Sudbury Soils Study
Public Advisory Committee – Meeting #36
November 25, 2008 – 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, Tom Davies Square
Attendees: Adam Cecchetto Dick
Cowan John
Hogenbirk
Gary Hrytsak Aino
Laamanen Paula
Takats
Carol Zippel
Regrets: Darrell
Alston Ersin
Abdullah Nicole
Breau
Whitefish Lake First Nations Representative
Independent
Process Observer: Franco
Mariotti
TC WG in Attendance: Marc Butler Max Kasper Glen
Watson
Ido Vettoretti
Chair: John Hogenbirk
Recorder: Julie Sabourin
Public (10)
______________________________________________________________________
JOHN HOGENBIRK PRESIDING
1.0 CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to
order at 7:00 p.m. following dinner.
1.1 Resignation
The group were informed that Bob Somek has submitted
his resignation with regret as he has moved to Quebec.
2.0 INTRODUCTIONS
Members of the PAC and TC Working
Group introduced themselves to the public in attendance.
3.0 DECLARATION OF
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
4.0 OPEN FORUM (30
min.)
Rick
Grylls, President of the CAW Mine Mill Local 598, requested an opportunity to
address the PAC on behalf of the Community
Committee on the Sudbury Soils Study and to comment on items attributed to the
community committee in the media recently. He offered a thank you to the PAC for the ongoing
participation in the SSS process and expressed interest in continuing to move
forward on the soils study. He
stated that part of the mandate of the community committee was to look at
questions that in the committeeÕs opinion, have yet to be answered and other
questions that were not fully addressed in the HHRA report. He then submitted three reports to the PAC
as follows:
1. Open
Submission to the SARA Group Regarding the Human Health Risk Assessment on
Behalf of the Community Committee on the Sudbury Soils Study – October
31, 2008
2. Presentation
on the Sudbury Soils Study, NOAMI Workshop – Vancouver, November
2008. Title: Relations of RiskÕs
Definition and (Potential) Definitional Struggles: The Sudbury Soils Study,
Francois Depelteau
3. An
Open Letter to Local Food Producers and Gardeners from the Community Committee
on the Sudbury Soils Study – November 11, 2008
Mr.
Grylls went on to say that the community committee wanted to move forward
positively and wants more groups to assist in that goal. He also indicated there would be more
information meetings as the community committee moves forward.
A
question was asked as to why the community committeeÕs name and website was so
similar to that of the SSS study given the potential to confuse the public. Mr. Grylls responded that he recognized
how it would be confusing and will bring this issue back to the community
committee for discussion and decision.
5.0 ADDITIONS
TO/APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
There were no changes to
the agenda.
6.0 REPORT ON
QUESTIONS/ISSUES RAISED AT LAST PAC MEETING
There were none tabled.
7.0 APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
7.1 Minutes
of Meeting #35 – September 16, 2008
7-2008 Moved by –Cowan - Takats: That the minutes of
meeting #35 dated September 16, 2008 be approved. CARRIED
8.0 BUSINESS
ARISING FROM MINUTES
8.1 PAC
Material on SSS Website
Upon recommendations by the PAC, numerous changes were made to the
website to correct and/or update the information located on the PAC site of the
webpage.
ACTION: Dick and Paula to follow up to ensure
completion of project.
8.2 Potential
Comments and Process on PAC Role for SSS
A decision has yet to be made by the PAC to determine the
method/vehicle/format of a submission by the PAC regarding the HHRA and
subsequently the ERA. It was
agreed further discussion was required by the PAC which then may suggest an
avenue to take.
ACTION: Carol to
brainstorm list of ideas/comments and circulate to rest of PAC.
ACTION: John and
Paula to develop history and role of PAC for inclusion.
9.0 NEW
BUSINESS
There was no new business to
discuss.
10.0 TC MEETINGS
10.1 Meeting to be held December 4, 2008
It was
noted that a venue has not been decided as yet for the above meeting. The question was raised as to the
reason a number of the TC meetings has been cancelled. It was reported that
technical sessions has been held and reports are being completed by the SARA
Group. As well, it was felt not to
be fiscally responsible to bring several of the members up from Toronto for a
few housekeeping agenda items.
The PAC
requested that when a TC meeting is cancelled, that this be noted on the
website and the reason for cancellation recorded on the next Key Progress &
Decision Summary Report for the information of the public.
11.0 PRESENTATION
Working Group member Marc
Butler of Xstrata Nickel presented on the nature and number of public
submissions and questions received during the Human Health Risk Assessment
(HHRA) public commentary period. In
response to a question raised by the audience, the WG noted that it is expected
that submissions made by the public will be reviewed and answered by Christmas
and these will be appended to the final HHRA report.
There were several questions
and suggestions made by members of the audience to which the PAC and TC replied. Questions were asked about the risk
assessment process, including the role of the PAC, as well as the results and
context of the HHRA. Other
questions were asked about on-going and future risk management activities. Some of the public indicated that they
felt intimidated to ask questions of the committee. In response it was noted that informing and engaging members
of the public in discussion about the particulars of the HHRA and ERA is an
issue that the PAC and TC have endeavoured to resolve since the beginning of
the study. Over the years, a
variety of venues and opportunities have been provided so that members of the
public can come forward with their questions and concerns. Suggestions as to other ways to engage
the public are welcomed by both the PAC and the TC.
12.0 ADDENDUM
There
were no addendum items to discuss.
13.0 NEXT
PAC MEETING
The next meeting will be held January 20, 2009 in
Room C-11 Tom Davies Square.
14.0 FOLLOW
UP TO PUBLIC SESSION
There was no additional
comment or question from the public.
15.0 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
_________________________ ________________________
Chair,
John Hogenbirk Recorder,
Julie Sabourin