HomeMy WebLinkAbout2106THE BROCK WEST
LANDFILL SIGHT:
A CHRONOLOGICAL
HISTORY OF
LANDFILL
OPERATIONS IN
PICKERING.
Donated by:
Mr. Frank Threlkeld Jr.
founding P.A.0 T. member
March 1996
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY - LANDFILL OPERATIONS IN PICKERING
Early 60's - Metro Toronto acquires abandoned gravel pita
for the purpose of long-term waste disposal until the year
2000. The 3 sites are: Brock West (formerly Liverpool).
Brock N. and Brock S. - the latter two located south of
Greenwood.
1973 - With Scarborough's Beare Rd. landfill full at approx.
10 million tonnes, Metro in set to transport roughly one-half
of its municipal waste to the Brock West site located at
valley Farm Rd. at the third concession. in the following
year, Brock W. opens, but a Pickering Township environmental
group, Group Against Garbage -GAG', adopts a
not -in -my -backyard attitude and attempts to fight Metro's operations.
The province which has already expropriated large tracts
of land for the future city of Seaton, comes under fire and
both Brock North and south are shelved temporarily. Then
provincial environment minister Bill Newnan, whose riding
contain@ the two northerly proposed sites, lives in the
hamlet of Greenwood: it would appear that Brock W. will be
the -sacrifice' location for a longer period.
1975 - Brock W. situated on the east aide of the west branch
of Buffin'u Creek was termed as a Cadillac' designer dump
(sanitary landfill project) with a tenure of no more than 5
years. With a minimum of 18 trucks per hour max. odours were
to be noticed no more than 75 metfee (yards) from its
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boundaries. Pickering councillor for Ward 3 (Greenwood)
issues stern warnings about dump matters and urges recycling
as an alternative; Norah Stoner becomes a dump foe.
1902 - Pickering's town council unanimously approves
residential developments to continue adjacent to the vicinity
of Brock W. Apparently politicians feel that Brock West's
life will soon be over, unfortunately Metro announces that
this operation will continue until a capacity of 15 million
tonnes is reached. The time frame is pushed to 1990.
1905 - Pickering's mayor Sohn E. Anderson 'prepared' to
battle
Metro over strong
odours which
are experienced several
miles
1n most directions.
Council is
divided over plane to
.�
serve injunctions - mayor Anderson distributee literature
castigating councillor Laurie Cahill for this suggestion - or
revoke Metro's licences. Infighting prompts citizens to form
OOMP METRO, Pickering's second environment organization.
Then regional councillor Norah Stoner and local councillor
Ward 3 Beverly Morgan are the founders of this group after
GAG is disbanded. Struggle is intensified by conducting
formal meetings and odour journals distributed to affected
Sept. 1987 - Two major meetings at Pickering District High
School are arranged with Metro Works officials. Dere,
hostile and indignant residents vent anger and frustration '�
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with the promulgation of Brock North and south. During the
second meeting Bill Newman former MPP and Conservative
environment minister condemn Metro's unaccountability
and irresponsible operations and conduct at the Brock West
site.. Metro Works Committee offers to buy out anyone who
fears that they may suffer because of the proposed Brock
snuth landfill operation.
Oct. 1987 - Residents from Pickering and Ajar form a third
environmental group called PACT Pickering/Ajar Citizens
Together for the environment, a far more Powerful one than
DUMP METRO - one with a well-informed committee. The group
^
is chaired by a former mayor of Ajax, William Parish. It is
formed in response to Metro's plane to defile the
enviroamentally-sensitive area of Greenwood, a locale which
is shared by both municipalities. Metro continues to cry
crisis but is still recycling at 1-2; despite the previous
agreement in the late 80's re. conditions of operations for
Brock W. Mary Wood a PACT member conducts a march on Toronto
City Hall depositing symbolic bags of garbage on its
doorstops. Works Commissioner Frank Horgan Warne Queen's
Park that unless more sites are allowed, trash will pile up
on city streets. Norah Stoner now Liberal MPP steps up the
fight.
n Jan. 1988 - Metro is generating 3.3 million tonnes/year. It
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asks
w
asks Kingston as well as some northern Ontario towns if they
will agree to accept its solid waste. The reply is an
emphatic NOI Brock West now receives more than 5,000 tonnes
per'day hauled by 600-000 vehicles in the same time period.
Feb. 1980 - Although Metro insists that its operation is run
properly, a methane gas explosion destroys a weigh station
injuring one worker. Metro is later fined $12,000. contrary
to previous agreements, a number of illegal material and
matter is allowed into the site. This list is announce In
March of 1993.
March 1988 - Environment minister Jim Bradley disallows Metro
to circumvent of fast-track the lengthy Environmental -�
Assessment Act which is designed to safe -guard the land and
human habitation from major projects deemed a potential
threat. Solid waste disposal is to be a municipal
remponsibility says the province. Metro, while seeking
additional sites, finds unwilling communities; the ubiquitous
red flag is become of major concern to Metropolitan Toronto.
The extension of Beare Rd., Metro's first major dump, 1s
abandoned (Sept. 16) - some label it as a ploy. Town of
Vaughan site —Keele valley - in Maple will be expanded; its
sister dump Brock W. will share the same fate. An interim
site in Newcastle in East Durham is proposed. An all-out war
against "cross-border" shipping by Metro is waged against
Metro.
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Sept. 28, 1980 - Durham Region bane corrugated cardboard from
all dumps. This item represents 30-15% of 280,000
tonnes/year. Metro now delivers 05% of its 3.3 million
tonne/year of solid waste to Brock W. Durham Region tells
Metro to terminate dumping 10 months prior to the 1990 agreed
date.
