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Wheels/Insert Cadillac spells luxury with STS News/7 Bowmanville Lions i . • aid Clarington kids Newtonville talks trash Experts gather to address concerns about Port Granby waste BY JILLIAN FOLLERT Staff writer CLARINGTON -- Environmental Environmental experts were on hand in Port Granby last week to address concerns about the management of low level radioactive waste, currently being stored at the Port Granby Waste Management Facility. The public meeting followed a three-year study examining whether the waste, left over from uranium refinement operations at the defunct Eldorado Resources, should be moved to a new storage site north of Lakeshore Road. "After years of studies, experts concluded that the best thing to do, is move it away from the shoreline," said Sue Stickley, of the Low Level Radioactive Waste Management Office. "We had several meetings with local residents who expressed concern about digging up the waste, so we are now reporting back on how different areas of the environment environment would be affected if it was moved." Presentations highlighted six key environmental areas, and identified resident concerns for each one. According to Jennifer Kirkaldy of SENES Consultants, fear of contaminated dust .travelling into residential areas, was among the most common .worries. "When you dig anything up, some dust will be released, but we are working on ways to make sure it isn't carried off the project site," she explained. "Wè predict that off-site contaminant levels will be well within air quality standards and guidelines." Melissa Mayhew of Colder Associates Ltd. also spoke about human health and safety issues, stressing that radiation exposure would fall far below risk levels levels set by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. . "There will be no significant adverse affects to the health of the public or workers," she said. "Even in a worst case scenario, risks from radiological and non- radiological doses are well below acceptable limits" Wildlife experts added that no measurable increase in radioactivity radioactivity in plants or animals is predicted, and any vegetation loss would be too small to have an adverse affect. Similarly, water and aquatic life specialists specialists said the project would have no affect on Port Granby Creek, and would improve the quality of Lake Ontario, by decreasing the amount of treated groundwater. "I was concerned about my safety at the beginning of all this, but I'm not quite as worried now,'! said Bowmanville resident Mavis Carlton, who has been following following the initiative for years. "I think they're doing a really good job of containing everything and keeping people informed." Newtonville resident Ivan Allin heard about the project for the first time on Tuesday, and said experts seem to have things under control. "There doesn't seem to be much to worry about," he com- See CONTAMINATED page 8 gas storage Bowmanville Explosion prompted bylaw's study BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer. £0 CLARINGTON -- Some companies companies that store fuel in bulk containers containers may have to get municipal approval before expanding, under a'new bylaw being considered by the Municipality Municipality of Clarington. Clarington. Clarington Clarington council council asked staff to look at the existing existing rules governing zoning of such facilities facilities in the wake of the Nov. 9 fire and series of explosions at Caledon Caledon Propane on Port Darlington Road in Bowmanville. Jhe : incident forced evacuation of homes 1.6 kilometres to the east and west of the facility, affecting . between 400 and 500 residents. The incident remains under investigation. investigation. John Mutton Council has asked staff to, look at eliminating bulk fuel storage tanks, as existed at Caledon, as a permitted Use in general industrial ■ areas in the municipality. There are currently five bulk fuel storage facilities in Clarington, Clarington, said a planning department report to the General Purpose and •Administration committee. Some would be able, under the proposed new bylaw, to expand under the zoning they already have. But others, such as Caledon and Cigas Propane in Courtice,.would be rendered legal non-conforming, meaning expansion would require Committee of Adjustment and other municipal approvals. New facilities in Clarington would be required to get site-specific permission permission from the municipality. "It will let us have greater control over the type of facilities that have storage tanks," said Clarington Mayor John Mutton. "We'll have greater control regarding setbacks near residential areas. I think it's a positive step forward.... What we found out with the Caledon incident is-that there really isn't a lot of control at the municipal level for this type of business." A public meeting on the matter was held at Monday's General Purpose and Administration session. session. The proposed bylaw change was referred back to staff for further further consideration. A report will go to council in coming weeks. A.J. Groen/The Canadian Statesman Clarinôton's crossroads BOWMANVILLE -- Peggy Taylor Reid strives through her art to juxtapose nature's, natural patterns with imagery that reflects science and technology, and most of her raw materials are recovered from her surrounding environment. The work wdl be on display in a show of her photographic installations at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, 143 Simpson Ave., Bowmanville, Bowmanville, through Feb. 26. Is Bowmanville in the dark on Veridian to investigate power outages BY JILLIAN FOLLERT Staff writer CLARINGTON --Bowmanville --Bowmanville business owners are waiting waiting to see if an investigation by their local electricity dis tributor will shed some light on frequent power outages in the downtown, core. According to Ron Hooper, a local store owner and chairman of the Bowmanville Business Centre, power in the downtown area has been interrupted five times in recent months, leaving leaving stores and restaurants in . the dark for anywhere from 30 seconds to three hours. "From what I understand, that is an unusually high number of times," he said. "We think there , might be some inadequacies in the system... it looks like the infrastructure in Clarington might not have been upgraded to keep pacé with development." development." Electricity in Clarington is supplied by Hydro One power stations in Oshawa, and distributed distributed locally by Veridian Connections. Connections. According to Axel Starck, Veridian's executive vice president, Hydro One experienced maintenance problems problems with some of its power lines a few years back, which could have contributed to the current situation. "This has been an ongoing problem in Bowmanville, since about 2002," he said. "This last See DOWNTOWN page 8 ONTARIO'S • SERVICE • PARTS MON., WED., FBI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm TUES. A THURS. 7:30 am - 8 pm SAT. , 9 am - 4 pm ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY «S -666-1772 honda. www.hon4e1.eom Newcastle may get recreation centre Municipality begins needs, analysis BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer NEWCASTLE -- A recreation recreation complex, complete with àn indoor swimming pool, could soon be coming to Newcastle. Newcastle. Municipal staff will have consultants consultants begin work immediately immediately on a needs assessment aimed at determining what components such a facility should have, though one thing is almost certain. "Two years ago, I announced the building of the centre down there. I've always said it would be an aquatic facility, but now we're looking at what other components could go in down there," said Mayor John Mutton. Mutton. The Newcastle facility, slated for Ruddell Road, is the final swell in the "recreation wave" announced by Mayor Mutton in 2002, early in his first term. So far, the "wave' has included facilities in Courtice Courtice and B o w - manville. Consultants Consultants will review, existing facilities to deter mine any Joe Caruana deficiencies deficiencies and potential impacts of a new building on those already in existence. They will also look at possible partnerships for running running components of the facility. facility. "We could maybe look at a P3 (public-private partnership) where we could build it and the private.sector could run it, for example, a fitness facility," said the mayor. A pool would be run by the Municipality, he added, noting that he wants it built as soon as possible. "I want to see the shovel in the ground for 2006," said Mayor Mutton, The project is at least two years from completion, said Community Services director Joe Caruana, who estimates, after the needs assessment is completed, that design will take approximately six months, and construction about 18 months. "We haven't estimated a timeline timeline for construction," said Mr. Caruana. "It's important to identify the first step of where we want to go, and the components, so I can look at the financing." The needs assessment study is expected to be complete by early summer. mm- i, )i i it U» tWtflL WVMU.lt" "7 ■ • *' * I* 1 i