Sludge Watch ==> Ontario - Sludge Tacklers of Pelham go after paper sludge mountain

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

The Ontario Liberal gov't performance in managing waste - sewage sludge and 
paper sludge in particular - is pathetic.  Worse than pathetic.

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


STOP looking for support; Anti-berm group presents Pelham council with inch 
thick report

WAYNE CAMPBELL
Local News - Tuesday, June 05, 2007 @ 09:00

Sludge Tacklers of Pelham (STOP) came to Pelham town council Monday with a 
one-inch-thick report and a list of seven questions.

"You said you stood behind us 100 per cent," said Randy Desnoyers, 
spokesperson for STOP.

"We're not asking you to stand behind us anymore, we're looking to have you 
stand with us."

The Pelham Environment Report: A Year in Review is divided into 18 sections 
consisting of observations, work orders, reports, town council minutes, 
photos reflecting on the year since a controversy over a berm around a waste 
retaining pond at 325 Church St. began.

Desnoyers told council - on behalf of supporters who filled the council 
chamber gallery - the report clarifies what is going on at 325 Church St. 
backed up "with photos and facts.
"

"The pile is still overflowing its banks, including this weekend," he said 
listing contamination from the greenhouse and contained pond site near 
Webber Road in southern Pelham.

Contamination is flowing into the Nunn drain, he said. The watercourse 
empties into the Welland River.

STOP's questions start with: What is council going to do on this issue to 
protect its residents?

They go on to ask about road repairs, the intention on a site alteration 
bylaw, investigations about sludge burning, when does an operation go beyond 
agriculture to industrial and when will the town "become proactive rather 
than reactive."

Finally STOP asks: "Will the residents be compensated by way of taxes for 
the noise, smell, the emotional hardships they have had to endure, not to 
mention the policing of this property."

Coun. Sharon Cook urged council to refer the report and questions to town 
staff and suggested the mayor meet with Ministry of the Environment staff to 
sit down and work on a strategy.

Mayor Dave Augustyn said he has been following the issue for a long time and 
has been trying to get all parties involved - including the Niagara Region, 
the Niagara Conservation Authority and the Ministry of the Environment - to 
sit down and come up with a solution to this issue.

"I was talking to the Ministry of the Environment today and they're 
interested in seeing this report," he said.

Desnoyers said a copy of the report has been given to MPP Peter Kormos and 
he plans to pass it on to the ministry.

Coun. Peter Papp pointed to a jurisdictional challenge.

"We're not sure what we can do and what we can't do," he said.

That has to be resolved before "we can affect change."

Desnoyers said most people who should know "have no idea of what is going on 
at that site."

It was no where near under control, he said.

Council received the report and questions and turned them over to its staff 
for comment at a future meeting,

Desnoyers said in an interview after his presentation he was pleased with 
the reception he received from council and he felt it will co-operate with 
STOP to work on a solution. pelhamnews at wellandtribune.ca