Board of trade opposes Website video
on toxic waste
By Wes Stewart, Cape Breton Post, February 26, 1999A video that graphically depicts Sydney’s toxic
waste dump should not be aired on JAG’s Website
for everybody to see, said Avvie Druker.
The Industrial Cape Breton Board of Trade want the
video “The Legacy” pulled from the Website before
today’s launch because they believe it is counter-
productive to their economic development efforts.
The trade board president attended last weekend’s
premier’s economic summit on the economy and
asked chairwoman Patricia Ripley, deputy minister
of priorities and planning to intervene.
Government spokesman Jim Vibert said the
provincial representatives, who are members of
JAG, think the Website is responsible.
Priorities and planning – generally referred to as
government’s inner cabinet – has been advised by
Transportation and Public Works the video is also
a responsible representation of the Sydney tar
ponds.
“They consider it to be factual, realistic and
therefore responsible,” Vibert said.
JAG chairman Bucky Buchanan said only three
minutes of the 17-minute video is featured on the
Website.
“The Legacy talks about the history of steel making
and shows the tar ponds and the coke ovens site.”
He said he shares the board of trade’s concern for
the economy, but he is annoyed they would think the
video would paint a bad picture.
Site assessement report identifies
various problems
By Tanya Collier, Cape Breton Post, February 26, 1999
Joint Action Group (JAG) members were given a
brief outline of a Phase 1 Site Assessment report
by CBCL Ltd. and Conestoga-Rovers and
Associates.
The report, accepted by roundtable members
during Wednesday night’s session, identified
potential surface and subsurface contaminants and
environmental concerns and conditions around the
in Sydney.
Tim Murphy, manager of environmental services at
CBCL Ltd., said there are 15 sources of
contaminants at the .
They include:
• Coking distillate wastes and coal tars buried
throughout the coke oven site.
• Miscellaneous drain and pipe leaks throughout
the coke ovens process area.
• Air borne and dry and wet fallout from steel plant
and coke ovens air emissions.
• Acid generating sulphide minerals associated
with coal at Mullins coal bank.
• Benzol in the vicinity of the Benzol plant.
• Used motor oil for dust control on coke ovens site.
• Organic contamination around the most recent
coke batteries.
• Coal tar in the tar ponds sediments.
• PCBs in the tar ponds sediments.
• Coal tar in fill throughout the coke ovens site.
• Coal tar deposits on the Domtar site.
Group worries video hurts Sydney's
image
Chronicle Herald
SYDNEY (CP) - A video that graphically depicts Sydney's
pollution problems shouldn't be shown on the Internet, says a
group trying to attract business to the city.
"What is the point in telling everybody in the world that this is a
toxic waste site?" Avvie Druker of the Industrial Cape Breton
Board of Trade said Thursday.
"If people are planning a vacation it will encourage them to go
somewhere else."
The Joint Action Group, a body overseeing the cleanup of
Sydney's notorious tar ponds and former Sydney Steel coke
ovens property, plans to put three minutes of a 17-minute video
called The Legacy on its Web site today.
JAG deadline not sure thing
Residents will likely still be in homes June 1
By Tera Camus / Cape Breton Bureau, Herald, Feb.26, 1999
Sydney - The June 1 deadline to create a red zone around
Sydney's toxic-waste sites may be met, but residents won't likely
be moved.
Federal and provincial officials want to meet again with the Joint
Action Group for Environmental Clean-up to clarify its motion
approved Wednesday night by all members but one.
That motion calls on government to define and implement a
separation zone to get residents away from the cleanup sites -
the coke ovens and tar ponds.
Don Ferguson of Health Canada said the motion goes against
the working principles established by JAG, a group that includes
three levels of government and citizens.
"I'm not clear what JAG wants from us," he said. He wasn't at the
Wednesday meeting.
"We can do this. Governments can step in and say, 'This is a
definition of a separation zone.' But that is not the working
relationship we established with JAG historically.
"My instinct is to get clarification on how they want to interact with
government on this thing."
JAG chairman Carl Buchanan said the motion is a worthy
objective. "I do honestly feel if it isn't there by (June 1), we'll try to
get it there as soon there after."
He said he doesn't want to think of the deadline as a test of JAG's
power, but it does shows more assertiveness by the group.
"As an organization I think we've become more assertive but also
more understanding," he said. "Our partners in good faith said
they support the motion. ... I think they recognize the sincerity that
we want to stick with the date."
A separation zone was first suggested in a report completed in
January for the provincial government.
The report recommends defining a red zone before any cleanup
begins. Examples of streets that could be included were
Frederick Street, Curry's Lane, Tupper Street and areas of
Victoria Road.
On Wednesday, a subcommittee of JAG brought the report and a
recommendation to move residents out of areas near the cleanup
sites. Frederick Street residents have been complaining for a
year that nearby toxins are making them sick.
"We need to deal with it so we don't have to wait another year to
resume (clean-up) activities," chairman Francis Sirois said.
Government representatives tried to get the June 1 date removed
from the motion, but the group refused.
"Once it gets warm down there you can't breathe. ... I think it
should be sooner," member Fran Morrison said.
Environment Minister Michel Samson said his department is
taking the issue seriously.
"Implementing a date has caused some concern for us," he said
Thursday at Province House. "We want to make sure we are
doing it right. What we have to put in place is a definite plan."
A provincial Transportation and Public Works spokeswoman said
the department wants to at least establish a framework by June 1.
"As far as we're concerned, this is what JAG has brought forward
and we'll work together with them to meet that deadline," Janet
Bryson said. "But there's more partners than just the provincial
government."
Dr. Jeff Scott, the province's chief medical officer, supported the
recommendation on Thursday.
"As you go toward remediation, you have to consider what you
need to do to protect people," he said. "Obviously it's one of the
options."
Board of trade upset; Sierra Club upset; Residents upset ... who's next?
