Thank you for taking the time to write the story and being so transparent. I do agree I think council has hidden agenda that nobody knows about. If they care about Sturgeon Falls and if they care about the residence here they will answer your questions and they will be honest and open with the people. I’ve always believed that a no response to a question means that there is more to the story than they are willing to share. There’s nothing wrong with transparency. The people of West Nipissing will have more respect for the council if they are transparent versus hiding behind the question.
I sent this email a week ago (I'm going to send a follow up today as I've not had any reply) Hello MECP Team, My name is XXXXX, and I am a resident of Sturgeon Falls. I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent acceptance of 8,000 tonnes of contaminated soil at our local landfill, known as West Nipissing Environmental Services (ECA
Number: 3130-54MQ4X).
I have reached out to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, and they have advised me to contact your office as you have regulatory authority over landfills and environmental spills.
Below, I have outlined my concerns and the information provided by Environmental Health:
Risks: What are the potential risks associated with the contaminated soil being brought to our landfill? Are there any specific contaminants we should be aware of? According to research, landfills can contain various dangerous pollutants that pose serious hazards to the environment and public health
Mitigations: What measures are being taken to mitigate any potential risks to the environment and public health? How will these measures be monitored and enforced? Effective mitigation strategies are crucial to prevent contaminants from leaching into soil and groundwater
Research and Assessments: What research or environmental assessments were conducted before the decision to accept this soil? Can you share any reports or findings from these studies? It appears that no specific environmental assessments have been completed for this site
Community Safety: How will the safety of the residents be ensured throughout this process? Are there any plans for ongoing monitoring or community updates?
Ensuring community safety involves continuous monitoring and transparent communication with residents
Future Plans: What are the long-term plans for the landfill site, and how will this acceptance of contaminated soil impact those plans? Understanding the future plans for the landfill is essential for assessing long-term environmental and community impacts
I appreciate your attention to these concerns and await your prompt response.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of our community is of utmost importance, and I believe that transparency and communication are key in this matter.
Thank you for your message regarding the plan to accept 8,000 tonnes of contaminated soil at the West Nipissing landfill. I understand your concerns and can assure you that the MECP is involved in the review of this case.
I reached out to a waste specialist with our office on December 17. As we are nearing Christmas holidays, I anticipate receiving further information in early January.
The Municipality of West Nipissing has been in contact to request a review and provide direction on the proposed work. Any waste accepted must comply with the Environmental Compliance Approval – 3130-54MQ4X.
I will share your questions and concerns with our specialist for review. I will keep you up to date regarding the review progress and decisions made for this request.
Thank you for your commitment to public and environmental health to ensure the safety of your community.
If council got nothing to hide why are they not speaking on the matter??? Also, why AMR project not keeping their soil on their land? Is West Nipissing so broke they have to accept contaminated soil that in years from now will have to pay to clean up that soil?
There is no operational transparency in this community. Only mandated redundancy that has no business in my pocket now will they be until they provide the numbers they have been directed to provide. We do not compensate incompetence, nor will we commit to their voice for they had no consideration for ours. No worries when our integrity the greater.
It's hard to imagine that this deal falls properly within the signing authority of a manager at WNES-- or even of the CAO. Logically, no administrative office would be empowered to take on any significant additional risk to the municipality, it's land, water, citizens and infrastructure, without political approval. It might be an idea to request copies of the relevant signing authorities.
Who wanted this? And why? Why the stonewalling and assertion of "business as usual" when it's clearly *unusual* and potentially harmful. What pressure is being brought to bear from where? The revenue to West Nipissing is not really that much in the larger scheme of things (unless I've missed something-- ~142K in 2024 + ? for 2025) and seems unlikely to be the major driver.
There must be environmental reports and analyses on this matter. To fail to provide this information to the Board is indefensible. Presumably a Board was *created* for circumstances such as these! It should be possible to obtain the documents identifying the criteria for matters which are to come before the Board before implementing. The background reports, emails, meeting minutes, etc. should be public records and therefore retained and accessible for a specified number of years. Would they not be available through a Freedom of Information request (along with the organizational signing authorities)?
I don't care about the politics, there is no way we should be taking another community's poison and exposing our people to it, we need the money? How about paying staff sturgeon falls money and not Toronto money.Starting with the CAO.
From my understanding, the board never approved that this soil be accepted. WNES agreed to accept it but did not provide specific details to the board.
Since the news came out, Dave Lewington has demanded more information from WNES and has asked that this be an agenda item for an immediate meeting.
Mr. Rivard has defended staff and said he trusts that they are making the right decisions on this matter.
