Residents prepared to fight against burning of sludge
By Julie Collins
Cape Breton Post
Friday, July 18, 2003
North Sydney resident Bill
MacDonald is prepared to do
whatever it takes to prevent the
burning of toxic sludge from
Canada's worst toxic site at the
Point Aconi power plant.
"If it means lying on the
road and preventing trucks
hauling sludge from entering
our watershed area, that is
what I will do," said MacDon
ald. "I know I won't be
alone. There are a lot of other
people prepared to do the
same."
The possibility that the toxic
sludge will be burnt at the
power plant was realized when
the Joint Action Group (JAG)
made a recommendation to
governments in May. Shortly
after, JAG and government
officials met with representatives
from Point Aconi in a bid to
provide information addressing
issues raised by residents.
If it is deemed that the power
plant isn't an option, JAG
officials expect government
will look around to see if there
is a cement kiln available or
some other fluidized bed incinerator
with a co-burning unit.
There is a petition presently
being circulated on the Northside
by a local group opposed to
the burning of sludge at Point
Aconi.
"We have to protect the
water supply at Pottle Lake,"
MacDonald said. "It was bad
enough when the trucks were
hauling coal and we had to contend
with the dust. Even if they
move the toxic waste by rail it
is still travelling through our
North side communities."
During a community meeting
held in June, residents living
near the Point Aconi power
plant strongly stated they are
unwilling to have the waste
incinerated in their community.
"I believe the incinerator in
Sydney can burn the contamnation.
An access road could be
built in to the site wouldn't
affect any homeowners and
wouldn't bother anyone. Governments
have to realize that
our most precious resource is
our water supply and we have
to do what we can to protect
the watershed area."
MacDonald said he plans
to monitor the situation.
"It isn't fair that they are
going to take a problem from
one community and take it to
another, knowing the fear and
concern this will bring," he
said
|