Feb. 1989 - PACT chairman Bill Parish, in a letter to Durham
Regional chairman Gary Barrens, states that Metro is still
dumping 100,000 tonnes/year of sewage sludge into Brock W.
one of the probable causes of offensive odours.
May 18 1990 - 1,500 angry Pickering residents assemble at the
town's recreational complex to denounce the Whitevale P1
proposed dump site. Cary Berrema and Durham Works officials
square up against a hostile situation as they attempt to
persuade everyone that Brock West's life span is coming to an
end and therefore a new site" must be found for as,
he put it, - "your garbage". What was meant in truth was a
place for Metro's garbage with Metro's money. While this
scenario was taking place during the time frame of the P1
fiasco, Metro tarsiers were sucking up leacbate matter from
the Brock North site on the 5th concession and Brock Rd. and
shipping it down to the newage treatment plant in Squires
Beach, Pickering. In 1978, approx. 170,000 tonnes of garbage
/'� was dumped at the site, an act which proved disastrous
0
because of the presence of springs in the Greenwood region.
To this day leachate is still being trucked southward - 300
hectares 1950 acres) of which 4.0 hectares or 12 acres were
used.
Sept. 18 1990 - Metro Works Commissioner Bob Ferguson states
in a report to Premier -elect Bob Rae that if no new sites are
approved by next July, the province will be asked to expand
Brock W. as well as Keele valley.
Nov. 9 1990 - Durham Region commences a ban on excavated
material, contaminated soil, recyclable wood products, and
loads with more than 504 scrap metal: a move designed to
extend Brock West's life. Tires were banned last January.
Nov. 23 1990 - The newly formed NOP government places the P1
site back on the dump list one day after promising that it
would be exempt. Durham West MPP Norah Stoner of the
defeated Liberal Party, who £ought against Metro's intrusion
for 17 years, retires from the political scene. Unfortunately
she was remembered an a member of a Political party which
endorsed P1. Ajax High School teacher Jim Wiseman, now
the new MPP for this dump troubled riding, must try to
resolve the issue.
Dec. 26 1990 - Durham's Works Commissioner states that 56,925
tonnes of waste has been diverted from landfills including
W
--
Brock W. This figure represents 18.4E of 300,445 tonnes for
1990.
Dec. 11 1991 - A consultant's report states that Brock West
appears to have a vastly greater life expectancy than
previously believed. This incredulous news predicts a new
lease on its life until March 1994 - possibly as late at Det.
19961 It is now referred to as the Dump that won't diel
Metro had calculated that Brock W. would have lasted
until 1993. Brock West receives 500,000 tonnes annually
with Metro's commercial sector and Durham's input
divided evenly. Dumping costs for Durham are $30.00 a
tonne.
San. 31 1991 - Metro bans office paper and some metals from
Brock W. and Keele Valley. The provincial government, unlike
its predecessor, assumes full responsibility for garbage
disposal.
Apr. 5 1991 - The Interim Waste Authority (1WAl, a provincial
Crown agency created by the NBP party, is granted power to
hunt down potential candidate sites and involve the general
public. Chairman Gary Herrema announcee that Durham Region
has no more control over dumping practises - -we're not in
charge." The region has now spent 3.5 million dollars in its
n search for Do tential dump sites. He also predicts that Brock
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West will have to be expanded to accommodate the Greater
Toronto Area as outlined under the IFA and its political -�
counterpart the GTA.
April 12, 1991 - in the first 3 months of this year, trash
disposed at Metro sites was down 240,000 tonnes, representing
a 31% drop over the same period last year. The recession and
reduction programa appear to have a significant effect.
Reels valley and Brock West received, in all, 525.066 tonnes
from Jan. to March. Brock West has apace, supposedly, for
another 275,391 tonnes. In March it accommodated 35,184
tonnes; at this rate � the site will last another 8
months?
Aug. 1992 - Rumors of expansion at Brock W. plague
Piekering's political climate and at least one Regional
councillor threatens a public blockade of its operations.
Speculations of material settling with time progression would
indicate that more tonnage could be added. It becomes
painfully obvious now that time has run out; public pressure
and political in -fighting have succeeded in delaying
proposed site(e) that would have replaced Brock West. The
massive .crater adjacent to the northern perimeter of Brock
West, which was one of the primary sources of soil cover for
the landfill operation, becomes of great concern to
residents. Will this huge hole in the fields north of the
CPR tracks become Durham's future garbage dump?
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August 13 1992 - The Mayor's Citizen Task Force located in
the Pickering Town Centre, officially opens. Mayor Wayne
Arthus, members of town council, Lloyd Thomas, chairman of
PACT, affiliated members, and the public utilize this store'
as a public awareness centre. Task force chairman Dave Ryan
states, "What we hope to do in raise the consciousness of
People across the town. Maps of Brock West as well as other
candidate sites are displayed in this office manned solely by
non -paid volunteers.
June -Nov. 1992 - The IWA under Bob Rae - premier of the NBP -
and his government arrive at a -short list' of potential
sites. Of five in the one thousand square miles that the
region comprises, four are located on the provincially -owned
lands around Whitevale; the crater north of Brock W. is named
EEll.
San. 24 1993 - Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs states that he
and council will sue Metro Toronto for overfilling Brock W.
Metro is accused of deliberately cramming a considerable
excess of trash (approx. 5 million tonnes) in violation of
both operating certificates and agreements it signed prior to
the site's tenure. PACT's research shows that the extra
waste gave Metro $400 million in extra revenue from dumping
fees. If Metro closes the dump and settles the financial
n problem, lawsuits will be dropped.
