Conception Bay North Incinerator Association refuses new incinerator

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs said today that she is disappointed that the Conception Bay North (CBN) Incinerator Association has decided not to sign a Tripartite Agreement which would have resulted in significant improvements at the existing incinerator and kick started work on a new state of the art incinerator and waste management plan. Instead, the CBN Incinerator Association has advised they will seek legal remedy against the Town of Harbour Grace to keep the incinerator in operation.

"We have offered $73,000 to make the bulk of improvements the Town of Harbour Grace is seeking, to allow the current incinerator to remain open while a new one is being planned and constructed," said the minister. "To date, we have spent $30,000 which represents 100 per cent of the cost of the feasibility work into a new incinerator facility. We have committed $200,000 representing 50 per cent of the cost of the next phase of an engineering study into a new incinerator. We are also willing to provide 50 per cent of the cost of a new weigh scale which will allow the association to generate additional revenues to offset their share of the cost of the scale plus the preliminary engineering work on a new facility."

The minister continued, "My Department has done everything it can to facilitate both the short and long term solutions to future waste disposal in Conception Bay North and surrounding areas. We are prepared to continue to work with all parties to address this issue and find acceptable solutions. Unfortunately, the Incinerator Association only seems interested in perpetuating the use of the Harbour Grace Incinerator as it currently exists with all its associated problems. This is truly unfortunate for the residents in the area of the incinerator, the people serviced by the existing incinerator and the environment in general. Full utilization of a new state of the art facility will provide the opportunity to service up to 60 communities in the regional area."

"The people of this area have been patient as we have tried to resolve the problem of air pollution while dealing with the reality of waste disposal," said John Efford, MHA - Port de Grave. "If a new multi-million dollar facility can�t be developed through partnership with the CBN Incinerator Association, perhaps it will be of interest to another group."

"We will continue to work with the people in this region until a suitable arrangement can be found," said George Sweeney, MHA - Carbonear-Harbour Grace. "I would hope that the municipalities involved see government�s offer as a gesture of good faith and will continue working together to resolve the short and long-term issue."

Mayor Don Coombs of the Town of Harbour Grace said, "I would like to thank the Honourable Joan Marie Aylward for all her efforts and for her offers of financial assistance. It is indeed unfortunate that the Incinerator Association would not sign the Tripartite Agreement, which would have seen significant improvements in the existing incinerator, and would have allowed work to commence on a long term solution to this problem."

Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Communications, (709) 729-1983.

2000 10 20                  4:55 p.m.