As a resident of Dufferin County for 34 years, I attended the Open House discussion of Orica Grand Valley's proposed zoning bylaw amendment — to change the Temporary Use bylaw into a Permitted Use and expand the Permitted Use area to 150 acres.

How the original backwoods operation became established is a matter of some question. Suffice it to say that Orica, a subsidiary of ICI, recently acquired the business and are a major international company.

With 40 years in the chemical business myself, many of them in Production Management, I could, as a professional, assess the Orica site as to the safety, adequacy of diking of storage facilities, etc. Such an exercise would however, be beside the point in that the Orica plans in the Luther Marsh area are entirely inappropriate, given the sensitive environmental nature of the area.

The trucking of 20-tonne loads of highly water-soluble and potentially explosive ammonium nitrate through the region constitutes an accident waiting to happen. Already the company trucks have been involved in significant accidents with, luckily, so far, no impact on the environment.

Curiously, no officials from the Grand River conservation Authority (GRC A), Environment or Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR attended the Open House meeting.

Orica representatives, however, informed the meeting that the GRCA had reviewed the proposal, had been fully informed and had indicated their approval of the proposed amendment.

It is inconceivable that GRCA could be sanguine in regard to 20-tonne loads of ammonium nitrate being trucked day and night, winter and summer, across the wetlands of East Luther to their final destination 1.5 kilometres from the Luther Marsh.

Sideroad 21-22 is a gravel concession road, diked on both sides to control flooding, and designed of agricultural and light vehicle service. Recently an Orica transport jackknifed on 21- 22 due to icy conditions.

Loss of ammonium nitrate, through spillage or hosing down of a burning truck, into the Grand River watershed cannot be contemplated. Millions of people and livestock depend on the Grand River waters and the Guelph Aquifer beneath.

At a time when farmers are being directed by the Nutrient Management Act, the impending Clean Waters Act and the Endangered Species Act, to protect the environment, the Orica operation in the Luther Marsh area must be concluded before a major disaster occurs.

The East Luther Grand Valley council should move immediately to rescind the Temporary Use Permit for the Orica site, allowing Orica no more than two years to relocate to a new secure site such as Camp Borden or another military area.

The clock is ticking, and it is to be hoped that responsible officials and the public at large will act to ensure that the Orica site returns to its previous agricultural usage.
John B. Henstock
Grand Valley