Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Link To Herald The Halifax Herald Limited

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TAR PONDS COMMITTEE


Fifteen groups were invited to be part of a community liaison committee that will oversee the tar ponds cleanup:

Canadian Cancer Society

Cape Breton Black Employment Partnership

Local 1064 of the United Steelworkers union

ACAP Cape Breton

Northend and Area Community Association

Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry

University College of Cape Breton

Nova Scotia Community College

Joint Action Group

Cape Breton District Health Authority

Metro Cape Breton Junior Chamber of Commerce

Cape Breton Construction and Building Trades Council

Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Cape Breton Partnership

St. Andrew's Church

Source: Sydney Tar Ponds Agency

Groups invited to help oversee toxic cleanup

By JENNIFER STEWART / Staff Reporter

The Cape Breton community is being asked to play an active role in the cleanup of the Sydney tar ponds and coke ovens.

The Sydney Tar Ponds Agency announced Tuesday that it will invite 15 well-known community groups to each choose a representative to sit on a community liaison committee that will oversee the cleanup.

Cape Breton regional council and the Membertou band council have also been asked to provide representatives.

Sydney dentist and community activist Alastair MacLeod will chair the committee, which will act as a sounding board for project managers.

"I'm delighted to be working with such a strong and forward-looking group of Cape Breton organizations toward our shared goal of getting the tar ponds cleaned up," Mr. MacLeod, president of the Nova Scotia Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release.

The local chamber is one of the groups that will take part in the liaison committee.

Other groups invited to participate include the Canadian Cancer Society, University College of Cape Breton and Local 1064 of the United Steelworkers union.

"The selected groups have all made distinguished contributions to community life in such fields as public health, environmental protection, education, community development, business, labour and spiritual affairs," Frank Potter, the tar ponds agency's director of operations, said in a news release.

"Like everyone in Sydney, they share a stake in getting this problem solved."

The agency will provide the committee with up-to-date information about the project's plans. In turn, the committee will provide a representative cross-section of the community's views and concerns.

Mr. MacLeod said this is an opportunity few cities ever get.

"We are going to turn the ugliest parts of Sydney into useful, attractive spaces."