For Immediate Release
October 4, 2004

Edwards Landfill contravenes new law: Barrett

Simcoe – At 9:00 a.m. today, Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett advised the office of Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky that, in his opinion, the Edwards Landfill site, near Cayuga contravenes the Adams Mine Lake Act.

According to Barrett, the Act – which became law on June 17, 2004 – prohibits the establishment of a waste disposal site where waste is deposited in a lake. For purposes of the Act, a lake is defined as a body of surface water that results from human activities, and directly influences or is directly influenced by ground water. If the body of water or lake is less than 1 hectare (2.5 acres) in size it is not included in the definition, Barrett said.

The planned Edwards Landfill on Brooks Road, Cayuga, is to be 6 hectares (15 acres) excavated to a depth of 9 metres (29 feet) in an area of Wetland and Slough Forest.

“The planned excavation for garbage is now not legal, in my opinion,” Barrett stressed. “Because these Amendments to the Environmental Protection Act just received Royal Assent on June 17, 2004, I feel the owners of the Edwards Landfill Site should be compensated for reasonable expenses.”

- 30 –

For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at:
519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629