Sludge Watch ==> Ontario - Empire Agri Services under Court Order to reveal sludge sites - did they comply?

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:



There are apparently two sites in Pelham Ontario that have papermill sludge on them.  One, folks report, has cardboard or linerboard sludge land applied and pushed up to a pond, and the other one has a mountain of sludge with leachate pooling and draining into surface waters.



So...based on the Court Order below: The Ministry had to have been told by Empire Agri-Services of their intention to bring in paper sludge and the Ministry had to make sure that they brought it in in compliance with all provincial regulations.  So was the Ministry notified about the placement of sludges in Pelham?  or was it brought to Pelham in violation of the Court order?  And if the Ministry knew... are they allowing the placement of sludge near ponds and allowing leachate to run into surface water as the locals contend? 



And how is it that the Ministry forgot to post the press release on Emprie Agri-Services on their press release web page? As of today this March 24th release isn't there. 



http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/news/2006/index.htm



Instead you can read the government's chirpy assurances about protecting Ontario's drinking water supply from industrial contamination March 22, 2006 http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/news/2006/032203.pdf



Well, the Ontario government seems to have abandonned Pelham and doesn't appear to be actively protecting their drinking water supply from groundwater and surface water contamination from these putrid berms. No groundwater testing has been undertaken.   It doesn't help that the berms are allowed to contain any quantity of hazardous waste without any prior notification of the Ministry under the regulatory exemption from Ontario's waste legislation REG 347.







..........................................................................................................................................................................................

News Release

Ontario Ministry of the Environment 

 

 

For Immediate Release 

March 24, 2006 

 

 

EMPIRE AGRI-SERVICES INC. FINED $14,000 FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES 

 

ST. CATHARINES - Empire Agri-Services Inc. has been fined $14,000, plus a victim fine surcharge, after pleading guilty to charges under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). 

 

Empire Agri-Services Inc. is located in Canfield, Ontario and is under contract with Abitibi Consolidated Inc.'s Thorold plant to transport and dispose of paper fibre biosolids generated during the recycling of newsprint at the plant.  Beginning in April 2004, Empire Agri-Services Inc. deposited paper fibre biosolids from the plant at 7627 Kalar Road in Niagara Falls.   

 

In June 2004, the Ministry of the Environment received complaints from residents near the Kalar Road site that odours were preventing them from fully using their properties.  The ministry followed up and determined that the paper fibre biosolids deposited at the site were a source of the odours.  During an inspection on June 30, 2004, ministry officers noted that paper fibre biosolids had been spread onto fields at the site within two meters of a small creek.   

 

Following an investigation by the ministry's Investigations and Enforcement Branch, Empire Agri-Services was charged with permitting the discharge of a contaminant, an odour, that caused an adverse effect contrary to Section 14(1) of the Environmental Protection Act.  The company pled guilty and was fined $11,000. The company also pled guilty to spreading paper fibre biosolids within 20 meters of surface water contrary to section 45 of Ontario Regulation 267/03 under the Nutrient Management Act (NMA), 2002 and was fined $3,000.   

 

The Court also ordered the company to notify the ministry of when and where it delivers paper fibre biosolids, to ensure that storage on any site is in accordance with the NMA, 2002, and to ensure that it strictly adheres to the method for land application of paper fibre biosolids outlined in the Court Order.  In addition, the Court ordered the company to comply with applicable environmental laws and obtain all required approvals.       

 

Justice of the Peace Thomas Froese rendered the decision in the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines, Ontario, on March 23, 2006. 

 

- 30 - 

 

Contact: 

John Steele 

Communications Branch 

(416) 314-6666 

 

Disponible en français       

  

For more information visit www.ene.gov.on.ca
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