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ORR RET CONN EY by Carol Dimock None of the four sites proposed by the North Simcoe Sanitary Landfill Committee can be considered suitable for landfill without extensive engineering, ratepayers in Tiny were told last Thursday. All four were described as having 'permeable to highly permeable' soils, conditions which could allow off-site migration of con- taminants. At open houses held in Tay and Tiny townships last week, the NSSLC outlined their findings to date in their search for a landfill site to replace the Perkinsfield site, scheduled to-close in 1984. From 40 sites initially examined, the committee narrowed the choices down to four, three in Tiny - and One 'in Tay; but, as Doug Jagger consultant hydrologist for the committee, observed, "It is possible that none of these four sites will be ac- ceptable." "Tf we can't prove to everybody's satisfaction that we are not going to create a problem, then we will not get a licence to build a landfill. We have to consider many factors: groundwater, surface water, animal habitat, vegetation and trees, ar- chaeology, social and economic factors, and the environment in general. We have to prove that the landfill will not produce any adverse offsite ef- fects,' Jagger said. The Committee based its short list of possible sites On an aerial survey of the land, combined with a study of water well records. They were searching for a continuous clay layer at least 40 or 50 feet deep, beginning at the surface, which would have made an ideal site. "There is no such ideal site in Tiny or Tay,"' Jagger admitted. "We'll have to work with what we've got." That means engineering the site to make it suitable, building drains, building a basin of imported clay. But, as Don Barker, consultant to the NSSLC said, 'Engineered sites present serious problems too, The clay can crack, and leak material off-site." NSSLC has said that each of the four proposed sites could be expected to result in some off-site migration of leachate, that is, contaminated water from the dump. The committee may make its choice bet- ween the four recommended sites within a few weeks, Jagger said. Then between six and 12 bore holes will be drilled at various locations on site to investigate water-bearing zones in the soil. The test holes will be monitored to determine rate and quantity of flow of water under the site. The hydrologist's investigation should take several months. If the site checks out as reasonably suitable, then the NSSLC will apply for a licence to operate a landfill there. Next the site must pass through a public hearing, under the Environmental Assessment Act, in which the public will have an opportunity to present a case against the proposal. All aspects of the landfill's impact on the environment will be considered at the hearing. If the site fails to pass the Environmental Hearing, what happens next? "Then it's back to the drawing board," said John Lackie, NSSLC chairman. "People have suggested we're just going to take the Pauze (Perkinsfield) problem and move it to another place. We can't do that. We can't pollute the en- vironment; if we can't find a safe site among the ones we've looked at, we'll have to try again."' What if no site turns up that will pass the Environmental Hearing? "We'll have to look at other options for garbage disposal," said Lackie. NSSLC has looked at several alternatives to landfill. One is an incinerator, which would leave 20-25 per cent of the original volume of garbage, in the form of ashes, to be dumped in a landfill. Incinerating North Simcoe's garbage would cost $51 per tonne, the NSSLC estimates. Less expensive, at $40 per tonne, would be a system of resource recovery, with "refuse-derived fuels'"' and steam produced for sale. Landfill costs $14 per tonne, they estimated. "Alternatives to landfill are going to be more costly," said Lackie, "but we may end up finding that's our best option."' ' "One point I would like to stress,'"' said Lackie. This open house is just one more step in the selection process. There will be numerous future ~ opportunities for public input." No ideal site in Tiny or Tay "NSSLC will examine other options -: ce Not in my backyard Anxiety is plain on the faces of these residents of Tiny Township as they listen to NSSLC members explain their choices of landfill sites in the Township. Council chambers were crammed with ratepayers last Thursday who came to voice their objections to the plan before the cominittee. Residents are calling for an alternative method of garbage disposal, since no suitable sites can be found for landfill in Tiny or Tay. S slitgg: A reflective moment Here's a jazzy way tobea! summer's heat. Our photographer Ron Johnson caught this miss on film while she was sailboarding on Midland's Little Lake. Back to normal water demand now lessening Things are getting back to normal at Midland PUC where this summer, the public ulilities commission set a one-day record for pumping water. During one 24-hour period, a record-setting 2.3 million gallons of waler was pumped through the PUC's system {to water con- sumers in the town. Yesterday PUG General Manger Art Evans confirmed, "The demand for water has eased somewhat to > where about 1.6 million gallons" is the daily eh Vie Cots Te ieee You can count on one hand the number of ' times it has rained this iad summer. A year ago the story was quite the reverse Tay Township No. 1 Volunteer Hal tae Department (Wauba- ushene) firefighters quelled a blaze, Wed- nesday afternoon, at the Narrow's Marina Road garbage dump, reports says the PUC with this part of the province getting more than its share of showers. and_ thun- derstorms. Meanwhile this year's hot spell isn't over yet with the weatherman calling for warmer temperatures for the weekend. In other PUC news, Evans revealed, "just under $300 was spent covering over graffiti that was painted on our stand-pipe (southeast corner of Midland). "The person who put the graffiti up there in the first place was ordered by the courts to pay to have it removed." Evans added, "'It was a silly thing for someone to do in the first place," adding, "It was also very dangerous to say the least." Se A pair of alarms Fire Chief Tom O'Hara. Meanwhile, Midland firefighters responded to a call yesterday morning after learning of a garage fire on Fourth Street, between Easy and Yonge streets. unit to be unveiled at HDH, Mon. Midland Mayor Al Roach is to make a special presentation to Huronia District Hospital on behalf of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Monday at 5 p.m. During a reception in Toronto last month officially announcing Mitsubishi's takeover of the RCA plant in Midland, it was noted to celebrate the occasion two Mitsubishi VTR-rear screen television units would be presented to each of the hospitals in North Simcoe: HDH and Penetanguishene General. Following next week's presentation, the board of HDH will hold its monthly meeting, " reports Hospital Administrator Gord Key. As for the new Mitsubishi television unit, Key says it will be set up in the lounge on the first floor in the hospital's long-care unit. In praising the company for its generosity, Key said he felt the new unit would be used to its fullest by long- care patients at the hospital. Friday, August 26, 1983, Page 3