[All] Fw: Concern for Ira Needles Mall and Methane

[Louisette Lanteigne]

If I get a response from the city as to how this issue will be addressed I'll be sure to relay it to the group.
Louisette

--- On Wed, 11/17/10, Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com> wrote:

From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
Subject: Concern for Ira Needles Mall and Methane
To: brenda.halloran at waterloo.ca, scott.witmer at waterloo.ca, karen.scian at waterloo.ca, angela.vieth at waterloo.ca, diane.freeman at waterloo.ca, mark.whaley at waterloo.ca, melissa at melissadurrell.ca, jeff at jeffhenry.ca
Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 1:26 AM

Hello Mayor Halloran, council members.
Recently in the news, there is concern about the explosion that took place at a resort in Mexico which may have involved methane gas. In a CBC report it states the following:
"Normally
 it would go out into the atmosphere and nobody would be bothered by it 
and you might see the occasional little bubble coming through the water 
and nothing else. But if you block off that access to the atmosphere, 
then it builds up and it simply builds up pressure … all you needed was a
 tiny spark and the whole thing would go up."

If you wish to view the entire story you may visit here:http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/11/16/mexican-blast016.html#ixzz15W6uYfUV 

At this time, this issue mirrors the serious concern I voiced during the approval process of the Ira Needles Mall. Currently at the Waterloo Landfill, the ground is too wet for the methane to rise. It has been accumulating underground for quite some time. Due to the aquifers, there is a high probability of methane transference onto the property of mall areas underground.. 
With the addition of significant pavement along the Ira Needles Mall, it is my concern that this will reduce the water levels and facilitate the
 rise of the trapped methane on site opening up the risk of explosion or the risk of radon issues where the gases may transfer directly into the facilities from underneith. Often times buildings like this have an HVAC system and the facilities are not designed to open their windows so toxins tend to accumulate over time posing serious health risks. It is my hope these buildings will be retrofitted with the appropriate ventilation systems in order to protect people from these risks and to prevent explosion from methane issues stemming from the adjacent landfill and from the large wetland that used to sit onsite in this area. 
If we are currently preparing these facilities to address the risks of methane I would like to secure a letter from City staff outlining how this risk will be addressed. 
Thank you kindly for your
 time.
Louisette Lanteigne700 Star Flower Ave.Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2
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