated soil in Kirkland Lake.
 
Currently, Bennett Environmental is going through an Environmental Assessment as part of its attempt to locate in Kirkland Lake.
 
The company has had a number of open houses releasing to the public information it has gathered during the Environmental Assessment.
 
The seminar being held Jan. 5, 10:30 to 5 p.m., at Northern College in Kirkland Lake, will feature a panel of experts, some of which are opposing the project and some that are in favour of the proposed facility.
 
According to the Timiskaming Federation of Agriculture, "The high-caliber speakers on all sides of this issue promises to provide a very interesting and informative session. All interested parties are invited to attend and join in the discussion. This is an open, public meeting." During the morning sessions, Danny Ponn, vice president and COO of Bennett Environmental, Dr. William Mills, consultant to Bennett Environmental, Dr. Neil Carman, employed by Sierra Club - Lone Star Chapter, and Dr. Paul Connet, a professor of chemistry at St. Lawrence University for the past 14 years, will make presentations. Following these presentations, there will be a break for lunch after which John Vanthof, president of the Timiskaming Federation of Agriculture, will make a presentation. The session will then be opened for questions from the public and closing comments by the presenters. During the information session and discussions, the TFA will be taking minutes which it will submit to the Ministry of Environment as part of the TFA’s report on the Bennett Environmental proposal.
 
While the event is being sponsored by the TFA. they anticipate that discussions will not be limited to agricultural issues, but will also include such topics as long-term human health impacts and biological impacts.
 
Bennett held its last information session Dec. 18 Kirkland Lake and Dec. 19 in Englehart.
 
Bennett has submitted its draft Environmental Assessment to the Ministry of Environment. It will will be another four months before the assessment will be presented to the minister for approval. During this time frame there is a seven week and five week period for the public to make submissions to the MOE.