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2-10e Canadtan Champion. Tuesday. October 26, 2004 ~Jacceptable, say environmental groups at hearing By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Champion There are no condttions that would make the proposed Duffern Aggregates Milton quarry expansion "approveable," according to a lawyer representîng twu local envtronmental groups. Toronto solicitor Joseph Castrilli came hefore a joint huard of the Ontario Municipal Board and Enviroomental Review tribunal Fniday lu prescrnt his final arguments agaînst the potential expan- ston on hehaîf of the Coalition on the Niagara Escaepmenî (CONE) and Protect our Water and Enviroument Resources extension proposai, wbich straddte', the MiltunIHslton Huils bor- der. The hearing, which hegan tn Januacy and bas stnce heard 65 days of evidence, is expected to wrap up îoday. If approved, Dufferin will be granîrd a licence fromt the Ministry of Natural Resources to extract minerals. This is what Mr. Castilli ts uiying to stop, presenling lengthy arguments and bis interpretations un water-relaîed evidence. "When you dîstîll the water evidence down lu ils basic compo- nient pants, there are significant pruhlems with the application." hie (POWER). satd. The joint board wîll decide the fate of the 85-hectare quaery He said that water discharge from the existing main Milton qany bas sbown evidence of E. cuti. "WVhat you'll fid is that 26 of the 47 months for which Dufferin did (water) sampling -from January 2(X) t0 November. 2003 -there were positive readings for E. coi in main quaery dis- charge." While Dufferin Property and Resource Manager Sarah Lowe said this is correct, she explained that water naturaîlly containing E. coui cornes into the quarry theough a streamt and the water pumped out by Dufferin goes back into that streamn. "Any E.' cof i that's present is part of nature. If you have wildlife, you get bacteria," she said. "And where it dors show up, tt's at exteemely low levels. There's no chance of that impacting any wetls at ail. Wr have a vigorous monitoring program.- As Mr. Castritti continued speakîng about E. colt. Dufferin's lawyer Jonathan Kahn smiled and shook bis head, busily taking notes. "It is no argument or defence that the waîer coming mbt the quaery has E. cuti," Mr. Castrilti said. 'Once the applicant manip- utates that watrr, it becomes responsihîr for the quality of the sub- sequent discharge of that water." Mr. Castrilli continually told the board that it dorsu't have enough data on certain watrr aspects, tike quality and levels, to approve the application. But, Ms Lowe said shte thinks Dufferin has provided an incred- ible amount of data for tIhe hearing. "It would he uneasonable lu expert us to provide more data ait this point," shte said. At press lime yesterday, the joint board was hearing the rest of M. Casurilli's final argument. After the hearing, the hoard will make its decision, which Dufferin hopes will happen belore the end of the year. The expansion is supported by the Niagara Escarpment Commission, Halton Region, towns of Milton and Halton Hilîs and Conservation Halton. Me!anie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@milton- canadianchampion.com. Learn how to talk to others about their smoking. CALL TH-E CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY'S TOLL-FREE SMOKERS' HELPLINE 1-877-513-5333 For the workploce For college or univers iy For yourself . lndivdualized Learning witI, teocher support - Open Days un well us Tues lu Tfurs even ings - Earn your High Schoot Diploma GARY ALLAN IHIGH SCI1OOL 2 15 Ontari o Street South, Mi lton llncued un E.C. Drury HIS Campus) http://g.hdsb.ca To Register Coul 905-878-2244 * "atee itks-I 1 i[_i 'c « G" O OT EI«£M E SELLING GREAT CARSO liii) E.,n5tta < MDde J1123MAIEcn î,Sedan. BlottiS3MA iovn,,nrtý 3ýM tnt, y 1 r t(Mtttt j . ( Pt -n J,, Toi,ý - t'io of $1,46 911S10 6 t . 1- 111