[All] Chemical spills risks by rail in Waterloo Region

[Ginny Quinn]

Lori....now is the time to go to Council to  make this fact of no  warning
signals or crossing arms  and going through residential streets  like yours.
STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!!!  

The Quebec issue is  still top story news  and fresh on the minds of all.
Write your speech now.....even if council is  on holidays   (or whatever)
Write it as you have just written it tonight.!!!!  

 A lot of things have to change from the 'olden days'  and this is one of
them.   Good luck      and   DO IT!!!!    Ginny 

Lulu    the home work and research you do  is fantastic!!!    It is so
instrumental in spurring others on to action  and/or  informative  for
future action    Hugs  Ginny

 

From: All [mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of Lori Strothard
Sent: July-17-13 11:22 AM
To: Louisette Lanteigne; gren
Subject: Re: [All] Chemical spills risks by rail in Waterloo Region

 

thanks Lulu- good to know -that train runs very close to our house and
literally right up against the backyards of many of our neighbours, and I've
often thought what if ever there was a spill, lord knows what chemicals they
are carrying. I've always wondered where it comes from, goes, and its story,
so thanks for that. The train goes slowly but still, it crosses Allen St. E.
near where I live with no warning signal or railway crossing arms coming
down or anything at all  -the train just dings its bell, and that is the
warning. Once in the winter when visibility was poor and I had my radio on I
think, I did not hear or see it at all, and almost hit the train, or it
almost hit me - I looked over and it was just a couple of yards from my car.
Very frightening. How can a train be allowed to cross several residential
streets with no warnings - that confounds me!  The other thing is how
mankind seems to be willing to do almost anything to get oil and gas. When
will this ever change - Jeff Rubin says only when it becomes prohibitively
expensive will we become unobsessed with its procurement and be forced into
finding and using alternatives.  Lori Strothard

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Louisette Lanteigne <mailto:butterflybluelu at rogers.com>  

To: gren <mailto:all at gren.ca>  

Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 10:14 AM

Subject: [All] Chemical spills risks by rail in Waterloo Region

 

Hi folks

 

The Waterloo Chronicle has three articles I would like to relay.

 

The first and most alarming is an article regarding a series of "minor"
train derailments that occurred in the past 5 years on the Goderich-Exeter
Railway, that is the line that runs right through down town Waterloo. It
extends 300 km from the North end of Toronto to Goderich to London. The
track is owned by the Region of Waterloo, operated by GEXR and maintained by
CN railway. One accident involved a shipment of liquid chemicals heading to
Chemtura that derailed between Kitchener and Elmira. The Waterloo Chronicle
used Freedom of Info to try and secure the identity of the chemical being
transported but they were refused with the excuse that disclosure may result
in "acts of terrorism" or "vandalism". Full article here: 

 

http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/request-denied/

 

NOTE: Previously the Region of Waterloo identified spills risk as a number
one emergency concern for our area ahead of tornado and flood concerns. This
was made public in an Emergency Preparedness guide distributed by the Region
of Waterloo a few years back. I know from personal experience that rail
lines buckle in heat. I witnessed a rail line crossing Erb Street right by
the Waterloo Square that was bowed on a curve straight up about a foot high
and it was due to hot weather. I reported it to police and they contacted
rail folks who repaired it. 

 

The second article I'd like to bring to mind is one regarding a proposal on
the east side of Waterloo involving a property known as Galantai lands where
a wetland ecosystem is being threatened by a zoning application to build a
subdivision in this swamp. 22 acres of land, plenty of wildlife and primary
recharge is at risk. Joel Cotter is the development planner involved with
this one. The city has deferred decisions on this property right now.
Details here: 

 

http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/development-decision-deferred/

 

The third article is my Guest Column feature in response to the Chamber of
Commerce Director Ian McLean's article saying how good tar sands is for the
Ontario Government. My article shows how Ontario has more to loose than gain
when it comes to tar sands.
<http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinion/oil-sands-no-pot-of-gold-for-ontari
o/>
http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinion/oil-sands-no-pot-of-gold-for-ontario
/

 

Have a great day folks!

Lulu :0)

  _____  

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