THE EMERALD ASH BORER IS MAKING INROADS
Todays's K-W Record has a Notice in their Local section regarding the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This notice includes a map and a listing of affected Counties in Southern Ontario which encompasses Chatham-Kent in the extreme south-west through to Durham north-east of Toronto. This destructive insect was introduced via wooden shipping crates from China years ago and the movement of firewood/wooden pallets is still a primary method of its' spreading. I guess you could call this one more "benefit" of world wide trade. It is now illegal to move ash tree materials or firewood out of any of these Counties without written permission from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
MAC'S/ BECKER'S IS PROGRESSING, VARNICOLOR APPEARS NOT
The lines of communication appear to have hit a snag in regards to the old Varnicolor site on Union St.. As I commented last Friday I have had no written response (e-mail or letter) from the M.O.E. to my eight questions and comments concerning the excavations done in mid July. Again it appears that there is absolutely nothing happening as the excavation stays open to the wind and rain. The piles of gravel have not been backfilled into the hole and it appears that all parties are undeterred by the optics of this alleged further remediation. These optics and non communication tend to reinforce the old attitude of it's not the public's business, trust us, we know what we are doing. Unfortunately this is Elmira and that trust is long gone.
Then we have the Mac's/ Becker's site. Here as of this morning, progress is being made. Furthermore there is a wire fence up to keep folks at a safe distance while at the same time permitting visual observation of the remediation. Also I might add the workers and supervisers are confident and comfortable in answering questions from the observing public in a straight forward manner. This is to be commended. A tanker truck was pumping out the remnants in the buried fuel tanks and the odours were practically non existent. I have been advised that they are expecting significant issues beneath the tanks and may well excavate as deep as thirty feet. My only complaint is that this should have been done years ago but better late than never. My compliments to the cleanup to date.
The lines of communication appear to have hit a snag in regards to the old Varnicolor site on Union St.. As I commented last Friday I have had no written response (e-mail or letter) from the M.O.E. to my eight questions and comments concerning the excavations done in mid July. Again it appears that there is absolutely nothing happening as the excavation stays open to the wind and rain. The piles of gravel have not been backfilled into the hole and it appears that all parties are undeterred by the optics of this alleged further remediation. These optics and non communication tend to reinforce the old attitude of it's not the public's business, trust us, we know what we are doing. Unfortunately this is Elmira and that trust is long gone.
Then we have the Mac's/ Becker's site. Here as of this morning, progress is being made. Furthermore there is a wire fence up to keep folks at a safe distance while at the same time permitting visual observation of the remediation. Also I might add the workers and supervisers are confident and comfortable in answering questions from the observing public in a straight forward manner. This is to be commended. A tanker truck was pumping out the remnants in the buried fuel tanks and the odours were practically non existent. I have been advised that they are expecting significant issues beneath the tanks and may well excavate as deep as thirty feet. My only complaint is that this should have been done years ago but better late than never. My compliments to the cleanup to date.
Monday, August 29, 2011
ONTARIO OUT OF DOORS MAGAZINE UNHAPPY WITH M.O.E.
Volume 43, Issue 8 the 2011-2012 Hunting Annual edition has a bone to pick with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. This situation is bizarre. Apparently the M.O.E. has issued an Order to another Ministry (M.N.R. ie. Natural Resources). The Environment Minister's Order can be viewed at www. ofah.org . For many years the Ministry of Natural resources in response to complaints and advice has been attempting to mitigate environmental damage done by cormorants. These birds not only devour large quantities of fish but their tree nesting en masse has literally killed trees, underbrush and other vegetation. Culling of cormorants has taken place as well as removal of nests in trees. Now apparently one provincial Ministry is placing a legal Order upon another essentially ordering them to assist cormorants by providing artificial ground-nesting sites. Regardless of which Ministry is right or wrong on the cormorant issue, don't Ontario taxpayers at least have the expectation that their provincial government will get their acts together on this issue? It is our money they are spending fighting and obstructing each other. Sheesh!
Volume 43, Issue 8 the 2011-2012 Hunting Annual edition has a bone to pick with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. This situation is bizarre. Apparently the M.O.E. has issued an Order to another Ministry (M.N.R. ie. Natural Resources). The Environment Minister's Order can be viewed at www. ofah.org . For many years the Ministry of Natural resources in response to complaints and advice has been attempting to mitigate environmental damage done by cormorants. These birds not only devour large quantities of fish but their tree nesting en masse has literally killed trees, underbrush and other vegetation. Culling of cormorants has taken place as well as removal of nests in trees. Now apparently one provincial Ministry is placing a legal Order upon another essentially ordering them to assist cormorants by providing artificial ground-nesting sites. Regardless of which Ministry is right or wrong on the cormorant issue, don't Ontario taxpayers at least have the expectation that their provincial government will get their acts together on this issue? It is our money they are spending fighting and obstructing each other. Sheesh!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
MORE LOCAL BIO-ENERGY PLANS
This week's Elmira Independent carrys a "Notice Of A Proposal" in regards to an Anaerobic Digestion Facility, or in other words Bio-Fuel. This proposal is by ENS Poultry Inc. of 8th Line West Elora. This proposal has also been posted on line on the Environmental Registry (www.ebr.gov.on.ca Registry Number 011-4397). Although I really like the idea behind all these renewable energy projects something is making me uneasy and I haven't been able to put my finger on it. Time will certainly tell as to their economic viability and other considerations.