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Feb. 1993 - PACT demands that Brock West be closed and sealed
immediately. It also accuses the province and Metro of
hushing up an unauthorized expansion of Brock W. PACT hires
two University of Toronto geography professors who contend
that this dump has been overbuilt. Lloyd Thomas stated that.
the original blueprint drafted in 1977 accommodated 19
million cubic metres (655 million cubic feet) of solid urban
waste. The dump is 676,655 cubic metres (23,602,925 cubic
feet) from that capacity. The town of Pickering alleges they
were not consulted. Mayor Arthurs stated, "You've gone
beyond capacity in some places as high as 40 feet (12
metres). The province claimed that Brock West still had 2.4
million cubic metres of apace left. Dave strain of PACT's
technical committee said that ground water may be
contaminated and since the slopes are steeper than the
original design called for, instability of the dump could
occur. Ruth Grier, the NBC environment minister, claimed
that the Certificate of Approval issued to Metro called for
20.5 million cubic metres.
Feb. 25th - March 1993 - Metro tanker and solid waste
dumps[ers are parking illegally at the intersection of
Liverpool and Kingston ad. Drivers have been stopping for
coffee breaks at the franchises on Glendale Dr. thus creating
hazardous driving conditions for motorists leaving that
immediate subdivision. Although Metro Works officials have
reprimanded employees for driving on non -designated routes,
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this practise continues on an 'off and on' basis as it had
for about two years. In this time frame information
issued by PACT obtained from Brock Want's Landfill
Development Operational Report 1989 - page 19 states:
92 tonnes of animal carcasses
1,240 tonnes of asbestos
5,798 tonnes of incinerator ash, classified as highly toxic
11,861 tonnes of hospital waste
16,034 tonnes of contaminated waste
101,982 tonnes of sewage sludge
All of the above are in violation of the landfill
agreements and guidelines. At PACT's 7th annual meeting lin
this month of Marchi a numberof observed infractions were
discussed: Poor soil cover material, such as sand and gravel
instead of non -porous clay is still being applied - as it has
been for many years - to build the dump; on Jan. 4th 1900 for
e.g. no final sail cover was even applied and it is highly
suspected that an inadequate thickness of cover is placed
down a majority of the time; there now exists a large "head'
of water within the body of the landfill itself that
shouldn't be there; bags of garbage litter the road to the
dump; litter containment fences are inadequate to contain
debris blowing into the surrounding trees and residential
yards: gasses from the burners are escaping into the air
because of alleged low burning temperatures, and Metro works
n admits that a number of purge wells around the dump's
perimeters will have to be installed because of leachate
problems. PACT announces that about 500,000 dollars will be
needed to fight any future dumps in the town.
Oct. 23, 1993 - Town council might "demand" Queen's Park shut
down the Brock West dump. A vote by Politicians is expected
on Nov. 1 on whether to ask the Ministry of the environment
to revoke a Certificate of Approval that allows landfill
owner Metro Toronto to operate the site. Councillors Kip Van
Kempen and Rick Johnson plan to move a Notion re. revocation
of the aforementioned. PACT however suggests council seek a
court injunction to close the dump. As happened in 1985,
town council once again becomes ineffective because of in-
fighting in the council body. Councillor Johnson believes
that Brock Neat is detrimental to personal health. However.
Kip Van Kempen stated that court action which involves
taxpayer's money may not be the quickest or beat solution.
Metro's director of solid waste management, George Kelly,
Raid that Brock West is not full - capacity is based on
volume not tonnage he said - and refutes PACT's claim that
the dump is poisoning the environment.
Nov. 3. 1993 - Council votes to demand the Ontario Ministry
of the environment immediately revoke Certificate of
Approval. It also decides to have town solicitors meet with
PACT's lawyer to discuss legal action against Metro and the
Ministry of the environment{ demand immediate action from the
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provincial government to close the dump and to endorse
recommendations in a report by professor Joseph Cummins,
hired by PACT, to analyze data on the landfill; oppose
Metro's plan to transfer waste from the closed Brock N. dump
to Brock N., and to call a meeting on the proposal with works
staff from both Durham Region and Metro. Councillor Maurice
Brenner ripped the motion calling for a rescinding of Metro's
operating certificate. Although he supported the motion, he
stated that council had passed 11 similar motions previously.
He stated, "Don't you think it is time to stop the rhetoric
and get on with the action?' It should be pointed out at
this time frame that in the period of approx. 1970, Metro as
stated on page T, introduced roughly 170,000 tonnes of solid
urban waste in a 4.8 hectare (13 acres) area within a 300
hectare site; one which turned out to be a dismal failure. A
second issue now arises in which 110,000 tonnes of waste
could be destined for Brack Hest. From the late 70's to the
present, millions of litres of contaminated groundwater have
been pwoped out of Brock N. and transported by Metro's
tankers to the Highland Creek (Scarborough) sewage plant.
Nov. 14, 1993 - It is announced by the Interim Waste
Authority (IWA), a provincial government agency in waste
disposal matters, that the controversial EE11 site, one Of
four in Pickering - out of a total of five in Durham - will
sit next to the existing Brock W. operation. It is in fact
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an extension of Brock West. PACT chairman Lloyd Thomas
condemns this proposal since it lies adjacent to an already
troubled Bite as well as within the borders of the proposed
Seaton community. EE11 is intended to last 20 years and will
cover an area of 222 acres. Mayor Wayne Arthurs stated: 'The
town is not about to roll over and play dead and accept
another dump." At a press conference he promised Pickering
residents that not in three years... not in 300 years will
there be another dump here. The new dump or if you prefer
Brock West's expansion would open in 1966 and accept 6.6
million tonnes of garbage. It should be noted that despite
all the noise emanating from town council regarding the
health and safety of present residents as well an future ones
who live inclose proximity to a landfill, the town council in
1982 and 1985 unanimously approve of the major Brock Ridge
housing developments -while Brock West was growing -without any
effective challenge.
