Program Sought To Protect Tar Ponds Property Owners From Financial LossPage A4 |
A program aimed at protecting property owners from financial loss due to planned cleanup efforts at Canada's worst toxic waste site is being sought by members of the Joint Action Group. During a steering committee meeting Wednesday, a motion initiated by the Remedial Options Working Group addressing the need for property value protection was passed. It will be discussed again at a May 28 roundtable session where final approval is needed before being forwarded to government partners. Dan Fraser, JAG chair person,
read the motion's preamble at
Wednesdays meeting.
Properties to be considered are those generally within 350 metres of the tar ponds and coke ovens sites. A more detailed zone definition is outlined in the proposed program. It was noted that the request is not a relocation effort and is based on the - Port Hope Area Initiative - Property Value Protection Program - now under way between the federal government and residents from that Ontario municipality. It has been reported that the Property Value Protection Program for Port Hope was officially launched on Oct. 1, 2001, to compensate property owners who realize financial loss on the sale of their property and loss of rental income or mortgage renewal difficulties as a result of the Port Hope Area Initiative. That initiative involves the proposed clean up and long term management of low-level radioactive waste materials in in that area. During Wednesday night's
JAG session, Mike MacKeigan
public utilities manager for
the Cape Breton Regional
Municipality, cautioned the
group.
Neila Mac Queen, a Dorchester
Street resident who has several
properties surrounding the
toxic site, said she was pleased
to see a program could
be presented to government soon.
tc.macdonald@cbpost.com |