It's back to
the negotiating table next week for members of the Joint Action Group (JAG)
and its government partners to hammer out a memorandum of understanding
(MOU).
All sides
met Wednesday in Sydney in the latest round of talks which have been ongoing
since JAG was first formed in 1996 to develop a community-based remediation
plan for the tar ponds.
Carl (Bucky)
Buchanan, JAG chairperson and head of the MOU committee, said the talks
this week went well and he's optimistic an aggreement is close at hand.
He said the
JAG committee will meet Tuesday and all sides will convene another meeting
Wednesday.
The 50-page
agreement outlines the responsibility of each of the three funding partners
-- municipal, provincial and federal governments -- in addition to the
expected process of JAG towards its final recommendation of a remediation
option for the .
The watershed
is considered North America's worst toxic waste dump containing, among
other things, 700,000 tonnes of highly toxic sludge left behind after nearly
a century of steel making.
Outstanding
issues that need to be resolved, said Buchanan, include the boundaries
for the proposed remediation.
The current
plan is only for JAG to concern itself with the cleanup of the tar ponds,
Muggah Creek estuary and the coke ovens site.
this is causing
some JAG members concern because the municipal landfill is also leaching
into the watershed area.
But talks
among all the partners have indicated the landfill will be stabilized to
ensure any pollutants are diverted away from the watershed.
Indemnity
and liability are two other concerns, notes Buchanan.
He said the
JAG committee has received considerable information on the outstanding
issues and will now develop a response, as will the other partners.
Sydney-Victoria
MP Peter Mancini wants the deal signed before Sept.1 as a sign of true
commitment by the government.
Buchanan is
hoping for an agreement in August, in time for JAG's second anniversary.
JAG has asked the deal be signed by the prime minister, premier and mayor.
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