Nov. 24 1993 - Eastern Power Development Co. at Brock W.
faces a $100,000 fine for spilling 24,000 gallons of toxic
liquid into Baffin's Creek.
Nov. 19 1993 -to end - Meetings between the IWA and affected
municipalities become very stormy. In Pickering about a
thousand people deecend on the Metro Trade Centre and drown
out IWA chairman Walter Pitman in a thunderous roar of
disapproval. Politicians say a lot and do virtually nothing.
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Durham West BUT, Jim Wiseman, faces increasing
dissatisfaction from his constituents as well as some PACT
members. Jim Wiseman tries in a futile attempt to persuade
the area that the £WA's process is fair.
Dec. 15 1993 - PACT holds an information meeting for the
general public at Pine Ridge Secondary school. About 200
people show up but several concerned residents bitterly
condemn the EE11 decision. Some of the Pickering councillors
are harshly criticized for their apparent lack of will and
unwillingness to support legal action both in their decision-
making process and support of PACT recommendations. There
r1 appears to be an alarming lack of Political will to take
drastic action against Metro and the province. Former PACT
chairman Bill parish takes Jim Wiseman to task over the
difficulties of getting a meeting with then environment
Minister Bud Wildman. The mindset of "the garbage has to go
somewhere" still prevails while alternatives such as
recycling and erose border shipping of trash languish by the
roadside. The EE11 site is claimed by those in the know as
one of pragmatism or practicality and a close convenient and
inexpensive one already situated on provincially -owned lands.
Criteria supposedly used by xwA's selection methods such as
geology, proximity to habitation, roads, etc. are scoffed at
by the public.
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Feb 1994 - The issue of the leaking Brock North landfill
fiasco affects Pickering. Three levels of government agree
that 110,000 tonnes of refuse must be transported safely from
the site at Brock Rd. and the 5th concession to make room for
a possible residential neighbourhood. But Pickering and
Durham Region maintain Brack W. at 17 million tonnes is full.
Bill Pariah Bays that PACT wants a full public bearing first.
Brock N. is leaking and Metro Works is pumping 75.000 litres
(20,000 gallons) of contaminated water per day out of this
Bite. Councillor Rick Johnson stated that it has cost the
Region $146,000 since 1981 to maintain the Brock N. Site. (why'?)
David Steele, now PACT chairman, writes to the Ministry of
the environment to request a public bearing on the matter.
Councillor Johnson claims that Metro has been sending its
garbage to Keele Valley since Dec. 15th 1993 as announced by
Metro Toronto works dept. chief landfill site engineer Ken
Hogg. The lifespan of Brock West in extended to 1996. It is
then reported that if Brock West is allowed to take the
110,000 tongue from Brock North, it should be full for sure.
Feb 9 1994 - Jahn Aker, Durham's Works chairman. states
"We're not aware of any leachate problems at Brock W. and
there's no need to close it." He further tells Kip Van
Kempen, "I understand your own legal counsel will tell you
that you don't have a hope is hell': referring to flip's
remarks that the town may have to fight Metro in a court
room. sip then states that there are risks if we use
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taxpayer's money. hip blames the Region for dumping at Brock
West, yet it must be noted that Metro is still trucking
material into Brock West.
March 1 1994 - About 6D protesters organized by PACT block
haulage trucks on their way to the Brock W. site. In an
effort to bring the issue of dumping to the fore front.
Wring the half day demonstration, trucks were lined up for
over a quarter of a mile. Several Pickering Politicians
showed up including Mayor Wayne Arthurs who jumped onto a
haulage vehicle. The IWA gives PACT $160,000 and the town
$05,000 to fight the 2Ell site. The IWA has spent nearly
n $50,900,000 on the entire site selection process!
March 6, 1994 - A letter to the editor in the Ajax/Pickering
News Advertiser from David Ryan, PACT executive, and David
Steele, chairman, castigates Premier Bob Rae and the IWA as
well as aim Wiseman for this terrible and grossly unfair
process of waste site selection. Despite lOD,000 signatures
and many letters of concern, the EEll site will get a fast
track process. Threats of a 1905 provincial election no vote
for the NDP are issued.
March 23 1994 - Or. Joseph Cummins, a geneticist and
associate professor at the University of Western Ontario who
was hired by PACT, claimed that the leachate from Brock W..
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re Poisonous. Even airborne contaminants were of great
concern to him. But Regional associate medical health \
officer Dr. Linda Panaro vehemently disagreed with the
Cummins report, or. Panaro said that the liquid in a surface
pool near Brock West contained iron and manganese and was fit
to drink. Furthermore, Dr. Panaro shrugged off health
concerns and called any risks to health near Brock W. as
acute, subjective and self-limiting. Despite PACT's efforts
to secure support from town council for further studies from
professionals elsewhere, they remain unsuccessful.
Councillor Higdon derided PACT stating that two women whom
this environmental group seeks to hire have questionable
credentials and "I want to knew where my tax money goes("
March 24 1994 - It is now claimed that Brock West has been
quietly accepting garbage at an increasing rate for the plat
three years. Bath Reels Valley and Brock West had a 34%
decrease as the result of high tipping fees (since 1991).
Brock W. received 490,900 tonnes in 1991 and 507,644 tonnes
in 1992. Last year more than 525,000 tonnes entered here.
In total both sites are down to 1.4 million tonnes from the
1991 level of more than 2.1 million tonnes. At the 1993
level, Brock West is scheduled to close between Dec. 1994 and
Sept. 1996 according to a Metro report.
