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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-28, Page 28Despite a long and detailed presentation by Central Huron Recycling Centre, Morris-Turnberry decided at their April 19 meeting, that the company would require a zoning amendment before it could start treating and recycling non- hazardous contaminated soil. Council had been asked by the Ministry of the Environment if the current zoning on the property would permit the change in the Certificate of Approval to allow treatment of the soil contaminated by hydrocarbons such as oil and gas spills at filling stations. But Carol Leeming of the Huron County Planning Department told council that the current zoning on the section of the Morris Road property permits storage and/or handling and/or sale of scrap or used materials, which are non-hazardous in nature including wood, concrete, brick, and asphalt pavement. The planning department argues that “handling” is distinct from “treatment” or “processing” and contaminated soil is not considered a “scrap or used material”. Dave Rapson of Central Huron Recycling attended the meeting to give council additional information on his proposal. He said he is currently allowed to deal with asphalt paving materials, although he has done so only once. He presented evidence that the level of hydrocarbons in asphalt is 10 times as high as in the soil he would be handling now. Accompanying him were Dennis and Zachary Owens of Oxy Teknologies who would be providing the treatment of the soil. Dennis Owens is a microbiologist and chemist originally from Texas and the company has provided bioremediation technology to Amoco, Phillips Petroleum, Texaco, Chevron and others. He explained that the process that would be used at the Brussels-area facility would use hydrogen peroxide to treat the soil, the same chemical used in many households to disinfect cuts. Soil would be trucked to the site and deposited inside a building to be constructed on the property. Once inside the soil would be treated with diluted peroxide and left to sit for 72-96 hours while the peroxide breaks down the hydrocarbons. The result is some carbon dioxide and water, but clean soil that can then be sold, he said. Owens said the process is so safe that it is used for houses and shopping malls that have contaminated subsoil problems to allow people to continue to live in the house or shop and work in the malls. According to Rapson, who said he planned to construct a building 60 feet wide and 180 feet long in which the treatment would be done, the MOE’s approvals branch had approved the change to his Certificate of Approval as long as the zoning on the property would allow him to process the soil. He questioned why he would need a zoning change when he is allowed to work with asphalt and theoretically could process asphalt 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Though he doesn’t want to work with asphalt, he said, other companies have approached him with offers to buy the site so they could use it for asphalt recycling. But Leeming said both the county’s engineer and its lawyer had expressed the opinion that a zoning change would be required. Council also had a copy of a petition from 13 neighbours within a three-kilometre circumference of the site, opposing the MOE’s changing the Certificate of Approval, claiming their property values would be reduced, there was a possibility of contaminating wellwater and a nearby trout stream and there would be disturbance from a 24 hour, seven-day-a-week business. But Rapson claimed the complaint about the hours of work was based on a misunderstanding. While the treatment will be ongoing around the clock seven days a week as the peroxide does its job killing the hydrocarbons, trucks will only be received in daylight hours. The proposal found supporters among councillors. “I think we’d be foolish not to help this man to contribute to Morris-Turnberry,” said Councillor David Baker. But Nancy Michie, administrator clerk-treasurer, pointed out that even if council went against the advice of the planning department, when Rapson applied for a building permit, the building inspector would be forced to turn it down because the zoning doesn’t permit the uses planned for the building. Given the circumstances, a motion was prepared that a zoning amendment would be required to allow the treatment of non- hazardous contaminated soil. In a recorded vote, Mayor Paul Gowing, Deputy-Mayor Jason Breckenridge and Councillors Jamie Machan, Neil Warwick and John Smuck supported the motion. Baker and Councillor Jamie Heffer opposed it. Are you seeing this? A free breakfast is a free breakfast and there were plenty on hand as the Living Water Christian Fellowship treated the people of Blyth to a free meal on Good Friday at Memorial Hall. While there was plenty of food flying around, there was also time for some of the finer pleasures of life, like reading and culture. Here Olivia Decker, left, reads with Elizabeth Howson. These young ladies were eager to feed their brains despite being off school for the day. (Vicky Bremner photo) PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011. Weather moves fundraiser to May Rezoning requiredfor recycling centre in Morris-Turnberry Due to the rough weather and high winds of April 16, a breakfast to benefit the families of fallen Listowel firefighters Kenneth Rea and Raymond Walter was postponed. The firefighters were killed while fighting a fire earlier this year at a Listowel business. The breakfast, which was to take place at the Old 86 Farmers’ Market just west of Molesworth was scheduled to take place rain or shine, but the high winds were too much for organizers to handle and they were forced to postpone. The new date is Saturday, May 14 and the breakfast will run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. All of the particulars for the event, as reported in the April 14 issue of The Citizen remain the same, just on a new date. Organizers Dave and Karen Smith apologize for the inconvenience. For more information, call the Smiths at 519-291-4643 or at 519-440-8124. By Keith Roulston The Citizen