Source protection work plan ready for review

North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority
News Release

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The North Bay – Mattawa Source Protection Committee has released a draft Terms of Reference for public comment as the first step in developing a plan to protect the quality and quantity of the region’s municipal drinking water sources. Source protection planning is a component of Ontario’s Clean Water Act, 2006 and is being carried out in 19 regions across the province. The initiative involves the development of a local plan by a local committee that will identify and address potential threats to the source water for the municipal drinking water systems in Callander, Mattawa, North Bay, Powassan and South River.

The local Source Protection Committee consists of ten members selected to represent the various stakeholders in the community. Barbara Groves, appointed by the Minister of the Environment, holds the position of Chair of the North Bay - Mattawa Source Protection Committee. Ian Kilgour (North Bay), George Onley (Callander) and Kathy Parker (South River) represent area municipalities in the planning process. The economic sector is represented by Maurice Schlosser (agriculture), George Stivrins (industrial/commercial) and Dennis MacDonald (transportation). The three remaining members-at-large are Lucy Emmott, Roy Warriner, and John MacLachlan.

As one of the three tasks assigned by the Clean Water Act, 2006, the committee has developed a work plan (the Terms of Reference) to accomplish the other two tasks: a science based assessment report that will identify potential risks and issues and the source protection plan, which will outline land use and other policies to address identified risks.

The public is invited to submit comments of the draft Terms of Reference (work plan) for the local source protection planning process. A public open house regarding the draft Terms of Reference for the North Bay – Mattawa Source Protection planning process will take place at Average Joe’s Restaurant, 3501 Trout Lake Road in North Bay on Thursday, May 22nd between 3:00 and 8:00 pm. Presentations will take place at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm and the public will have the opportunity to meet the members of the local committee. Further information regarding source protection planning and the committee is available online at www.actforcleanwater.ca or by calling 474-5420.

For those unable to attend the open house, the draft Terms of Reference can be viewed online at www.actforcleanwater.ca or in person between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm at the North Bay – Mattawa Conservation Authority, located at 15 Janey Avenue. Written comments regarding the draft Terms of Reference must be submitted by May 30, 2008 to:

Barbara Groves, Chair
North Bay - Mattawa Source Protection Committee.
Address: 15 Janey Avenue, North Bay, ON P1C 1N1
Fax: 705-474-9793 Email: [email protected]

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