A8-Sunday News, July 20, 1980 “ FROM PAGE A1 relocation was preeted by silence. But speaker after speaker was applauded as they in turn declared their fears about chlorine or caustic soda spills from the Hooker plant near the. Second Narrows Bridge. Morris Calf of Lillooet Road, north of the Hooker plant, told the task force that “As a taxpayer, I'm not prepared to spend money to create a ‘Happy Hooker.’” He was fed up with the long, drawn-out process of politely dealing with Hooker, he said. rr “We've been far too civilized about this. It’s time for some anger.” Don Rosenbloom, a member of the Chemical Hazards Alert Committee, established by local residents to investigate the danger from Hooker, said that there dangers in the manufacture of chlorine, dangers in the stockpiling of chlorine, dangers in the loading of chlorine, the trucking of chlorine, and the movement by rail of chlorine.” ‘WE'RE STAYING Because thousands of tons . . oe : lo \ , : - oar, " - ” ° A CROWD.OF 50 turned up to make their views. known on the Hooker Chemicals plant in North Van. An angry Don Rosenblqom warn of the dangers of a chlorine spill. (Terry Peters photo) ‘with of chlorine are moved by. Hooker every week, “We are not prepared to tolerate having Hooker as our neighbor. Either they go or we go,” he said. “And we're staying.” The task force, which was established by North Vancouver District this spring, called the public hearing to give the residents of Maplewood, Lynnmore and Seymour the op- portunity to make known their feelings on Hooker Chemicals. Several speakers ex- pressed concern about the District's evacuation plans in case of a major chlorine spill like the one that caused the evacuation of 250,000 people in Mississauga, Ontario, last November. Sharon Mackay © said people would be prevented from reaching = safety because the only escape routes would lie directly in the path of deadly chlorine gas escaping from a spill. “AN that the rescue and fire people will be able to do is to clean up when it’s all over.” But most aldermen agreed the Duplissie con- clusion that the respon- sibility for fire protection of ships in Burrard Inlet is the “responsibility of ihe National Harbours Board and theirs alone.” North and West couver emergency pla coordinator Jeff Jeffe task force member, trie others by saying all three North Shore governm are’in the process of proving evacuat procedures. Gordon, expre concern that the task force: was not able to ifivestig long-term health hazar caused by pollution from Hooker and other chemic plants in the area. ; The task force's terms. of reference from the district were restricted “catastrophic” events, said. . The letter fro Schnyrstein stating Hooker's willingness to talk abou relocation was in responseé.t a question at an earlie meeting, sponsored by t CHAC. Then he had only his superiors in-:: U.S.-based company cou decide whether the comp: should discuss reloca government. : Though many people the public meeting seemé to doubt the significance of: Schnurstein’s Gordon told earlier that day: “I think- is step one accomplished They are at least willing t discuss it.” Chemical risks ‘unacceptable’ The Chemical Hazards Alert Committee (CHAC) of North Vancouver has Slammed the _ federal government bill dealing with the transportation of dangerous cargoes as failing to adequately protect the public from hazardous chemicals. , “This Act alone will vot prevent another Mississauga Situation or worse from happening.” says Garth Evans, a lawyer speaking for CHAC, a group of local residents founded to deal with the question of Hooker Chentical. A joint press release, Tuesday, from CHAC and the West Coast En- viromental Law ‘Association outlined a submission made to the House of Commons = 1° H ] last month, on the Bill C-18. “The document prepared for the House of Commons Standing Committee on,. Transport,” the release says, “points out wide gaps in the legislation which severly weaken its ability to protect the public from hazardous chemicals.” Criticisms mentioned include; the fact that the bill deals only with the transport of hazardous goods; allows the transport of very dangerous materials through heavily populated urban areas; does not provide a public compensation scheme in case of accident: and gives the Minister of Transport broad powers to exempt companies from the Act. “Locally we are concerned that many of the devastating 1] events envisioned by the Beak Report are not prevented by this bill.” The document suggested the bill should include an absolute prohibition of the manufacturing, storage and transport of hazardous chemicals through heavily populated or non-evacuable areas, and a section which would make those who contravene the legislation absolutely liable. “We find it unacceptable that the federal government continues to allow high risks for residents of the Greater Vancouver area,” Evans said. Bill C-18 has passed through committee stage and is scheduled to be given third reading prior to recess of the House. NHB should fund fire boat North Vancouver District council has reaffirmed tts position on the Vancouver fire boat, by saying that the municipality would be willing to pay call-out costs tf it ever needs to use the boat. Vancouver City council has decided to terminate use of the fire boat at the end of the year, bul a number of Rroups have taken up the Cause to save if Council! discussed the issue last wocek after recciving a report on funding the fire boat, from Van- couver fire figh§er Allan Duplissic, as well as sup- porting letters . Suggestion ts made by the umons that the various muntcipahties share in the cost of maintaining the fire boat Council moved to reaffirm MUS position taken in April of 1978 and said that the NHB or the Vancouver Port authority should pay for the boat to service cruise cargo ships in the harbor. OF Polymar Kitchens & Bathrooms Ltd. 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