‘Alarm’ raised over waste site approval
Residents of Ottawa and outlying communities on Thursday called on city councillors to demand stronger health protection measures from the company establishing a dump and recycling facility near Carlsbad Springs.
Ottawa’s agriculture and rural affairs committee was responsible for reviewing the proposed official plan and zoning amendments to allow the Capital Region Resource and Recovery Centre between Boundary and Frontier roads, just south of Highway 417. The province has already approved the project’s environmental assessment, so the city’s hands are tied.
The waste site is a partnership of Taggart Investments and Miller Waste Systems. The operations would take garbage from the industrial, commercial and institutional sector.
The committee approved the land-use changes with a vote of 5-0, but not before hearing from people worried about the longterm impacts of the landfill.
Harry Baker, an engineer who lives in Russell, urged the city to require Taggart Miller to commission a human health risk assessment. Ottawa Public Health hasn’t flagged any problems in the project proposal, but Baker disputes those findings.
Baker also criticized the city for allowing development to creep closer to waste facilities.
“We’re raising the alarm. We believe people’s health is at risk,” Baker said.
Other residents who made presentations to the committee also called for a human health risk assessment. Charles Armstrong wants Taggart Miller to have a risk-based monitoring program to protect communities against potential negative health impacts.
However, a city lawyer told councillors that the city has virtually no jurisdiction under provincial planning law to require health assessments. Even denying Taggart Miller the land-use amendments is risky since the case would likely be challenged at a provincial appeals body, costing the city money to hire lawyers and experts.
Gerry Heymans, a doctor in Russell, warned councillors about the traffic impacts to Boundary Road when trucks rumble to and from the waste site.
“Citizens using Boundary Road are absolutely fearful (about) what’s going to happen to safety,” he said.
Michelle Taggart of Taggart Investments told councillors the studies done by Taggart Miller would essentially duplicate a human health risk assessment, which is not required by the province. The company is also planning to monitor traffic levels related to the site.
Taggart Miller has set up a six-member community liaison committee, chaired by former councillor Rainer Bloess, to review environmental monitoring reports and communicate with residents.
West Carleton-March Coun. Eli El-Chantiry, whose ward is home to a similar operation, the West Carleton Environmental Centre, lamented the provincial approval process that puts the land-use decision on the municipality’s shoulders.
“I feel for you because obviously we have been through it in Carp and we still go through it,” ElChantiry said.
CumberlandCoun.StephenBlais, a member of the rural affairs committee whose ward will be home to the Taggart Miller waste site, said the city can only try to mitigate the impacts of the operations.
“We have been trying to make the best out of what is a bad situation,” Blais said.
Council will consider official plan and zoning changes Wednesday.