Thank you for taking the time to write the story and being so transparent. I do agree I think council has hidden agenda that nobody knows about. If they care about Sturgeon Falls and if they care about the residence here they will answer your questions and they will be honest and open with the people. I’ve always believed that a no response to a question means that there is more to the story than they are willing to share. There’s nothing wrong with transparency. The people of West Nipissing will have more respect for the council if they are transparent versus hiding behind the question.
I sent this email a week ago (I'm going to send a follow up today as I've not had any reply) Hello MECP Team, My name is XXXXX, and I am a resident of Sturgeon Falls. I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent acceptance of 8,000 tonnes of contaminated soil at our local landfill, known as West Nipissing Environmental Services (ECA
Number: 3130-54MQ4X).
I have reached out to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, and they have advised me to contact your office as you have regulatory authority over landfills and environmental spills.
Below, I have outlined my concerns and the information provided by Environmental Health:
Risks: What are the potential risks associated with the contaminated soil being brought to our landfill? Are there any specific contaminants we should be aware of? According to research, landfills can contain various dangerous pollutants that pose serious hazards to the environment and public health
Mitigations: What measures are being taken to mitigate any potential risks to the environment and public health? How will these measures be monitored and enforced? Effective mitigation strategies are crucial to prevent contaminants from leaching into soil and groundwater
Research and Assessments: What research or environmental assessments were conducted before the decision to accept this soil? Can you share any reports or findings from these studies? It appears that no specific environmental assessments have been completed for this site
Community Safety: How will the safety of the residents be ensured throughout this process? Are there any plans for ongoing monitoring or community updates?
Ensuring community safety involves continuous monitoring and transparent communication with residents
Future Plans: What are the long-term plans for the landfill site, and how will this acceptance of contaminated soil impact those plans? Understanding the future plans for the landfill is essential for assessing long-term environmental and community impacts
I appreciate your attention to these concerns and await your prompt response.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of our community is of utmost importance, and I believe that transparency and communication are key in this matter.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Best regards,
XXXXX
Sturgeon Falls Resident
Thanks for taking the time to reach out! Let me know if you hear back.
This is the reply I got yesterday...
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your message regarding the plan to accept 8,000 tonnes of contaminated soil at the West Nipissing landfill. I understand your concerns and can assure you that the MECP is involved in the review of this case.
I reached out to a waste specialist with our office on December 17. As we are nearing Christmas holidays, I anticipate receiving further information in early January.
The Municipality of West Nipissing has been in contact to request a review and provide direction on the proposed work. Any waste accepted must comply with the Environmental Compliance Approval – 3130-54MQ4X.
I will share your questions and concerns with our specialist for review. I will keep you up to date regarding the review progress and decisions made for this request.
Thank you for your commitment to public and environmental health to ensure the safety of your community.
Talk soon,
Will do!
If council got nothing to hide why are they not speaking on the matter??? Also, why AMR project not keeping their soil on their land? Is West Nipissing so broke they have to accept contaminated soil that in years from now will have to pay to clean up that soil?
There is no operational transparency in this community. Only mandated redundancy that has no business in my pocket now will they be until they provide the numbers they have been directed to provide. We do not compensate incompetence, nor will we commit to their voice for they had no consideration for ours. No worries when our integrity the greater.
It's hard to imagine that this deal falls properly within the signing authority of a manager at WNES-- or even of the CAO. Logically, no administrative office would be empowered to take on any significant additional risk to the municipality, it's land, water, citizens and infrastructure, without political approval. It might be an idea to request copies of the relevant signing authorities.
Who wanted this? And why? Why the stonewalling and assertion of "business as usual" when it's clearly *unusual* and potentially harmful. What pressure is being brought to bear from where? The revenue to West Nipissing is not really that much in the larger scheme of things (unless I've missed something-- ~142K in 2024 + ? for 2025) and seems unlikely to be the major driver.
There must be environmental reports and analyses on this matter. To fail to provide this information to the Board is indefensible. Presumably a Board was *created* for circumstances such as these! It should be possible to obtain the documents identifying the criteria for matters which are to come before the Board before implementing. The background reports, emails, meeting minutes, etc. should be public records and therefore retained and accessible for a specified number of years. Would they not be available through a Freedom of Information request (along with the organizational signing authorities)?
Was Council aware of this all along?
I don't care about the politics, there is no way we should be taking another community's poison and exposing our people to it, we need the money? How about paying staff sturgeon falls money and not Toronto money.Starting with the CAO.
You mention Mr Rivard again in this article, I thought Dave Lexington sat on this board also and approved of this soil being accepted???
From my understanding, the board never approved that this soil be accepted. WNES agreed to accept it but did not provide specific details to the board.
Since the news came out, Dave Lewington has demanded more information from WNES and has asked that this be an agenda item for an immediate meeting.
Mr. Rivard has defended staff and said he trusts that they are making the right decisions on this matter.