Regional Councillor Report

Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4

Date: June 27, 2011

Works Committee – June 15, 2011

EFW - WMAC

The Committee approved the terms of reference of the Energy from Waste – Waste Management Committee as agreed upon by Clarington and as required under the Host Community Agreement with Clarington. This Committee will act in an advisory role to the Durham Works Committee on issues of concern such as waste diversion, waste management, environmental performance and monitoring of the incinerator, including during the construction and operational phases. This Committee will be comprised of volunteers from throughout the region and will be appointed by Durham Region and Clarington Council. Membership will be a total of nine members. Five will be appointed by Durham and four appointed by Clarington Council.

Porcelain Collection and Recycling Program

The Committee approved the implementation of a porcelain collection and recycling pilot program to be funded through the 2011 waste management budget. Currently there are no options for residents to recycle porcelain fixtures such as sinks, toilets and tubs as they are designated as home renovation and therefore not collected for disposal or recycling. Regional staff have investigated and determined there is a viable local porcelain market with good potential to meet the Region’s needs. Porcelain items are crushed and metal and plastic parts removed. The remaining porcelain aggregate material can be used as a substitute for gravel as a porous drainage material, road base material, added into asphalt for paving roads and has also been used elsewhere in foundation building, trail pavement, mulch or artificial reefs. Diverting porcelain is consistent with the Region’s goal of 70% waste diversion.

Bolland Crescent – Additional Costs

Additional costs in the amount of $240,000.00 for a total project cost of $1,015,000.00 for watermain and sanitary sewer improvements on Bolland Crescent were approved. Geotechnical investigations revealed the existing asphalt contains asbestos and therefore must be dealt with in accordance with Ministry of Environment guidelines. (Please note that an information session was held on June 23, 2011 to advise residents and respond to any concerns).

EA Outfall/Diffuser Additional Financing Approved

Additional financing in the amount of $680,590.00 (Durham’s share $340,295.00) was approved by the Committee. Consultant CH2M Hill was engaged in 2008 to initiate the Class EA on the outfall. Delays due to the Region’s involvement in addressing concerns regarding public consultation on the Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer in Pickering and expansion of the bathymetric survey of the lakebed have contributed to the additional costs. CH2M Hill recommended the bathymetric survey area be expanded to ensure all potential outfall alignments are captured. CH2M Hill developed terms of reference and provided recommendations for a preferred geotechnical consultant. In July 2010, Coffey Geotechnics was awarded the contract for the geotechnical investigation. Prior to drilling, the subcontractor who was to provide the barge withdrew from the project. In addition; in response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) began to strictly enforce regulations. The contractors were required to secure a replacement barge and secure appropriate approvals from MNR and review and revise the drilling program. The initial phase was undertaken in the summer of 2010 and the second phase is to be completed in summer 2011.

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative- June 15 - 17

Ajax’s resolution asking for endorsement of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and Great Lakes United call for public hearings in Canada to provide stakeholders and the public with an opportunity to express their views about the serious impacts should Asian Carp enter the Great Lakes was endorsed by the organization. The potential losses have been estimated at $400 million on recreational and commercial fisheries by the Ontario Government and Environment Canada. This request will be sent to the US Department of State with a request that Foreign Affairs host a public hearing in Canada to ensure the US Army Corps of Engineers hear the comments of Canadian municipalities and stakeholders. In addition; the motion requests regular opportunities for discussion about the progress on this matter at least twice a year.

This motion complements the motion endorsed by the GLSCI that the Cities Initiative gives its full support to develop options for the Chicago Waterway System and work cooperatively with stakeholders and the US Army Corps of Engineers to keep Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.

Mayors of the GLSCI also issued a statement calling on the American and Canadian Federal Governments to build on the U.S. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and local investments by making a bi-national commitment to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region supported by long term funding. The U.S. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative committed $475 million in 2010 for protection and restoration projects in the Great Lakes region. On a per capita basis, that represents about $15.00 per year for each of the 32 million Americans living in the Great Lakes Basin. Investments are needed to respond to challenges including adapting to climate change, eutrophication (refers to natural or artificial addition of nutrients to bodies of water and to the effects of the added nutrients. When the effects are undesirable, eutrophication may be considered a form of pollution.) of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, protecting shorelines, preserving wetlands and other coastal habitats.

Mayor’s called on the Canadian government to match the U.S. Great Lakes investments on a per capita basis of $15.00 per year for the 9 million Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Canadian citizens, for a total of $285 million annually. Municipalities currently invest more than $15 billion per year to protect and restore the Great Lakes. The Brookings Institute estimates for a 26 billion investment in the Great Lakes there would be a $50 billion return on investment. ($2.00 for every $1.00 spent.) In addition; the National Association of Clean Water Agencies estimates that 47,000 jobs are created for every billion dollars invested in clean water infrastructure.

Study tours were also offered during the Conference on restoration projects along the Welland River (an Area of Concern) and a pilot project with OPG at the DeCew Generating Station to learn about a demonstration project for a natural solution for the control of zebra mussels. The current approach to deal with zebra mussels is to treat with sodium chloride. The preference would be an approach that is environmentally friendly and effective while reducing hazards to staff from exposure to product. The zebra mussels’ pilot project uses a natural occurring soil bacteria pseudomonas flourescens, native to North America. In jar and bio box testing over two years, a 96% mortality rate has been the result. At full plant scale they have achieved a 53% mortality and hope to reach 80% during the full plant scale in August 2011.

Presentations were provided on the topics of response to spills on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, shale gas and energy exploration, innovations by Algoma Central Corp. to reduce environmental impact and reduce emissions from their tankers and the work being done by the International Join Commission and their International Watersheds Initiative- www.ijc.org. Beach strategy workshops were held to share municipal best practices. Municipalities highlighted the benefits of achieving Blue Flag status (an internationally recognized program of identifying beaches that have met criteria for water quality and beach management practices) and the significant economic benefits reaped by municipalities from investing in their waterfront.

In addition to supporting our Ajax motion, motions were supported on stormwater management, support for measures to promote safe shipment of goods, endorsing green marine practices, protection of drinking water intakes and tributaries for transparency and further study on impacts of the shale gas industry and development and consideration of sustainable urban management. For further information on the conference, visit www.glslcities.org