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Volume 73, Number 45 GST Included $1.25 Wednesday November 24, 2010 Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 Agreement No. 40012366 Orono Town Hall Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 It was a story full of tongue-twisting humour, action and adventure as children's author Richard Thake of Newcastle read from his new book Sir Seth Thistlethwaite and the Soothsayer's Shoes on Saturday at A Gift of Art. From left, Dustin Arlein, Hannah Arlein, Thake, Corsan Kaynko, and Nigel Baril. Ministry approves incinerator The Minister of the Environment announced on Friday afternoon that he had approved the York/Durham energy from waste (EFW) environmental assessment (EA), "subject to a number of stringent conditions." A press release issued by the provincial government Friday, entitled McGuinty Government Protecting Local Air Quality, states the Minister's decision and conditions are based on an extensive review by Ministry of the Environment experts and other government agencies. Among the province's conditions, according to the press release, is the stipulation that waste must only be accepted at the EFW if it cannot be recycled, so that diversion remains the first choice. The last line of the release notes that while the Minister approves the incinerator, "It is up to Durham and York Regions to decide whether to go ahead with the project." In his letter to the Chairs of both Regions, Minister John Wilkinson states he is satisfied that the potential environmental effects of the EFW can be managed. "I have placed stringent conditions on the undertaking that will ensure protection of the environment and the health of the local community," Wilkinson states. The Minister is requiring daily inspections and record keeping by the Regions and a third party, and independent audits of the facility if it goes ahead. To protect human health, Wilkinson says he has imposed stringent operating requirements for air emission and the development of monitoring and reporting plans for air, water and groundwater. According to Louis Bertrand, an anti-incineration activist, these stringent terms Wilkinson has placed on the Regions are all very vague. It is not clear who will be enforcing the Minister's conditions, Bertrand told the Orono Times on Monday night. "What if there is an exceedance of limits?" Bertrand asked. "Who does the reporting and how often are they testing?" In a press release issued by the Region of Durham Friday afternoon, Cliff Curtis, Durham Region Commissioner of Works states, "The MOE has imposed extremely strict limits on our air emission, but we can achieve them." The EFW will release less greenhouse gas over its lifetime than the Region's cur- "Clarington Council is delighted," says Abernethy, urging Anderson to sign the incinerator contract and bring the long process to completion. rent long-haul disposal practice, where the garbage is trucked to Michigan, according to Curtis. According to the Region's press release, it is anticipated the construction of the EFW will begin in 2011 with a target operation date of 2014. Approval was given to burn up to 140,000 tonnes per year of Durham and York Regions waste. The site selected for the facility is in Courtice. Outgoing Clarington Mayor Jim Abernethy issued a press release of his own on Friday afternoon, in which he states, "The Minister has confirmed the results of the sixyear EA process which concludes that an EFW facility could be built and operated safely within our community." In the final paragraph of his one-page press release, Abernethy states, "Clarington Council is delighted that Minister Wilkinson has been able to separate the science from the politics on this issue." He calls on Chair Anderson to bring this long process to completion by signing the contract to construct the facility. Anderson, who is seeking re-election in his position as Regional Chair, is being lobbied heavily not to sign the contract with the EFW vendor, a U.S.-based firm called Covanta, until the newly elected Regional Council has had the opportunity to debate the issue. According to Durham CLEAR, an environmental action group, half of the newly elected Regional Councillors are opposed to the incinerator proposal. The only other can- didate thus far who is publicly seeking the Regional Chair position, former Clarington Mayor John Mutton, said at the Durham CLEAR meeting Monday night, that if elected Chair he will re-open the EFW debate. He also said Monday night he believes that even if Anderson signs the Covanta contract, there is the ability to enter into the process again. He believes it is possible because the Regional councillors did not see the parameters of the agreement. The past Regional Council gave Anderson the authority to EFW see page 3 What's inside... see page 5