September 29, 2004

Hazardous Waste Dumping Update

Knowing of your interest in stopping the dumping of Canadian
trash in Michigan landfills, I want to update you on the latest
developments regarding this issue.

Toronto has a "Plan B" so why don't they use it!

Last week, we learned about a shocking admission by Toronto
Mayor David Miller. In his comments to reporters about Canadian
trash, Mayor Miller stated, "There is a plan B. The (waste hauling)
company is obliged to find us alternative landfills. They have
commercial arrangements with other landfill operators."

http://stabenow.senate.gov/mlive.htm

This is the first time the City of Toronto has admitted that they
have always had alternative agreements with other landfills to
dispose of their trash. Unfortunately, because of the EPA's
inaction on stopping Canadian trash, Toronto has never been
forced to switch their trash disposal to these non-Michigan
landfills. I have sent a letter to EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt
expressing our great frustration and once again asking the EPA to
stop the Canadian trash shipments and force Toronto to send their
trash to these other landfills.

Michigan trash petitions force EPA to announce a pilot program,
but proposal falls short.

As you may know, more than 165,000 people signed my on-line
petition urging the EPA to stop Canadian trash shipments by
enforcing an existing treaty with Canada called the Agreement
Concerning the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste.
Residents from all 83 Michigan counties have signed the petition -
an unprecedented response.

I personally presented these petitions to EPA Administrator Leavitt
during an October 1, 2003 meeting, and he promised to examine
the issue. In response, the EPA recently announced a "pilot
program" to implement this treaty.

Unfortunately, the EPA pilot program falls far short and will do
nothing to stop the Canadian trash shipments. The proposed
program would not begin until February 2005 and would be
completely voluntary, without any penalties or incentives to
encourage Canadian trash companies to participate. In addition,
the objections under the pilot program would be "non-binding."
So even if the EPA were to object to a shipment, that wouldn't stop
the trash shipment from coming into Michigan.

I will not stop fighting until the EPA agrees to stop these Canadian
trash shipments from coming into Michigan. Thank you for your
continued diligence on this important issue threatening our
beautiful state.

Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
 

Thanks for visiting!
Jim Hanus
www.AllAboutRichmond.com
email: list@allaboutrichmond.com