Yesterday's K-W Record also carried a Public Notice, this one being a Notice of Completion ...Biosolids Master Plan Update. Yup for those folks who don't know the terminology Biosolids are everything that isn't dissolved in the millions of gallons of wastewater (residential & industrial) which is treated and released mostly back into the Grand River here in Waterloo Region. They usually get spread on local farmers' fields as a fertilizer. This Notice however advises us that the Waterloo, Kitchener and Galt Sewage Treatment Plants (STP or WWTP-waste water treatment plant) will be upgraded and will be able to generate heat/electricity from WWTP biogas. Could it be that our local and provincial governments are actually thinking and planning ahead for the time when fossil fuels (petroleum) are no more? Again I'm hoping that this is so while looking over my shoulder for the other shoe to drop.
This week's Elmira Independent carrys a "Notice Of A Proposal" in regards to an Anaerobic Digestion Facility, or in other words Bio-Fuel. This proposal is by ENS Poultry Inc. of 8th Line West Elora. This proposal has also been posted on line on the Environmental Registry (www.ebr.gov.on.ca Registry Number 011-4397). Although I really like the idea behind all these renewable energy projects something is making me uneasy and I haven't been able to put my finger on it. Time will certainly tell as to their economic viability and other considerations.
Yesterday's K-W Record also carried a Public Notice, this one being a Notice of Completion ...Biosolids Master Plan Update. Yup for those folks who don't know the terminology Biosolids are everything that isn't dissolved in the millions of gallons of wastewater (residential & industrial) which is treated and released mostly back into the Grand River here in Waterloo Region. They usually get spread on local farmers' fields as a fertilizer. This Notice however advises us that the Waterloo, Kitchener and Galt Sewage Treatment Plants (STP or WWTP-waste water treatment plant) will be upgraded and will be able to generate heat/electricity from WWTP biogas. Could it be that our local and provincial governments are actually thinking and planning ahead for the time when fossil fuels (petroleum) are no more? Again I'm hoping that this is so while looking over my shoulder for the other shoe to drop.
Friday, August 26, 2011
NO WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM ONTARIO M.O.E. YET
Nine days ago (Wed. Aug. 17/11) I e-mailed the Ministry of the Environment both in Hamilton and the Guelph District Office with eight questions/comments about the recent Varnicolor Chemical excavations. While I have had no difficulty in speaking with various M.O.E. officers in Guelph, to date I have no response to my specific written questions detailing peculiarities and inconsistencies in the explanations given for the excavation. While the M.O.E. officers to whom I have spoken seem to be quite satisfied with the ongoing remediation, the fact remains that twenty years ago we were told that with the excavations at that time combined with pumping and treating of groundwater; the entire site would be satisfactorily remediated within five to ten years. Now TWENTY YEARS later somebody has discovered that the pump and treat system needs to be expanded and enhanced. Is it possible that the citizens of Elmira were sold a bill of goods twenty years ago surrounding this site on Union St.? Is it probable as I have maintained for the last couple of years that indeed this site directly contributed to the poisoning of our drinking water aquifer? The M.O.E. ignored their own hydrogeological experts and their own Control Order twenty years ago. Now we are paying the price.
Nine days ago (Wed. Aug. 17/11) I e-mailed the Ministry of the Environment both in Hamilton and the Guelph District Office with eight questions/comments about the recent Varnicolor Chemical excavations. While I have had no difficulty in speaking with various M.O.E. officers in Guelph, to date I have no response to my specific written questions detailing peculiarities and inconsistencies in the explanations given for the excavation. While the M.O.E. officers to whom I have spoken seem to be quite satisfied with the ongoing remediation, the fact remains that twenty years ago we were told that with the excavations at that time combined with pumping and treating of groundwater; the entire site would be satisfactorily remediated within five to ten years. Now TWENTY YEARS later somebody has discovered that the pump and treat system needs to be expanded and enhanced. Is it possible that the citizens of Elmira were sold a bill of goods twenty years ago surrounding this site on Union St.? Is it probable as I have maintained for the last couple of years that indeed this site directly contributed to the poisoning of our drinking water aquifer? The M.O.E. ignored their own hydrogeological experts and their own Control Order twenty years ago. Now we are paying the price.
BIO-GAS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Two separate letters with two different views are published in today's (Aug. 27/11) Woolwich Observer. Laurie Jonkman of Elmira believes that the proposed bio-gas plant will be primarily negative for residents and nearby schoolchildren whereas Douglas Draper also of Elmira believes otherwise. While fundamentally agreeing with Ms. Jonkman I must acknowlege Mr. Draper's last point namely: "So if Bio-En is out of the question, coal plant in Elmira anyone?".
Two separate letters with two different views are published in today's (Aug. 27/11) Woolwich Observer. Laurie Jonkman of Elmira believes that the proposed bio-gas plant will be primarily negative for residents and nearby schoolchildren whereas Douglas Draper also of Elmira believes otherwise. While fundamentally agreeing with Ms. Jonkman I must acknowlege Mr. Draper's last point namely: "So if Bio-En is out of the question, coal plant in Elmira anyone?".
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