MP wants public involved in cleanup
Cape Breton Post (B4) |
The plug may have been pulled on the Joint Action Group, but the MP for Sydney Victoria says it shouldn't spell the end of the public's involvement in the cleanup of one of Canada's worst toxic sites. Mark Eyking said he accepts the decision last week by the provincial and federal governments to not renew their commitment to JAG. But with the process now
entering the clean-up phase,
he said the public deserves to
still have some sort of input
into the process.
The clean-up process certainly hits home for Eyking. Co-burning toxic waste from the sites has been deemed the remediation of choice of residents who participated in a JAG workbook process. That means incinerating contaminated waste at a capable power plant or cement kiln. The closest power plant is the Point Aconi power plant owned by Nova Scotia Power. The closest cement kiln is on the mainland. Eyking Farms the local
MP's family-owned business
in Millville is located near
the power plant.
"We're looking at different
models on the new way public
is going to be involved," said
Eyking, who along with Bras d'Or MP
Rodger Cuzner, met
last week in Ottawa with
Environment Minister David
Anderson and Minister of
Public Works and Government
Services Ralph Goodale
regarding the tar ponds issue.
In a letter signed Friday by both the CEO of the provincial Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, David Darrow, and the Atlantic regional director general of Environment Canada, Garth Bangay, it was confirmed funding will no longer be made to the group for operations past September. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the three levels of government and JAG members in 1997. That five-year agreement was up for renewal in September unless one of the parties sent notice of termination by June 19. In the letter it was
expressed that since a recommendation
on clean-up
options has been forwarded to
government to turn into a
project, JAG's main reason for
existing has been met.
"I just think we have to
have the public involved and
we have to take
out the good
stuff out of the
JAG process
and have a new
forum," Eyking
said.
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