Apr. 10.-
Pickering announces that
it will go
to court in an
attempt
to close Brock W.
Council
votes 6-1
(Ward 2 local '
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councillor Eileen Higdon apposing, arguing that the town
should fight 6E11 and not waste money on the Brock W.
injunction) to have its lawyers commence court action to
obtain an interim injunction and a permanent injunction
against the further disposal of waste at Brock Neat and to
obtain an order requiring its closure. Action will be based
on the validity of certificates of approval since 1900 i.e.
the act of dumping without an Environmental Protection Act
hearing; overfilling of the site since 1980 per allowable
limits of capacity; question of validity of certificates of
approval issued without a hearing of the Environmental
Pro Lection Act. Mayor Arthurs states that this i 'strategic
move. 'The timing is right', he adds; 'Metro has ignored the
town's niceties, 0£ negotiations. Metro intends to keep on
dumping as the landfill keeps on shrinking. Metro faces a
$133 million lawsuit from York Region and shrinking tipping
fees. The injunction will take about 6 weeks at a cost of
$200,000; the court date will likely be in the late fall.
According to PACT's technical committee member David
Strain, the lack of proper cover material has let too much
moisture in. Sheer volume has weighted down Brock W.
causing shrinkage, causing more space, and more dumping. The
original agreement between Metro -Pickering was a figure of
8.25 million tonne 0f waste and then it was to be capped; to
date 20 million tones rots at the site. 'Previous
n postponements of injunctions by the town allowed lawyers to
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get information about Brock W. through 52 questions they
submitted to Metro," said Mayor Britain.
April 28 - The proposed transfer of 110,000 tonnes of
garbage from Brock N. won't be enough to fill Brock W.
according to Metro Works director George Kelly. Be adds:
Brock N. holds about 385.000 cubic yards of waste - only half
of Brack West's remaining legal capacity of 700,000 cubic
yards. The inflow into Brack W. won't result in a quick
closing because at this point they are offset by shrinkage
equivalent to 100,000 tonnes a year from compacting,
decomposition and leaching. Brock N. will be mined to
cepa rate recoverable metals and composted Boil from residual
garbage, he states. Brock W. operators will need some of the
soil for cover material. Councillor nick Johnson said
Pickering has no other interest in seeing 3.400 tractor -
trailer loads of residual garbage and 8,700 dump -truck loads
of cover material move over local roads.
May 4 - PACT, under the leadership of David Steele, met with
Environment minister Bud Wil dean for about one hour at this
time period. Although 5 important questions were asked. Mr.
Wildman listened intently but did not respond. PACT had
requested an independent investigation of the existing
approved capacity of Brock W. immediately and to submit
a written explanation as to why the Ministry issued a
Certificate of Approval allowing Metro t0 dump an additional
J million saunas at the site. The issue of Brock N. was
raised. PACT requests a full Environmental Assessment with
full open public hearings before any transfer of trash is to
be undertaken. PACT requests that the proposed EEll campsite
be closed immediately. Metro has excavated 2.5 million
tonnes of earth from this site in the past b years. The
excavation of this future site must be stopped immediately:
the IWA process for dump approvals must be rescinded.
May 8 - Pickering councillors called on Durham Region to
provide facilities other than Brock W. for the disposal of
waste from Pickering and asked other Durham municipalities to
n find a site other than Brock W.
May 20 - Councillor Rick Johnson stated that Metro is
throwing away the rule book and is allowing waste haulers to
dump all kinds of recyclables at the Brack W. site. Council
voted to request the province and Metro to enforce recycling
regulations at the site. He added that Metro in trying to
maximize revenue from the site before its closure. Mr.
Johnson maintains that materials such as roofing, tires,
scrap metal and wood are being allowjin. The proof: there
has been a 70-902 reduction of non-residential waste going to
Durham's two transfer stations. Metro has lowered its
tipping fees from $75 per tonne to $50 a tonne. Metrozs
chief engineer Ken Hogg denies the allegations. 9MS
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August 17 - Town of Pickering officially launches a $3
million lawsuit against Metro Toronto for damages allegedly
resulting from its failure to close its Brock W. landfill
site. Lawsuit Served with the Ontario Attorney General also
names the Province as a defendant. Mayor Wayne Arthure says
the decision to spend approx. 200,000 dollars in legal fees
seems to be the only avenue left to bring Brock W. to a
close. After a 60 day notice period, the Town plane to go to
court to seek an injunction to have the site closed
immediately pending the outcome of the lawsuit. If the court
agrees to the injunction the site could be Shut very shortly.
Mayor Arthure estimates that it could take up to 18 months
before the court process is complete and a decision is issued
on the Town's suit. Pickering alleges that leachate plumes
are moving off-site from the eastern and southern borders of
Brock W. and fouling groundwater beneath neighbouring lands
as well as Puffin's Creek. It further maintains that the
Province knew or should have known by 1991 that the
collection systems for gas and leachate were clogged or
collapsed; the dump's continued operation only exacerbated
the overflowing wound of leachate. Unless Brock W. is closed
immediately and remedial action is taken there is a
significant risk of the liner'm total failure.
August 31 - PACT endorses Pickering'e lawsuit. David Steele
who chairs the anti-durfs organization, welcomes the
decision adding 'I speak for all members when I say that this
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motion makes us all very happy, PACT in fact has been
recommending this kind of action for at least the past three
years. Now that Pickering caincil has committed itself and
has seriously taken up the fight to close the Brock W. site,
PACT will continue to prevent Bob Rae's NDP Party and the INA
from building the proposed EE11 mega dump directly adjacent
toihe problematic Brock West dump. David Steele noted that
until now both Pickering and Durham Region were ignoring the
information submitted by his environmental organization.
