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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-03-18, Page 72LEASE SPECIALS • LEASE SPECIALS • LEASE SPECIALS to 4 W W to 4 W 1 • Lease Special With "No Money Down" 25,000 km's per year allowance N a 98 Mystique GS loaded $329 / month 3 97 Sable Wagon loaded $339 / month W 97 Sable Sedan 4 door $328 / month co) a 97 Contour 4 door, automatic $269 / month N97 T -Bird V8, loaded $399 / month a 97 Cougar V8, loaded $376 / month j 96 Sable LS Wagon loaded $299 / month 96 Windstar GI quads, dual air $339 / month J96 F150 4X4 Off Road loaded $319 / month c 96 F150 4X4 XLT loaded $322 / month 96 Escort 4 door, Ix, air, CD, automatic $248 / month 96 Escort air, CD player, 5 speed $224 / month 95 Escort air, CD player, 5 speed $199 / month o Leases based on 24 months, Taxes are extra a Please call for any more details J 1-800-561-3079 or 235-1380 N r m y m m r r m N m r to • r m (n m N m r Page 16A - Farm Progress '98 FkRM "Drain Your Farm Before It Drains You" A.G. HAYTER CONTRACTING LTD. R.R. 3 Parkhill 519E23812313 Allen Hayter Residence 238-2881 Grant Hayter Residence 235-4507 Glenn Hayter Residence 238-6968 DR:I\;GE PR ESIO\SI\CE 196, - Mother Nature has her own police force by Blake Patterson Whether it's through comic books or your favorite cop show -- you know the drill. The call cones in, a crime is report- ed, and Superman or Dirty Harry is dispatched to wipe the scum off the streets. But did you know a similar system is in place to protect Mother Nature? Not many people know about them, but the province has a specially trained group of enforce- ment officers in this region tasked to investigate and prosecute people for offences against the envi- ronment. John Scarterfield is one of those officers and he wants people to know, "We are out there, and if (offenders) are not careful, they'll see us." Scarterfield is an charges started with a tele- phone call from fishermen who reported dead fish and discolored water in Naftel's Creek. Scarterfield says that's how the process usually kicks into action. A call comes into his office to report something such as a manure odor and discoloration in a stream. A pollution abatement offi- cer is then sent out to con- firm the report, verify the source, and if necessary, stop the pollution, take samples, photographs and begin an investigation. If the case warrants, its file is handed over to the investigations branch for further investigation. It's their job to "piece together what happened" and deter- mine whether or not suffi- research is complete, the investigating officer must prepare a brief for the Crown attorney, swear information before the court and have legal docu- ments issued. Scarterfield said the process of being investi- gated can be its own form of deterrent. Whether or not the case goes to court, Scarterfield said, "We find we rarely see a repeat offender." Part of that success rate, may be due to the 'fines offenders can face if they are convicted. A first offence under the Federal Fisheries Act could cost a polluter as must as $300,000 and a second offence could bring jail time. Under the Ontario Water Resources Act, individuals face a fine of $10,000 and the possibility of a year in jail for a first offence. Corporations, can be charged as much as $100,000 for a first offence. As for what can be done to avoid a visit from Scarterficld and his friends, he said, "A little bit of preventative action could save a lot of time." ' 1 -le said offices of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affair, as well as local Conservation Authorities have lots infor- mation to help everyone better understand environ- mental issues. "There is no excuse for not getting help," he said. The Sarnia office is responsible for responding to spills and environmental concerns in the counties of Huron, Lambton, Essex and Kent. If you need to contact the the Ministry of Environment and Energy for more information or to report a spill. you can call 1-800-387-7784 or I -80O- 268-6060. investigator with the Investigations and z'- -f �.• Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. There are seven investigations officers serving the Southwestern Ontario region. Scarterficld works in the Sarnia office with two other investigators. Two investigators work out of London, one is based in Windsor and another is in Owen Sound. *On March 5, Scarterfield's brought to Goderich. A Huron County farm- ing operation faced charges in relation to a spill of liquid pig manure into Naftel's Creek on or about Nov. 16, 1996. The judge decided to delay the case until next month, but thc fact the case is in court at all. represents thc end result of Scarterfield's day- to-day efforts. In the case of the manure spill. the investiga- tion which led to the one of cases was court in cient evidence exists with which to recommend pros- ecution. Scarterfield said each case is unique. One case could be technically com- plex and involve a major corporation in Sarnia's chemical valley while another case could be as simple as a farmer using the wrong kind of pesticide on one of his fields. About a half dozen cases are completed each year, but Scarterfield said each investigator will be working on between 10 and 15 cases at any one time. Deciding whether or not to take a case to court is not based on the whims of the investigating officers. "It's not an arbitrary decision," said Scarterficld. After a