Today, at the Durham/York Joint Waste Management Group (JWMG) meeting at Durham Regional Headquarters at 1 pm, there will be a "Presentation of the Consultant's Recommendation Regarding Whether to Switch from the Full Environmental Assessment to the Environmental Screening Process".
Under the new rules, if a project was previously subject to an individual environmental assessment, and the proponent had submitted its EA or a terms of reference (the work plan for the EA), the proponent can switch to the environmental screening process instead of completing the review as an individual EA, but only within 60 days of the regulation coming into force. (The new regulation came into force on March 23, 2007).
So, what will be the recommendation of the consultants? To save time and money by switching to the ES instead of a full EA, despite assurances that this was not the case and would not happen? Will they choose the correct route and go with a full EA?
What on earth is this Provincial government thinking, especially in an election year? Do they really believe that loosening EA requirements actually is "Improving the Environmental Process"? Thermal facilities with 'energy from waste' component will now be exempted from the full EA and allowed to choose the 'screening' process instead. This type of facility is considered by the Province to "have predictable environmental effects that can be readily mitigated". Oh, really? All the while the consultants are telling us that they have not yet done the health studies, and medical journals tell us that there are no safe levels of dioxins or furans, which are
both by-products of the combustion process of garbage and end up as part of the emissions from those lovely smoke stacks which rise up from the EFW (Energy From Waste) incinerators. Sorry, but those white puffs of smoke are not "just water vapour" as we have been told. We are assured that this incinerator, if built in Clarington, will emit only 'safe levels' of these chemicals (according to Provincial standards). Do you have confidence in Provincial Standards when the experts tell us there are no safe levels of certain toxins?We will find out later today what the consultants recommendation will be, and what course our Regional representatives on the JWMG will decide to take. This JWMG meeting is open to the public so we hope some residents will attend. We will follow up on this for our readers.
JWMG Group meeting - Tuesday, April 24 - Regional Headquarters in Whitby, 1 pm - 3 pm. 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Meeting Room: LL-C
See today's JWMG meeting agenda.
UPDATE (April 24/07):
According to sources, a full Environmental Assessment will be done rather than an Environmental Screening. Kudos to the York/Durham Joint Committee and to the Consultants.
(more to come...)
Just build it. If you really want to cut Co2 gases then we need to look at the root cause behind all this. We can put garbage in the ground and contaminate the ground water, or we can burn it and produce energy. Seems like a no bariner to me. And for all of you who talk about health effects then you must realize your going to get it one way or another. Let's make something like energy and at least get something back. Number two if people want to cut Co2 and reduce global warming and all that then they only have to look at themselves and the nations around the world. This earth isn't made to support the billions of the poeple that are here. The more people the more they will consume. The more they consume the more that needs to be produces creating Co2 gases and waste. If people want to lower co2 then we need to reduce the amount of humans on the planet in the next 100 years. China with there one child per couple started in the right direction, now we need other overpopulated countries to follow. Therefore we can reduce are impact on earth. Afterall we create waste, and co2 a the same time.
ReplyDeleteSo build the incinerator and lets as a people look at the big picture not the small one. Look at ourselves first.
Just build it? Without knowing the effects on residents nearby? Where do you live, Paul? Anywhere near south Courtice?
ReplyDeleteIf lowering population is so desirable, why does the Canadian government try to encourage higher birth rates in Canada?
Yes lets look at ourselves first. Lets look at what else we can do to increase diversion, reduce CO2 and stay healthy. Should we not even bother to investigate the safety of this technology? Just build it?