HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-68-89DN: 9.
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TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT File #., "-
Res. # d� ��-
By-Law #
MEETING: General Purpose and Administration Committee
DATE: Monday, March 6, 1989
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SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE FROM BRIAN WARD, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT BRANCH PERTAINING TO ONTARIO WASTE MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION - WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
OUR FILE: PLN 17.4
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration
Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PD -68 -89 be received; and
2. THAT Mr. Brian Ward, Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Ministry of
the Environment, be advised that the Town of Newcastle objects to the
Ontario Waste Management Corporation's request for approval of a planning
program for siting, constructing and operating waste collection and transfer
services and facilities across the province at some future date without
further approvals under the Environmental Assessment Act; and
3. THAT the Ministry of the Environment, the Region of Durham and Association
of Municipalities of Ontario be advised of Council's decision and a copy of
this Report be forwarded to same.
1. BACKGROUND
On January 9, 1989, Council considered a correspondence from Mr. Brian Ward,
Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Ministry of the Environment with
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respect to two proposals made by the Ontario Waste Management
Corporation, and referred the correspondence to Staff for review and a
subsequent report back to the General Purpose and Administration
Committee.
2. PROPOSALS MADE BY ONTARIO WASTE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (O.W.M.C.)
The Ontario Waste Management Corporation proposal consists of two
parts. The first part involves an application to the Ministry of
Environment for an environmental assessment for its hazardous waste
treatment system to be located on a 124 hectare site at Highway No. 20
and Schram Road in the Township of West Lincoln, Region of Niagara.
The second proposal involves a request for approval from the Ministry
of Environment, for siting, construction, and operating waste
collection and transfer services and facilities across the province at
some future date.
3. COMMENTS
3.1 With respect to the proposed waste treatment facilities in Township of
Lincoln, it does not appear to affect the Town of Newcastle and
therefore, we have no comment.
3.2 However, the O.W.M.C. request for approval of a planning program for
siting, construction, and operating waste collection and transfer
services and facilities across the province should be a concern to
all municipalities in this Province. If this request is approved,
further approvals under the Environmental Assessment Act may not be
required. Take this scenario one step further; it could mean that the
O.W.M.C. can select a site in this Town for the aforementioned
activities without further site specific approval from the Ministry of
Environment.
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REPORT NO.: PD -68 -89 PAGE 3
3.3 Staff is not suggesting O.W.M.C. will pick Newcastle for its future
activities, but if such planning program were approved by the Ministry
of Environment, this Town, as well as all other municipalities in
Ontario will be placed in a very vulnerable position.
3.4 The siting, construction and operation of waste collection and
transfer services and facilities cannot be compared to Municipal Class
Environmental Assessment process for sewer, water and road
construction. Waste collection and transfer facilities are not
dissimilar to sanitary landfill facilities and it is our opinion that
every individual case must be subject to full environmental assessment
process to ensure all environmental issues and related impacts are
addressed. In particular, such collection and transfer facilities may
include toxic waste.
3.5 Based on the above comments, we feel that it is prudent to advise the
Ministry of Environment that the Town of Newcastle cannot support the
Ontario Waste Management Corporation's request for a planning program
for siting, construction, and operating waste collection and transfer
services and facilities across the province unless the Ministry of
Environment can guarantee full approval process under the
Environmental Assessment Act.
Respectfully submitted,
Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.
Director of Planning & Development
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*Attach.
February 17, 1989
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Recommended for presentation
to the Committee
tseff
rative Officer