Guest Speakers: Steve Ogden & Doug Leonard - Site 41 - One Perspective
Posted by Markus Baumann
Steve Ogden and Doug Leonard presented their perspective on Site 41, and provided the Club with much of the history and events of the past fifteen years. Steve and Doug displayed photos and presented information that showed how Site 41 is a poor choice for a landfill site.
Much of their concern is focused on the placement of the landfill site atop an aquifer, leading to worries of possible water contamination. Plans call for leachate from the dump to be contained through the use of a large protective cover over the ground, and the siphoning away of runoff to prevent spillage.
The County's Site 41 Landfill site received EA and EPA approvals from the Ministry of Environment (MOE) in 1996, with an operating Certificate of Approval for the site being issued in 1998. However, we are now in a post-Walkerton Ontario and concerns of possible ground-water contamination have increased and testing and criteria regarding suitability have been tightened. What passed in 1996 may not pass under the new requirements.
Concerned residents can call the MoE Approval Branch at (800)461-6290.