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WHEREAS several independent engineering firms have publicly
stated that the Environmental Study Report (ESR), by
Totten Simms Hubicki, is seriously in error in many respects (both factually, and in
its conclusions);
AND WHEREAS several independent engineering firms
have publicly stated that the planned
expansion of the Munster sewage lagoons and the spray irrigation field is
seriously
flawed in several respects,
(being little more than a costly expansion of the existing
problem of discharging contaminated sewage effluent into the Jock
River);
AND WHEREAS and
whenever the evaluation of one or more of the options considered in an ESR is found inaccurate or
incomplete, there is provision under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) to have the ESR
amended to properly consider same …as is in the case of the subject-ESR: Volume
1, Section 4.3.12, page 54, re: "Sewage Treatment Plant";
AND WHEREAS the
Ministry of Environment (MOE), under the EPA has also stated that when
there is newer advanced technology available, that was not known at the
time the
ESR was written, there is provision under the act to amend the ESR, to
include
such technologies for consideration;
AND WHEREAS in the
best interests of the residents of Munster, Mayor Janet Stavinga of Goulbourn has requested of Regional
Chair, Bob Chiarelli, "With
this additional knowledge, I strongly encourage the Region to
seek amendments to the EA
(Environmental Assessment) process to
allow full disclosure and consideration
of these
other options";
AND WHEREAS the
quoted cost for the more advanced technologies appears to be approximately
50% of the cost of the Regional
Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton’s (R.M.O.C.’s) ESR-selected project ($3,000,000 as
opposed to $7,000,000), at a time when provincial cutbacks necessitate avoidance of
wasteful spending;
AND WHEREAS the
RMOC’s Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee, on Tuesday, February17, 1998, passed a
decision to purchase one of the smaller properties involved in the ESR-selected
project (spending more than its entire land-acquisition budget of $200,000, as
quoted in the ESR);
AND WHEREAS none of the new advanced technologies
requires any extra land purchases;
AND WHEREAS the
stated time-frame (by the Region) for
completion of the ESR-selected
project is 2 years (end of 1999),
while the advanced, less-expensive technologies can be up-and-running in 1
year or less;
AND WHEREAS the
time-frame for the various stages of application to amend the
ESR …to include these advanced systems for evaluation
would be less time than that
required for needless land acquisition;
NOW THEREFORE, it is
the solemn and urgent request of the undersigned Munster and area residents, that an amendment to the existing Totten
Simms Hubicki-ESR be proceeded with in all haste,
to include adequate
evaluation of the advanced
"treatment" technologies
now before the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton.
February 23, 1998 (Re: Munster
Wastewater Facility – L 104)
(Highlighting and emphasis
added.)
474 SIGNATURES - NAMES - ADDRESSES -
followed
Follow-up notes:
(February 23, 1998)
In a 24-hour period, a team of 6 Munster and area residents had
circulated the Petition through the area.
In that short period, 474 residents, representing almost 100% of the
residents who could be reached at the time, signed the Petition. (Only 2
residents declined.)
Aside from indicating (by signing the Petition) their strong desire for
an
evaluation of "advanced
treatment technologies"
(see last paragraph of Petition), two other opinions were strongly
voiced to the canvassers at the doors. These were:
"Get rid of the Lagoons",
and
"Get
the problem solved quickly".
Results of Petition: CLICK
HERE
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