Sept. 21 1994 - Regional councillor for Pickering's ward 3
states that Metro is ready to back down and close its Brock
W. dump in face of a lawsuit launched by the town. Johnson
says, "we're not talking years, we're talking months now.
we've got their ears perked up. It may be closed before we go
to court." ward 2 local councillor Eileen Higdon urged
council not to approve a $70,000 expenditure on consultant's
fees related to the town's lawsuit. "It should have been
done 14 years ago."
Sept 23 1994 - Town of Pickering files notice of application
re. lawsuit to atop enviromental hearing on the EE11
proposed dumpsite adjacent to Brock W. Town claims that
there has not been a proper provincial govt. review of
environmental hearings before the EEA can begin. There was
no public comment Period hence it is invalid. Concerns and
-24 -
criticisms have been omitted without explanation.
Pickering's45 page list of criticisms and conosentu do not
appear 1n the government review. The GTA area is not being
dealt with a proper or democratic manner as the Cabinet and
the iWA have "collaborated" to curtail the necessary
regulrements re. an EAA. Mayor Arthus states the cost of
this action won't be "substantive" and will be covered by the
1.1 million dollars budgeted in 1994.
Oct. 12 1994 - Works Committee chairman for Durham, John
Aker stated that the region is not considering taking control
over Brock W. Metro has been negotiating with Durham with
respect to the perpetual care of Brock W. after its closure;
however these talks fell apart. Durham is mandated to
prepare for the "eventual" closure; Aker adds that he
receives life expectancy reports from metro every six months,
but believes Brock W. cold have a'very, very, long life."
End of Oct. approx. 20th - Angry opponents of the 2E11 repeat
opposition on Thursday 28th of this montb in and around the
central library in Pickering. PACT as well as groups from
Caledon and Vaughan join together. PACT chairman David
Steele says that all groups representing their communities
will band together disallowing the INA to divide us all.
Nov. 2 1994 Wayne Arthus claims that Durham .chairman Gary
Herrema is pitting municipalities against each "her with
-25 -
inflammatory" comments an the future of landfill in the
region. Berrema stated in the Bay News paper on Oct 19th, he
wasn't prepared to take a stand against the EE11 dump site.
Be accuses Mayor Arthus of not having a fallback if the site
selection is overturned. "What is his alternative.
Clairingtan (formerly Newcastle)?" Berrema demanded.
Herrema is drawing battle line replies Arthurs, "To pit one
municipality against another is inflammatory."
Nov. 2 1994 -.The hearings on the Bill are adjourned;
actually this event taken place on the previous Friday but is
reported in the Advertiser on the 2nd. A motion by the town
�. for a temporary inj unctionto force Brock West's closure will
be heard Nee. 19th 1994. "Pickering and the Public will
suffer irreparable harm in the form of serious environmental
pollution if the injunction is not granted," states the
formal town request. Documents filed with the court by
Bickering charge that 50 million litres of leachate leaking
from Brock W. every year are contaminating two streams and
local groundwater.
26 -
Dec. 14 1994 - PACT will seek party status so that it can
join the town in court on Monday Dec. 19. Its chairman David
Steele states that PACT has been actively involved with Brock
W. for many years, it's not fair to let the town fight alone,
affidavits have been collected by affected residents, it is
very important that they have a say in court. PACT offers to
pay iLE own court costa which is eat i.ma ted at 10.000-15,000
dollars.
Dec. 1Bth - Metro Toronto and the Province will try Monday
(19th) to have the court adjourn the town's case for an
injunction to close Brock W.
Dec. 24 - Pickering will now have to wait until May before it
has a chance to engage in court actions to close Brock W.
But it also means that town lawyers will get a shot at
permanently closing Brock W. "We would have wanted an
earlier closure but we'd rather wait until May and have a
quick trial and decision" said Mayor Arthus. "Presumably
we'd have ended up with legal delays that could have pumbed
(the hearing) to Sept. or Oct. I think that was a fair
trade-off- he adds. PACT will attempt to achieve party
statue before May, if not it will make a formal motion before
the court at that time.
End of San. 1995 - According to the Toronto Star section BJ,
Environment the projected residential, commercial and
_27 -
industrial garbage production for this year will be for
Durham region, 300,000 tonnes. The approximate percentage of
recycling of solid waste in the Greater Toronto Area is 10;
the target date of 50% of recycling is the year 2000, only
five years away.
Jan. 26 - Members of PACT believe they scored a sailor
victory as the result of a preliminary ruling by a Joint
Board of members of the Environanntal Assessment Hoard and
the Ontario Municipal Board. The size of landfills
proposed in Pickering, Vaughan and Caledon will be contingent
on the success or failure of waste diversions i.e. the
practice of the 3R's - reduce, reuse and recycle.
Pob. 28 - Approximately 75 people attended PAC'T's 9th annual
meeting at St. Wilfrid Catholic School in Pickering,only a
kilometer from Brock W. Guest speaker Mike Barrie announced
his common sense revolution platform; with respect to the
waste issue he promised to scrap the IWA, no municipality or
region will be forced to accept trash from another
municipality, Lough new envimPan, Alai standards will be
implemented, an EAA couldpossibly be fast tracked,
incineration and rail haul will be considered but not the
idea of mega-dumpa as a means of waste disposal. Queen's
Park will not intervene if a municipality within a regional
government is not a willing host. Regional works committee
-28 -
chairman John Aker stated. "I have a seven -word solution.
