Sludge Watch ==> Pelham Ont - Berm Owner Must Clean Up - Province

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Sludgewatch Admin:

This is interesting.... the Brenzil brothers, Empire Agri- Services, are 
under court order to tell the Ministry of the Environment every time they 
bring paper sludge to a site in Ontario.  So the Ministry was supposed to 
have been informed of this berm.  So why did the Ministry sit idly by and 
watch them contaminate the environment?

again and again and again

.........................................................
July 15, 2006


Berm owner must clean up: province

MATTHEW VAN DONGEN, Osprey News Network


The province has ordered the owner of a paper sludge berm in Pelham to clean 
up contamination that has leaked from the property.

Neighbours complained to the Ministry of the Environment that runoff from 
the massive pile of paper fibre biosol-ids escaped into nearby ditches and 
wetlands.

After investigating, the ministry issued a provincial order "requiring the 
owner to address the off-site contamina-tion," said local MOE branch manager 
Paul Nieweglowski.
The contaminated area, a ditch and wetland owned by CP Railway, borders 325 
Church St. and is only a few metres away from the berm.

Nieweglowski said the order requires the berm owner to consult with CP on 
how to fix the contamination.

Osprey News Network couldn't reach CP Friday.
The order also requires the owner:
n to hire an engineer to examine the integrity of a clay barrier around the 
berm meant to stop runoff water;

n to inspect the barrier weekly and every time it rains;
n to keep a record of all activities on-site;
n to report to the ministry on a regular basis.
All of the order requirements must be fulfilled by the end of this month, 
Nieweglowski said.
He noted the owner has always been co-operative. "Every time we've asked for 
something, they've tried to comply," Nieweglowski said.

Owner Jim Grove has seven days to appeal the order.
Osprey News Network couldn't reach Grove Friday evening, but in a past 
interview he said the clay barrier, built last Saturday, would "definitely" 
stop any further runoff from escaping.
The ditch contamination, he said, occurred before the clay berm was built.
Grove also reiterated his belief the berm is no danger to the environment or 
the health of residents, noting the min-istry has repeatedly said the 
biosolids are safe.
Neighbours of the pile disagree and have complained loudly.
Protester Randy Desnoyers said several people called the ministry about 
potential contamination during the last hard rain.

He said he's glad the ministry responded with an order, but "it's still too 
little, too late."
Desnoyers said neighbours fear the growing pile will permanently contaminate 
nearby wetland areas if it's not re-moved.

He said a group of protesters has contacted an environmental lawyer to 
discuss their options.
The sludge is the byproduct of paper recycling at Abitibi Consolidated in 
Thorold.