At least two chemicals that have reportedly been used at the local plant, Captan and Carbaryl, are included in a proposed list of toxic substances that could be covered by the new strategy.

Ministry of Environment spokesperson Jennifer Hall said ministry staff is still reviewing comments submitted on the proposal and was unable to respond to a Dundas Star News request to review any submissions from pesticide manufacturer representatives or Hamilton-area residents.

The proposed policy and a Creating Ontario’s Toxics Reduction Strategy discussion paper are posted on the ministry’s environmental registry at www.ebr.gov.on.ca . Public comments were welcomed from Aug. 27 to Oct. 11. The ministry is now reviewing the comments received.

According to the EBR posting, the proposed legislation would create new requirements for many facilities using toxic materials, including public disclosure, materials accounting, toxic reduction plans and reporting.

Ms. Hall said, unlike Ontario’s pesticide act and other recent pesticide related legislation, pesticide manufacturers like Biedermann Packaging are not specifically exempted from the Toxics Reduction Strategy.

Investigation

The ministry continues a 15-month long

investigation into the local company, a fire that occurred there July 26 and the douse water contaminated with toxic chemicals that flowed off site, into the city’s storm sewer system and through Spencer Creek into Cootes Paradise, killing all fish and aquatic organisms.

No official records and response plans were required for that type of facility.