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Region says emissions from plant would be within provincial guidelines Continued from pg. 1 She explained the business case being prepared, which will be presented to regional council next spring, will include preliminary environmental, health, air quality, transportation and financial assessments necessary for a public consultation process and council's ultimate decision. The EFW facility will help lengthen the life of Halton's landfill-- which is expected to reach capacity by 2030-- by up to two decades and could cost anywhere from $300 to $800 million, depending on the size. It could be up and running by 2010. The plant is described by the Region as an electrical power generation plant that converts the heat energy in solid waste material into renewable energy using advanced thermal technologies. The thermal methods could range from high-tech incineration to gasification, plasma arc or thermal cracking technologies, which are nonburn methods. It's not known at this point which technology the Region would adopt. And while there would be emissions from the plant, Halton staff has said they'd be well within the Province's guidelines and that the most modern pollution control equipment would be used. The Region recently received confirmation from Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten that it has been approved under the Environmental Assessment Act to create such a facility whenever the municipality determines one is needed to manage Halton's waste. Savoline emphasized this approval sets the Region apart from other municipalities that would also like to build EFW facilities, but haven't received LESLIE the go-ahead. ADAMS Halton Hills resident Leslie Adams, president of Protect Our Water and Environmental Reources (POWER), said the group has not yet taken a position on EFW facilities. But as an environmentalist, she does have some personal views on the issue. "It is something for me that would probably be okay in the mix," said Adams. "It's the whole idea if it becomes a revenue generating stream for the region. Are they going to still address ratcheting down waste (increasing) recycling and reuse-- making sure things aren't going into the landfill or going into incineration," said Adams. She stressed we should be "looking at reduction (of waste) as opposed to burning it." Consultation with the public on the EFW initiative is already getting underway. Residents can send their comments or information requests to efw@halton.ca or phone 905-8256000, ext. 7920. For more information visit www.halton.ca. --With files from Lisa Tallyn, staff writer Driver charged after citizen complains A Halton Hills man was charged with impaired driving and having over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood after police received a complaint about a driver from a citizen last Monday evening. Halton Police responded to the Guelph St. and Mountainview Rd. area and found a man sitting in a vehicle in a driveway. Charged is Derek Ellard, 31, of Winston Churchill Blvd. ··· A Georgetown man was charged after a 1993 Saturn parked on King St. was struck last Sunday evening. Police say the owner of the vehicle looked outside and saw another vehicle driving away. The Saturn's front left bumper was damaged. Police responded and investigated the incident. Charged with fail to remain is Albert Dick, 31, of Albert St.