Aip it north or ship it mouth.- Regional chairman Gary
Herrema commented, "I don't see too many happy hosts. -
March B - Town of Pickering rejects Metro. and Province's
offer details of which cannot be made public under the NO
Disclosure agreement. Court came will commence on May 10th.
March 13-14 - PACT claims a major victory as the Joint Board
of the provincial EAB and OMB rules that the 3R'e must be
considered before a landfill can be approved. PACT chairman
states that his group will prove that the IWA grossly
miscalculated the planned size and time frame for EE11. But
IWA A spokesman John Steele said that landfill size estimates
are based on provincial criteria - dumps would last 20 years
with the Population projections and 50% waste diversion
practises.
April 5 - Pickering's mayor Wayne Arthus says, "The
rejection of a landfill proposal near Bamilton dooms the EE11
site before the main hearings even begin. These hearings
costs thousands of dollars an. hour. Why won't Mr. Rae atop
this costly farce?". The proposal in Plamborough was turned
down because the proximity to the residential communities was
incompatible and concerns from provincial agencies were
glossed over by environment ministry staff. Arthurs added
that the EEll straddles the proposed Seaton community and has
-29-
^ inadequate natural containment properties.
May 24 - Mayor Wayne Artburs says that there is no garbage
crisis and doomsayera. who predict that landfill capacity in
the GTA will run out by 1993 are obviously wrong. other
options such as rail haul, private sector sites, and (3Rs)
would delay a crisis for another ]y years. The only GTA site
near capacity is Brock W. which is scheduled to close between
Nov. of this year and Nov. 1997.
May 31 - A PACT sponsored health report claims the risk of
respiratory illness among children living near Brock W. is
more than double that of other children living in Pickering.
Titled, 'The Health Profile of Area Children' by cancer and
birth defect researcher Br. Rosalie Bartell, a report shows
study of more than 400 children randomly selected reveals a
doubling rate of asthma and eczema. Thisimmediate area
contains puffin's creek. Bertell states that there are an
incredible mixture- of toxins coming from Brock W. She
adds, "the magnitude- of the health problems can be
questioned because of the small size of the study. Bartell
states that "Governments try to bide these problems..but the
problems are real.- Wayne Arthurs said the public should be
concerned but not .alarmed it draws attention to the fact
that locating sites near residences aggravates health
problems. PACT chairman David Steele says, "The Brock W.
-30 -
dump is a major source of air, water, and land pollution and
it should be closed now, at once. This report shows there is
definitely an impact from the landfill site. We've got to
close Brock W. We've got to cap it and we've got to clean it
up. People should know now that they can't trust the ministry
of the environment. Period."
July J - Ajax Regional councillor Steve Pariah charges that
the Bartell's health report in being 'sloughed off' by Durham
regional officials. Mr. Parish said, "I'm astonished that
Or. Panora - Durham's associate medical officer of health -
says there are no records of contaminants in the air, water
or land.
July 7 - Premier Mike Barrie keeps his election promise by
disbanding the IWA (this cabinet meeting was held on Wed.
July 51 and by doing so effectively kills the proposed EEll
adjacent to Brock W. Durham's Regional works committee
chairman vows. "There will never he a new landfill site or
incinerator in Durham.' He adds that in 1977 when Brock W.
reaches its life expectancy, garbage will be shipped to the
U.S. or northern Ontario. David Steele comments that with
the dismantling of the IWA, hopefully Pickering will be a
place of people not dumps. Mayor Arthurs says, "The
champagne in on roe, all we have to do now in pop the cork."
MPP Janet Ecker for Durham W. says that Ms. Brenda Elliot,
her new government's Minister Conservative government, will
-31 -
instruct the IWA to wind down its operations immediately; the
Conservative government will allow municipalities to
investigate all peanible options to deal with waste; all
alternatives including incineration will be available for
consideration.
Aug. 16 - Approximately 9 years since its formation, PACT
continues to seek a single party Statue in order to
participate in Pickering's $3 million legal battle with Metro
Toronto. The request was turned down but the court did rule
that all of PACT's concerns most be included in the town's
case. Purthermare, PACT must be involved to any settlement.
Metro indicates it say take PACT to court for $3,000 in
compensation for status achievement. PACT lawyer. Peter
Pickfield says, it's unfair and inappropriate to take a
volunteer organization to court; since 1905 PACT (actually
this is an incorrect report since Bump METRO preceded PACT as
of Oct. 19071 has succeeded in preventing Brack S. and 6611.
Oct 16 - Pickering Town council, behind closed doors, voted
to consider the transfer of waste from the Brock N site to
Brock W. - a move the Politicians opposed last year and one
that has local environmentalists sounding alarm belle. This
about face move is in response to negotiations between
Pickering and Metre re: the lawsuit scenario, one which is
n slated to take place in mid -Nov. Mayor Wayne Arthure states,
-32 -
'It's one of the elements up for consideration in the
continuing negotiations. It provides an opportunity to
cleanup the Brock N. site in its entirety. -
David Steele maintains waste should not be transferred
without a public bearing. 'PACT is very concerned about
moving a landfill site that bad to be closed one year after
operation because of leachate problems. Then you're going to
dump it into one which is already leaking.- PACT is worried
that the disturbance of removal will result inthe release of
toxins of the 130,000 lessen of as tier into the air. Mr.
Steele suggests that politicians are trying tomake a quick
deal to close Brock W. before the next election. He adds
that the politicians don't have the expertise to de the right
reports on this issue. It should be done by the right people -�
along with a full environmental impact study. Metro simply
wants to save money it new spends to pump out leachate which
is currently trucked to the sewage treatment plant by the
lake. 'We won't be shoved out of it' he insists. Pickering
citizens thorough. PACT have given around $150,000 out of
their pockets to protect their interest.
