Belleville’s lawyer Harry Dahme for the Environmental Review Tribunal hearings.(File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
The City of Belleville has spent some of the money that had been designated for the enquiry into, and possible cleanup of the former coal gasification plant near the harbour front.
A study under an order from the Ministry of Environment to the city and property owners has been underway for more than a year.
The city’s Director of Finance Brian Cousins tells Quinte News the city had $2 million in its budget designated for the study and cleanup.
It has spent $500,000 on the study work so far, leaving $1.5 million still remaining for the project.
The city’s lawyer Harry Dahme reported to the Environmental Review Tribunal in Toronto on Wednesday that the results of the Golders Associates consultants’ report showed the contamination of surface soils in the area of South Front Street and St. Paul Street are not associated with the former Coal Gasification Plant.
Dahme indicated the parties would need about six months to bring in a Risk Management Plan for the area.
Paul McCulloch with the Ministry of Environment told the enquiry the province would agree to this and he “didn’t anticipate any controversy at all.”
Tribunal hearing Chair Justin Duncan also agreed with how the planning was proceeding and called for a “report to the Tribunal in six months time.”
