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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 25, 2007 - 3 Green light for Halton EFW not automatic By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Halton Region doesn't have the ironclad approval it thought it did from the Province for an energyfrom-waste (EFW) facility. Director of Legal Services Mark Meneray delivered the news to councillors at the Region's planning and public works committee meeting Wednesday afternoon. He explained that Ontario's Minister of the Environment Laurel Broten's position has changed when it comes to the EFW facility the Region wants to build at its landfill on Regional Road 25 in Milton. While all along it has been thought that the joint board's decision in 1989 to approve the establishment of the Halton landfill site, also gave the go-ahead for an EFW facility, a letter from Broten said the verdict simply "anticipates" the implementation of EFW. "I need to clarify, based on further analysis of the joint board's decision, that implementation was not contemplated with respect to a particular energy-from-waste proposal at the landfill site," Broten's letter reads. "The Region can move forward with a specific proposal to establish an energy-from-waste facility through the new Waste Management Projects Regulation," states the letter. Meneray told committee that Region staff hasn't felt comfortable using studies that are almost 25 years old (from the original landfill process) for the EFW. "Staff are supportive of this (new) approach," he told councillors on Wednesday. He also reported to the committee that legal services staff feels the new process provides Halton Region with an opportunity to secure an approval for an EFW that will meet the most current environmental safeguards and requires studies that would've been undertaken anyway. "As such, the change in the minister's position does not create undue barriers or any unforeseen requirements in the development of an EFW alternative for Halton's waste management system," he said. No committee members commented on the information presented by Meneray. After the meeting, Regional Chair Gary Carr said he's glad that the matter has been clarified. "I think a lot of council would've wanted this (process) anyway," said the regional chair. Carr went on to reiterate his campaign position that it's far too early to be looking at the EFW facility option, noting that enhanced recycling will take the Region's landfill life out to 2031. A point closer to that date would be more appropriate for considering EFW, Carr said. "The technology gets better every year that you wait," he said. Committee chair and Burlington Councillor John Taylor informed those in attendance that a report on the EFW facility will go before the planning and public works committee at its June 13 meeting. He also explained that the report will deal with whether the Region should move forward with a public consultation process on the EFW, not if the actual facility should be approved. -- Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com.