Northern Daily News
Tuesday, January 8, 2002
Front Page
 
TFA questions study
 
RICK OWEN
Northern Daily News
 
Kirkland Lake:
 
The Timiskaming Federation of Agriculture wants to ensure that none of its members are negatively impacted by the proposed soil treatment facility in Kirkland lake.
 
The TFA sponsored an information session Saturday at Northern College that featured an expert panel representing both those in favour and those opposed to Bennett Environmental's plans.
Vanthof said his 400 member organization does $100 million worth of business annually and that the only interest they have in the Bennett proposal is that it doesn't impact any of its members in a negative way.
 
He said the TFA struck a subcommittee to study the documents and that members have attended all the Bennett Environmental open houses.
 
Vanthof said what they found was they couldn't get a second review and there was a need for a peer review. As a result of this thinking, the public information session was planned and minutes from the session will be forwarded to the Ministry of Environment.
 
The TFA president said their first impressions of the Bennett studies is they are more economic than biological in nature. As well, he said the field collection data seems to focus on economics rather than biological risks.
 
"It is our opinion the field collection document served little, if any, use," said Vanthof, continuing with, "It is unclear where, when, how or if actual site specific studies were taken. I can't find the information where they collected information for the baseline study. The baseline data must be described in more detail."
 
The TA also questions the methods used for long term predictions, without having a long term study.
 
"We feel Bennett's conclusions concerning agriculture are suspect because they are not verifiable. We will ask the MOE for a full environmental hearing," said Vanthof.