vee ee onthe gravel’ FROM PAGE At Hallaway’s response to that comment is: “That’s our business.” As for being informed of every derailment of chemical cars, he answers: “¥ don't think it would do any harm. I don't think we will with sirens. We didn’t respond with sirens that day (of the Lynn Creek Yard derailment). Hallaway is not prepared to comment further until he personally hears from CN about the meeting. CITY ONLY Whereas North Van's biggest chemical plants are in North Van District and the derailment was just a few feet from the District boundary, Menard says the rail company will only be meeting with the City fire chiefs as it was they who expressed concern in the News report. The three derailed cars were carrying almost 50,000 gallons of toxic and in- flamable ethylene dichloride when they came off the tracks near the Lynn Creek bridge. The City fire department did not respond until more than four hours later when a fireman listening to his car radio while driving to work heard about it on the news. District firefighters also attended and the two departments stationed themselves either side of the derailed cars, with hoses at the ready, for the entire morning until they were back onthe tracks. “We still don’t consider it was serious enough tod in- form them,” says Menard. “In our opinion it was just three railcars on the gravel instead of on the. tracks, There were no punctures and it was just a matter of getting it back on the tracks. The City firechiefs felt the very fact that chemical cars had. been derailed was serious enough that they should have been informed. .- Menard comments: “We made the decision that it wasn't. But obviously we are at odds with the fire chief and so now we must look at how we are going to deal with it. We'll see if a mutually agreeable thing can be worked out.” He goes on: “We are saying ‘if you want to be notified of everything, fine, but it doesn’t mean you have to send down firetrucks every time there's an in- cident.’ “We are saying we're prepared to let them know but at the same time exercise discretion as to what hap- pens as we don't want firetrucks screaming all over the yard.” WHO DECIDES? The problem would seem to be in determining who it is that exercises the discretion. As CN’s Menard says: “It depends on the in- terpretation of what is an emergency.” He does not feel the word applies “if there was no fire or leakages or possibility of things escaping from cars through leakage.” Except in the worst of disasters, he says the train conductor would be the first on the scene and so he feels it would have to bé the conductor who makes the decision over whether a derailment is an emergency. Can You Afford a Lawyer? e For $15, you can consult a lawyer at the Neighbourhood Legal Clinic to review your problem and find out what needs to be done. If you retain a Clinic lawyer, that fee will then be credited to your final bill. @An estimate BEFORE you proceed with legal services is standard practice at the Neighbourhood Legal Clinic. That way, you make an informed decision on what to do. ‘@ We keep our costs and your costs down by having modest premises located out of the high rent area, and by using efficient office proce- dures and word-processing equipment to handle time-consuming paper work. eCommon legal matters handled at the ny Neighbourhood Legal Clinic include wills, es- tates, conveyancing, family matters, traffic violations, personal injuries and incorpora- uions. 142A West 15th Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M_ IRS (604) 986-4225 , Hours: Mon.-Thurs, 9-9; Fri. 9-5; Sat. 10:30-1 p. m. THE NORTH SHORE a Reet A 0 Ae ORR NNN A lc A A can i AEM e+ Neighbourhood Legal Clinic af DONALD ANBOUR} Barristers & Solicitors ce eS TRAIL.OF DESTRUCTION left after a spree of senseless vandalism Tuesday night at Ridgeway Elementary School included a couple of dozen plants and trees torn out by their roots. Custodian Jack Ashworth doubted whether many of the plants would survive even after replanting. (Ellsworth Dickson photo) Ernie's sticks -with the Whitecaps. Why don’t you? The Vancouver Whitecaps are winners and that makes us all look good. Ernie’s (and only Ernie’s) is proud to make available, Whitecaps decals free of charge at any Ernie’s Kentucky Fried Chicken location throughout the Province. Pick one ; up today and show the ‘Caps you Care. Vancouver # WHITECAPS KENTUCKY FRIEO CHICKEN Chicken out at Ernie’. (Where the Colonel makes it great!)