Sierra Club delivers petition to Ottawa against incineration
By Tanya Collier Macdonald
Cape Breton Post
Wed. Mar. 9, 2005
The Sierra Club of Canada is
hoping that more than 4,000
signatures opposing incineration
will be seriously considered
when government decides how
to assess cleanup plans for the
tar ponds and coke ovens sites.
The national environmental
advocacy group delivered a
petition in Ottawa, Tuesday to
Public Works Minister Scott
Brison with help from Charles
Caccia, an environment minister
during former prime minister
Pierre Trudeau's reign.
The document listed those
expressing their "grave concerns"
and opposition to the
current government plan to
burn PCB contaminated sludge
from the sites.
"I urge Minister Brison and
Environment Minister
Stephane Dion to ensure there
is a full panel review," Caccia
said in a press release. "It need
not take any more time than a
comprehensive study and it
could avoid another expensive
and dangerous failed cleanup."
Marlene Kane, a volunteer
who participated in 11 signing
sessions at local shopping centres
in Sydney said the majority
of the signatures were collected
from island residents.
And, about 500 names were
submitted electronically
through the group's website at
www.safecleanup.com.
"The community is sending
a clear message to the federal
and provincial governments,"
said Kane. "I hope they recognize
the public's concern."
Kane said. Those responding
to the petition seemed grateful
to have the opportunity to
express their concerns.
"The response has been
overwhelming," she said.
Elizabeth May, executive
director of the Sierra Club,
said she believes the petition
will have a significant impact
on the federal environment
minister's decision.
In the coming months, Dion
must determine if the environmental
assessment of cleanup
plans for the toxic sites will
continue as a government-led
comprehensive study or switch
to an independent full panel
review.
"In the history of environmental
assessment, I cannot
think of another project that so
clearly required a full panel,"
said May. "Much of the money
is federal. Much of the land is
federal - both the tar ponds
and the proposed site for the
incinerator."
There is a high risk of
significant environmental
impacts, both in disturbing the
material and leaving most of
the waste in an unlined creek
bed, she said. And, as seen by
the last 30 days, as well as the
last 20 years, there is a great
deal of public concern.
tcmacdonald@cbpost.com
|