Wayne Arthus comments that Metro doesn't prefer to 'mine
Brock N. any longer, for fear of disruption. The mayor adds,
a clean site would be better than one in which you are
trying to mitigate the damage.- He pointe out that there are
no gas or leachate collection systema there: 'Our primary
goal is to see closure... issue... sites.. that protects
health, safety, values.
n
-33-
Oct. 22 - A public hearing re: trash transfer from Brock N.
to Brock W. won't be held if it's part of an out-of-court
deal. PACT would be shown any deal on the landfill
negotiations with Metro before it's signed. The town refuses
to show PACT a letter from Metro which Be rtains to
negotiation principles, the town it states has passed a
resolution but the nature of it will be kept confidential.
PACT will not aid the town until its contents are revealed.
PACT states that it has experts ready to assist in transfer
of Brock N's material.
Oct 29 - According to Mayor Wayne Arthure an out -o£ -court
settlement with Metro is 'highly unlikely'. There were
simply not enough grounds to find an agreement_ The lawsuit
is scheduled for Nov. 13. If the suit seen to trial, the
hearing is expected to last 4-6 weeks.
Nov a - Taxpayers have already spent $1,000,000 on the
lawsuit according to town manager Tim Sheffield. After a
Possible 4-6 week trial he adds that taxpayers could spend
between $1.5 and $1.7 million possibly being reimbursed by
about $500,000. if Pickering loses, the town may end up
footing the legal bill for the province and Metro. "We're
not looking for or expecting any kind of financial bonanza"
states Mr. Sheffield.
_3�
Nov 15 - Town manager Tim Sheffield announced that the
municipality, Metro, and the Province are now back at the
negotiating table and believe it may be worth while to try
again. All three sides agreed to an adjournment of the trial
on Tuesday the 14th of this month.
Nov 15th - PACT member and author of the weekly %Recycler'e
Report�Larraine Roulston announced in the local papers that
as of March 1995. 80% of Ontario's population had access to
recycling. The Blue Box system was able to divert 494.000
tonnes of wastes from landfill sites. The Recycling Council
of Ontario, reports material such as hastened and magazines
are added to previous paper fibre such as corrugated
cardboard, newsprint and phone books. The NOPE plastic
included in Metro's collection program along with the PET
type beverage containers account for 2.0% of the Blue Bax
stream with metal containers making up 15.7% and old
corrugated cardboard at 8.2%. As time and technology
progresses, recycling techniques and waste management
programs are nothing some headway into reducing the dilemma of
apace consuming and socially unacceptable methods of waste
disposal. The newest and hopefully a most pragmatic solution
now practised in the U.S. is landfill mining, a process of
material recovery which shows promise.
-]5-
Nov. 19 - The trial date between Pickering, the Province, and
Metro is now adjourned to April 29 1996.
Nov. approx. 20th -22nd - It was announced on the 24th in the
News Advertiser that the town hopes to recover 2.2 million
dollars it spent fighting the now defunct INA process to
establish a new dump in the munroip, lity. "we feel we have
an obligation to get as much back as possible from that crazy
process," bays Town manager Tint Sheffield. He added that the
town will not necessarily meet with success., municipalities
in the past have rarely been reimbursed. Pickering is
applying to the Joint Hoard for S1 J million according to
Lows lawyer Dan Kirby. P.A.C.T. despite being reimbursed as
n result of the F.kll fight still remains $20.000 in the hole.
Pet. 9/96 - P.A.C.T. turns down the town's offer to allow it
to be involved in the Brock W. closure. The confidentiality
ogrcement in yowl -ion is as Base Steele bluntly Put it, was
"Basically it was a gag form." P.A.C.T. would have to
r,. , ive perm ias ion from the town. Metro, and she Mini atry of
Llnvlronment and Energy before divulging negotiations even
after
the agreement
was completed.
In addition, P.A.C.'t.'s
board
of directors
could be held
liable if any public
t1l,"J,clon was discovered.
W
-y6—
Feb. 11 - Dave Steele predicts Pickering and Metro will
1
settle out of court. "You don't have to be a genius to
figure out what's going to happen here,' he says.
Pickering's chances are good, Metro will agree to close Bruck
W. this summer and provide Se00,000 to $1.5 million in
compensation to the town in exchange for permission to move
the approximate 130,000 tonnes of waste in Brock N. to the
western site.
Feb 13/96 - P.A.C.T. held its 10th annual meeting at the 25th
Division (Durham Regional Police Station). Most in
attendance were the executives on the committee: the general
feeling was that the or9an1.Zdtion'9 work is virtually
complete. David Steele did, however, raise some serious
concerns about the Provincial government's considerations
on the "Golden Report", one drawn up by Anne Golden who
recommends a re-drawmq of regional municipalities' maps and
combining them into a Greater Toronto Arca. With the Conoept
of a mega muniCieality, it is feared Pickering could me .m
indefinite extension of dumping woes.
Feb. 14/96 - 1n the Globe 6 Mail. 2 articles appeared
regarding the Harris government's philosophy of possibly
moving away from the recycling programs and instead making ib
easier to nstablisb more dump sites in local munacipali l.iex.
Par worse, is the possibility of exempting damps from Ue
esteemed Environmental Assessment Act and the allnwinn nl'
' incineration as a method of waste reduction. Without
question, any move away from pratectinq the rules,
requlations, and laws that have been in place for the past 25
years would anger and dismay environmentalists and
conservationists .alike. Tf drastic ,h,ngee came about, it is
feared that gwernminis or ministries could write their
own 'Certificates of Approval.'
.., updated on eeb. 22 1996
r ank '1'hrc1kcld Jr..
founainp P.A.C.T. member