Sludge Watch ==> Ontario - Paper Sludge Update....Minister still fails to implement controls

[Maureen Reilly]

Protect the Ridges would like to thank our Durham MPP, Mr. John R. O’Toole 
for his perseverance on this issue.  Here’s the latest reply from the 
Minister of the Environment regarding the Sound-Sorb and Nitro-Sorb /paper 
sludge issue.

From:

Deb Vice

Protect the Ridges Co-Chair

905-655-5045

Copies available on request

………………………………….







ENV1283MC-2007-1017

Ministry of the Environment

Office of the Minister

135 St. Clair Ave. West,12th Floor

Toronto ON M4V 1P5

Tel  (416)314-6790 Fax  (416-314-6748



April 16, 2007



Mr. John R. O’Toole, MPP

Durham

75 King Street East

Bowmanville ON L1C 1N4



Dear Mr. O’Toole:



Thank you for your letter of March 1, 2007 concerning an update on the 
ministry’s response to the Experts Panel report on the use of Sound-Sorb.



As you noted, the Experts Panel which our government established, provided 
its report in January 2005.  The report provided recommendations for the 
management of Sound-Sorb used in the construction of berms.



In response to the Expert Panel’s recommendations, the ministry is currently 
considering regulatory amendments to manage the use of this material when it 
is applied to land, including the need for an approval from my ministry.  
Any proposed regulatory amendments will take into account the Expert Panel’s 
recommendations, the protection of the environment, the needs of the 
stakeholders, and will seek to manage contaminants of concern in pulp and 
paper biosolids.



The agreement with Atlantic Packaging Inc. includes monitoring in the 
vicinity of six berms, including the berm at the Oshawa Skeet and Gun Club 
(OSGC).  The initial sampling was recently completed at five of the six 
berms identified in the agreement.  The ministry has not, as yet, received 
the results of the sampling.  The sampling in the vicinity of the remaining 
berm at the Huntsville Gun Club will be scheduled as soon as possible.



The ministry has recently received the final report for the Site-Specific 
Risk Assessment of the Sound-Sorb berm at the OSGC.  The report is being 
reviewed by the ministry, and once the review is complete the report will be 
made available to the public.



Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention.



Sincerely,

Signed

Laurel C. Broten

Minister of the Environment