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WMTB.nEE PRES% WOfNESDAYPJANJAJRY,1991, PAGE 3 Whltby usinlessman ,dominates 1990 newsstories. By Mike Kowall if there was an- award for Whitby'ste newsmaker duin~ 1990, local businesman er Robinson would -probabiy win hands down. Robinson was responsible for perhaps more news stories than any other person in Whitby last year. It seemed that not a. week went by when local newspapers failed te, carry a stery on either of two major issues involving Robinson. Whether it-be the PCB-laden fierry boat now stuck in Whitby harbour or the' 100 000 tires stored at bis'automoLile wreck- ing yard, Robinsons activities generated, both- media and goverinent attention. Althoug Robinson's boat the Prince Edward sland, has beený a thorn in Town council's side for years, thepast year witnessed renewed efforts te remnove the vessel from the harbour. Orgnal .dstn for the inglsation, the boat has domina- tdWhitby's waterfront* akyline since its arrivai four years ago. Wishing te rid itself of the "floating eyesore," Town counicil battled- with senior levels of governument over which was res- ponsible for its removal. (The boat even became. an issue in last summer's provincial election as local candidates bia- med. both the province and federal governmentrfor not talc- ing action.) The Town tried te force Robin- son te move the boat t\. years aM but was thwarted in its eforts by the federal govern- ment. Whitby oficiais .were' not aware the federal governiment was collecting docking fees from the owner. But earlier this year the Town took another approach after jurisdiction of the harbour was transferred te the munici alit Robinson was charged by the Town under the provincial Tres- paso Act and the -Town's solicitor was instructed te seek a manda- tory inJuniction against him. If the injunction is granted and Robinson ordered te remove the boat, hie would be in contempt of court shouid he not compiy. Possible penalties could in- * clude fines and/or imprisonmient. Although the fate of the boat itself remains in limbo, the PCB probiemn will soon be rectified. Last month Robinson was * ordered by Environment Canada to remove ail oual inciuding PCB-contaminated 1 material, from the ferry after it sunk in the water. An inspection. conduicted shortly after the sinkinig deter- mined there had been a release of "deieterious substances» inte the lake. These substances could have included bilge oil, diesel oil or lubricating g ou, acording te federal officias. While two transformera con- taining PCBs were not in im- mediate danger,- officiais were taking no chances. Federjul ;9gi.lat1onh stipulated ~~ers were considered operable, the government could not order their removal. Only if an emergency occurred or the threat of imminent danger excisted could the government take appropriate measures. Last month's sinking provided that opportunity. Whiie Robinson works with the drlgvernment te dcean-up thsprobem he must alo spend time attendig te his north Whtyauto wrecking yard. 1In November, the Ontario Ministry of Environment refused te issue Robinson a certificate of approval te continue operating the site. Until Robinson comlies with municipal and tire e regela- tions, no more tires- wil be allowed onte the property. Robinson has an estimated 100,000 used tires stered at his wrecking yard located north of. Taunton Rd. near the Whitby-* Oshawa border. His yard was one of nine Ontario sites on which 24-hour security guards were posted by the government following lest yearls Hageraville tire tire dis- aster. A fire burned for almoat one month at a* Hageraville, Ont. dump containi*ng 14 million tires. A group of young offenders were charged ini connection with the tire. At the same time as its- posted securityguards, the government approved a number of measures regulating tire dumps. The new regulations pertain te size and area of tire piles, road accesate the property, security fencing and an adequate water auppyon site. Havig earlier charged Robin- son with operating a salvae yard without a valid licence, the municipality was preparing last month te, lay charges under the Ontario Fire Code. The WVhitby fire department previously îissued a notice of vio- lation te Robinson concerning varfous aspects of "the wrecking yard. Robinson has als3obeen in vio- lation of Ontario's Environmen- tel Protection Act since Oct. 1 and could be liable te prosecution by the province. But charge* hav not yet been laid under this particular act. Fate of Lasco dumps to. be decided this year, By Mke Kowali Although, known primarily for its steel-making operation, a local business figured- pro- minently on the environmental front in 1990. In February, 'Lasco (Lake Ontario Steel Company Ltd.) was fined $100,000 in provincial offences court for charges stem- ming from an October, 1988, lire at the Hopkins St. factory. Comp>any officiais pleaded guily totwocounts of failing to ensure PCB-contazninated waste was stored in a secure location and two count of failing to keep records of PCB waste. Làasco was fined $35,000 on each of the four charges laid under. the provincial Environ- mental Protection Act. During a three-day* trial spread over three months the prvious fali, court was told Whty :irefighters were calied to battie a bl-aze which erupted, in a construction trailer. A subsequent investigation by environmient ministry officiais determined that oul contamina- ted with PCBs (poiychlorinated biphenyls) had burned during the fire. The PCBs were believedte have leaked from one of three unrejitered storage tanks near the site of the fire. Ironically, the unregistered tanks were iocated about 400 ft. from where Lasco couid legaiiy store contaminated waste. PCBs were contained in ouas used as coolants for ellectrical transformera until their pro duc- tion was banned in the 197Os. Tests have linked PORs te causing cancer and other health problems in iaboratory animais. One month later, Lasco was mgain in the news when company offciais gave the go-ahead te begin filling a temporr dump te store automobile shiredder waste. Lasco said it could flot wait for Durham Region te, pasa an offi- ciai plan amendment approving the :ump. Further delays would have meant laying off 40 empioyees involved in the shredding ope- ration. Lasco ciaimed it met the Region'si stipulations, simpiy by applying for the amendmnent, and pointed te the fact that the pro- vinoe had issued the company a temporary certificate to operate the dlump. Although Region staff recom- mended againet Lascos applica- tion and some regionai council- lors were furious with Làasc for Aw -1et- proceeding without permission, no action was taicen on the mat- ter. The fate of the temporary dump will be decided later this year in conjunction with a pro- posaI for a permanent waste steragefacility. An offilcial plan amendment is also required for the much larger permanent site. If approved by the province, the massive landscaped ber will be capable of holding up teo 15 years worth of rubber, plastic cloth and glass not recycleci when old cars are shredded for metai. As part of the preparations for the permanent dump, Lasco operated a demonstration berm since 1988, but the test berm eventually reached its capacity of 175 000 tons of waste. 'With 300 tons of waste pro- duced daily, the company said it had no choice but to egin filling the temporary dump. Region stafif, however, are con- cerned about removal of waste. from the temporary site should the permanent berm be rejected. They are also worried about long-tenu, effects on land and water. Although the Town of Wliitby endorsed-Lasco's application asat spring, it, teo, had concerna. A condition of the Town's3 sup- potwas that Lasco demonstrate how effluent from the dump can be safely pumped inte the sewer system. Whitby's support was alsô con- ditional upon assurances that waste. in the temporary site -be relocated when a decision on the permanent berm is made. Environmentministry staff are currently reviewing a daft report on the projecsubmitted by Lasco. A decision on whether te hold an environmentel hearing will be based on their recommendations. Meanwhile, the ministry certi- ficate for, the temporary dump elI X uret rate of produc- tion, the dump's capacity of 125,000 metric tonnes will not be met. THET SOLUTION TO0 YOUR RESOLUTION. 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