The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

V PAGE A4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JUNE 13,2001 Citizens' group gets a boost in paper sludge fight Clarington adds its voice to those calling for answers BYJACQU1E McINNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON - A citizens' citizens' group is pleased to have another another ally in its fight to find answers answers on the safety of paper sludge, says the co-chairman of the Protect the Ridges alliance. Clarington council has added its voice to those of other municipalities municipalities and the Region calling for answers from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on the safety to land, groundwater and air from the spreading and storage storage of by-products from the paper refinement process. "Wc arc thrilled with Claring- ton's support and ongoing interest interest in our concern," says Deb Vice, co-chairman of Protect the Ridges, a citizens' group which formed last year to address the issue. "Having the support of Clarington, Scugog and Oshawa will definitely make a difference in putting pressure, on the Ministry Ministry of the Environment (to ad- JANEROWE 'Wc just have to acknowledge...we are concerned about tins.' dress it)." Clarington is sending a message message to the provincial government government and other municipalities it has serious concerns and questions questions about the spreading and storage of paper waste, says Councillor Jane Rowe, who has been attending the Protect the Ridges meetings and following the issue closely over the.past year. "Wc just have to acknowledge acknowledge to the rest of the world we arc concerned about this," she says. Paper sludge, a waste product product of paper processing, is cur- ' rcntly being spread on farmland across Durham Region as part of a pilot project, explains Coun. Rowe, who says there arc serious questions about the regulation and testing of the effects on the land. Durham Region is the only area in Ontario where the spreading spreading is permitted by the MOE, she says. Paper sludge is believed to be a soil enhancer but, says the councillor, more testing is required required to ensure trace chemicals arc not poisoning the land and area groundwater where the sludge is spread. As well, she adds, when the paper sludge is mixed with sand and formed into a product called Sound Sorb, used to create sound berms, it no longer falls under the regulations of the MOE. Berms located at an cast Oshawa gun club made from Sound Sorb could possibly be leaching into the groundwater and sending airborne contaminants contaminants through the region, she suggests. Council has asked the province to regulate Sound Sorb under the same guidelines as paper sludge. Rail line not a 'priority':GO RAIL from page I According to GO Transit's 'Road Map to the Future' report, infrastructure infrastructure requirements for peak period service service on the line are expected to cost at least $200 million. "It's not in our current plans," added Ms. Majerly. "We try to build up our existing corridors before investing in new ones. And it's much easier to link communities with bus connections." Municipalities in the GTA and Hamilton area fund GO Transit services, services, she said, noting when service extends extends outside that area, the question becomes becomes who's going to fund those services.- services.- "When services go beyond the GTA, they usually aren't at the top of our list of priorities," Ms. Majerly said. However, Mr. Anderson said, "Maybe (GO Transit's) priorities should be looked at again." The Region's Official Plan indicates Regional council "supports thè investigation investigation of further extensions of rail passenger passenger service along existing rail corridors, corridors, including the CPR Havelock line and the CNR Uxbridge line." And, Pickering Councillor David Pickles said offering commuter service on the line, which passes through north Pickering, could alleviate congestion on area highways. "I think it may be useful to consider at a time when we are experiencing gridlock on the highways and the smog season is approaching," he said. "It may provide a cleaner, safer commute for our residents." He added the benefits of reopening the line "would also have to be weighted weighted against possible disruption to residents residents and costs." Equipment would cost Province $275,000 annually EQUIPMENT from page I in Ontario that does not have a CAT scan." Although the operation of a CAT scan at the hospital will cost the Province $275,000 a year to operate, Ms. Kooy says there are cost savings to be found by having the equipment on site. Currently Lakeridge Health Bow- manville must transfer patients to other hospitals in order for the diagnostic diagnostic work to be completed, says Ms. Kooy, who notes it is a waste of money and staff time as well as a great inconvenience to patients, some of whom are critically ill. "We don't consider that appropriate appropriate or good for patients," she says. "Patients arc waiting in hospital for a longer time. (A CAT scan) would reduce reduce the length of stay. When there's a transfer we have to send a nurse to accompany the patient and they can be gone from the hospital for 18 to 20 hours because they can't get an ambulance ambulance to return. It's a huge inefficiency inefficiency and waste of nursing time and you have a patient lying on a stretcher stretcher in a hall somewhere when they could have been treated closer to home." Ms. Kooy says the fact the municipality municipality has heard the hospitals concerns concerns "and responded in this way will show the ministry it is supportive." Lakeridge Health Bowmanville has met the Province's criteria for a CAT scan and the ministry is aware of the request, she says. Kingchurch Nissan 1-800-565-6365 Ajax, Ontario 905-686-0555 1995 Chevrolet Blazer LS • 2 Door, 2 WD, 4.3L Vortec, Windows, Locks, Cruise, Alloys Just 76,000kms 1995 Chevrolet Beauville Eight Passenger, Loaded, Windows, Locks, Cruise, Tilt, Air, 5.7L V8, Extended 134,000kms 1998 Chevrolet Blazer LS Two Tone Green, Gold Power Windows, Locks, Cruise, Tilt, Alloys 107,000kms 1998 GMC Envoy GMC's Cruise ship Sport Utility Leather, Sunroof, Heated Power Seats, Fog Lamps 92,000kms After Hours Please Call Tom Carette at 905-706-2720 SALE PRICES END SUN., JUNE 17, OR WHERE SEARS IS CLOSED, SAT., JUNE 16, 2001, WHILE QUANTITIES LAST price KENMORE 12-AMP i?> UPRIGHT VACUUM BE! Stretch hose. Foam chamber filter. #31200. Sears reg. 299.99. 149.99 save $ 300 KENMORE® 12-AMP POWER-MATE® CANISTER VACUUM New HEPA* exhaust filter and ergonomic easy-grip handle. #20600. Sears reg. 699.99.399.99 *High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter * «a Sale ends this weekend! Canada cleans up at Sears vacuum cleaners from Sears are Canada's Best Sellers Based on independent national surveys current at time of advertising preparation now 19 Ira rV if■ 'd-. 1 now 59" EUREKA® BAGLESS STICK/HAND VAC Motor-driven brush roll. #30808. Soars reg. 69.99. now 399" HOOVER®UPRIGHT DEEP CLEANER EXTRACTOR Switches automatically to 'above floor'cleaning. #78892. Soars reg. 429.99. save *200 KENMORE 12-AMP CYCLONIC BAGLESS P0WERTEAM Easy-rclcasc powerhead. #20299. Soars reg. 799.99. 599.99 SEARS. SELECTION. SERVICES. REWARDS. NP0630501 save s 250 KENMORE DELUXE CENTRAL VACUUM PACKAGE All-steel construction. #34881. Scars reg. 999.99.749.99 For homes that aro not rouched In, vinyl tubing is required al an extra cliarco. Installation extra. Details In store Copyright 2001. Sears Canada InoJ