For Immediate Release
The first major document of the local Source Protection Committee has been handed in on schedule.
The Proposed Terms of Reference was sent to the Ontario Minister of the Environment on October 20 on behalf of the Drinking Water Source Protection Committee (SPC) for the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Region. The Minister will now review the proposal and provide a response within the next few months.
The Terms of Reference identifies the drinking water systems to be included in an assessment report and source protection plan. Step-by-step tasks outline the process that will be required to study those systems and develop the policies that will guide the protection of our sources of drinking water. Cost estimates, timelines and responsibility for work are delineated.
The submission of the Proposed Terms of Reference marks the successful completion of nine months of Committee work and public consultation. Municipalities and First Nations in the region were formally notified of the start of the process to develop a Terms of Reference back in January 2008. A Draft Proposed Terms of Reference was released for a thirty-five day comment period on May 23, 2008, and three public meetings were held during in June. The SPC then reviewed the comments and prepared the Proposed Terms of Reference. A second public comment period was held from mid-August to mid-September. The package submitted on October 20 incorporated the Proposed Terms of Reference, a Summary document with background information, an outline of the procedure used to develop the Proposed Terms of Reference, and any comments received during the public consultation.
The Source Protection Committee will be meeting next on Friday, November 28, 2008 at 9:30am. The location will be the Grey Bruce Health Unit, main floor, at 101 17th St E in Owen Sound. The public is welcome to attend.
Minutes of SPC meetings and other information about Drinking Water Source Protection are available on the local Source Protection website at www.waterprotection.ca.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Ellingwood, Program Supervisor, d.ellingwood@waterprotection.ca or 519-470-3000 x102