message from Dr. Rosalie Bertell
May 4, 1999
Dear Brad,
I am shocked at the ignorance of the MLA Paul MacElwan about toxic waste
dumps! Even a beginning engineer would be able to tell him that there is a
vast difference between the hazard posed by an undisturbed dump and one
posed during the process of clean up and disturbing of the toxic waste.
The Province was remiss in the question which they posed to CANTOX, the
limited time they assigned to the study, the limited information provided
to CANTOX on which they had to base their recommendations. Now the
government is ignorant in its use of the CANTOX report to extend the
findings well beyond any reasonable reading of the document, to try to
cover radical change of the site.
When the government does not understand the human health hazard well enough
to ask for a reasonable study, or to recognize whether or not they have
received a reasonable study, and when it then tries to use the findings of
that inappropriate study in a further inappropriate way, the citizens may
well despair! Such an incompetent government should step aside and allow
trained persons to take over the decision making.
The toxic waste dump near Frederick Street needs to have a buffer zone of
approximately five kilometres around it before any shovel digs into and
releases the buried toxic debris. Even this may not be sufficient
protection of the public health. This giant toxic soup is the
responsibility of both the Federal and Provincial Governments, not the
local people. Protection of health besides being a normal governmental
responsibility, is in this case a legal responsibility of the polluter.
Failure to protect health after the means for doing this has been clearly
stated to the government, and the limitations of the CANTOX report have
been pointed out, is criminal. The Governments, both Provincial and
Federal, should be put on notice that they will be held legally
responsible for all of the consequences, including any further damage to
the health of the people living near to that site.
Dr. Rosalie Bertell
President IICPH
Rosalie Bertell, Ph. D., GNSH
710-264 Queens Quay West
Toronto ON M5J 1B5 CANADA
Tel: 1-416-260-0575
Fax: 1-416-260-3404
Email: Dr. Rosalie Bertell, Ph.D., GNSH
Frederick Street results expected next week
Cape Breton Post - Cape Breton Briefly, Tuesday, May 4, 1999
Department of Environment inspectors have taken samples from
Sydney area homes after an orange-coloured substance was found in
two Frederick Street basements.
Environment Minister Michel Samson said initial test results of
the substance will be available next week and comprehensive
results will be ready within 10 days.
Once we have the test results in hand we will notify the
residents and take action accordingly,'' said Samson.
Samson said the Environment Department will work with the
Department of Transportation and Public Works, the lead agency, on
this issue.
Letter from Bradford Duplisea
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