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Weekly News Items

Seasonal Inverhuron resident dies in Highway 9 crash

KINCARDINE NEWS STAFF
Date - January 27 ,2010
Citizens of Inverhuron are mourning the loss of a highly respected man who lost his life in a car crash last Wednesday.
Kevin Kenny, who lives in Markham, but cottages in Inverhuron, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Jan. 20 on Hwy. 9, just east of Riversdale.
South Bruce OPP responded to the crash and reported that Kenny, who was driving a Jeep Patriot, was travelling westbound down Hwy. 9, when he crossed the centre line and struck an east bound Volvo transport truck.
Kenny, 47, leaves his wife Jackie and their four children Conor, Sean, Shannon and Kieran.
The driver of the transport 54 year old Douglas Popp of Maryborough Township, was uninjured.
" It's just such a shock," said Inverhuron District Ratepayers Association's (IDRA) president Gordon Barr.
"He'll be missed very much by the community.
He did great things here." Donna Irvine sat on the IDRA board of directors with Kenny.
Together, they organized the Canada Day - Kids Day activities for Inverhuron last year.
However he has been organizing the activities for at least five years.
Irvine said she was upset and shocked by the news.
Kenny, who was highly involved in the IDRA, sat on the Kids Day committee in 2009 and was to direct and chair the sports and recreation committee for 2010.
"There will be big shoes to fill for the Kids Day organizations this year," said Barr.
"Getting someone else to do as good a job as he did will be hard."
He was also responsible for organizing IDRA new tennis courts.
Kenny organized a club in 2009, brought it to the media's attention and worked with the Municipality of Kincardine to budget $100,000 for the courts.
He had high hopes for it to be opened this spring.
"We were thrilled," Kenny told The News in September when he was given word that the municipality was behind him in the construction of the tennis courts.
"We're hoping to have the money by next year, breaking ground by May and having our ribbon cutting ceremony by August."

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Father of four killed in crash Popular Inverhuron cottager will be missed

The Kincardine Independent
By Josh Howald
Inverhuron cottager Kevin Kenny was killed last Wednesday in a tragic crash on Highway #9 in Greenock Twp, just east of Riversdale.
Kenny lived in Markham, but had spent his summers and many weekends in Inverhuron since he was a youngster. He leaves behind a wife, Jackie, and four children - Conor, Sean, Shannon and Kieran.
He was an executive director on the Inverhuron District Ratepayers Association (IDRA) and chair of the IDRA sports and recreation committee.
He was the driving force behind Inverhuron's quest for the construction of tennis courts.
At 1:44 p.m. on Jan. 20, Kenny was travelling west in his Jeep Patriot when it crossed the centre line and struck an east bound Volvo transport truck.
The driver of the transport, a 54-year-old Maryborough Twp man, was uninjured. As of Friday morning, the OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigation Unit was continuing its investigation.
"We're just stunned," said Lynn Sandell Friday morning. Sandell worked with Kenny at Summer Fresh Salads.
Kenny was a Category Solutions Manager, or as Sandell simplified it, an analyst.
He would advise companies on the proper route to take with advertising and marketing.
"He was one of those guys who worked hard to get to know everybody," said Sandell. "He made the extra effort, even staying late to get to know everybody on the afternoon shift.
I'm just so sad for the kids; you could just tell he was an amazing father."
News of the tragedy hit Inverhuron hard. Kenny's father, Donald, built the Kenny family cottage in Inverhuron decades ago, and the family was extremely well-known and popular in the community.
"It really leaves a hole for the entire beach," said Gordon Barr, president of the IDRA. Barr remembers Kenny's father building the cottage, and knew him well for the past 10 years.
"He was instrumental in our kids day," said Barr. "If it hadn't been for him, the kid's days probably wouldn't have happened. He used to run movies on the beach for the children too. He was very outgoing and organized all kinds of things to do for the children."
Most recently, Kenny had been working hard to get tennis courts for Inverhuron. He sold memberships and was actively looking to secure additional funds from Bruce Power, OPG, Enbridge and the Society of Energy Professionals to help along the project. Through meetings with the rec board and council, money had already been set aside in the Municipality of Kincardine's budget for the project.
"He was a real go-getter," said Barr. "We couldn't have had a better person spearheading that project."
Kenny's Funeral Mass was held Sunday afternoon at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Markham. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to an educational trust fund being established for the four children.
Funeral arrangements were being entrusted to Highland Funeral Home in Markham, and information on how to donate can be made through the website at www.highlandfuneralhome.ca

How You Can Help Stop Asian Carp!

Dear Friends,
Thank you for all you have done to spread the word about the devastating threat of Asian Carp. Many of you came out to our Asian Carp briefings around the state, and I'm grateful to have your support in this battle to defend the Great Lakes.
U.S. Supreme Court Action Coming Soon
Last week, despite the new eDNA evidence and economic data presented by our team, the U.S. Supreme Court chose to deny our motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately close the Chicago-area locks. Our motion was an extraordinary attempt to protect the Great Lakes, but we felt it was necessary to use every legal avenue possible to stop the carp.
Fortunately, it wasn't the last opportunity the Court will have to examine the threat of Asian carp. We're now looking forward to the scheduled April 16th review of our request to reopen the "Chicago Diversion" case. This request to develop a long-term solution to protect the Great Lakes is supported by our neighbors in Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the Province of Ontario.
Asian Carp "Search" Results Questionable
The State of Illinois released the results of their so-called "search" for Asian carp in canals near Lake Michigan this week. The Illinois DNR said the use of nets and electrofishing, where fish are stunned and float to the surface briefly, failed to turn up any Asian carp.
The funny thing about that is that Illinois' own expert told the Supreme Court that "traditional tools" like nets and electrofishing "will be especially likely to fail to detect fish even if they are present" in newer areas. He also noted that Asian carp "are more difficult than most fishes to capture." At the end of the day, a spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service admitted to the Associated Press that "the failure to catch any Asian carp above the barrier didn't necessarily mean none were there."
So instead of what Illinois doesn't know, let's focus on what we do know. We know the Asian carp's ability to evade netting and electrofishing drove the development of a new DNA-based test. And we know that just a few weeks ago, the results of this more sensitive DNA-based approach revealed evidence of Asian carp as far as the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
The bottom line is, we need action TODAY.
What You Can Do - Call Congress Today!
Throughout our efforts to combat the Asian carp crisis I've been honored to be joined by a bipartisan group of attorneys general from other Great Lakes states and Michigan's own congressional delegation. Congressman Dave Camp and Senator Debbie Stabenow have sponsored legislation to close the locks and require a permanent separation of the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes.
Yet Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid have failed to act.
Below are the phone numbers for Pelosi and Reid, so you can make your concern known.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (202) 225-0100
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (202) 224-3542
Pelosi and Reid have the power to ensure Congress is doing all it can to act to protect the Great Lakes. Make your voice heard today!
Go here to read about the CARP Act, introduced by Rep. David Camp and Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Go here to read the text of the legislation.
After you call, please forward this email to five friends or family members, asking them to call Congress and demand action to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp today.
Thank you for your commitment to the Great Lakes ecosystem, our economy, and our way of life here in the Great Lakes State.
Sincerely,
Mike Cox
Attorney General


Asian Carp in the News
Editorial: Asian carp still swimming our way
Muskegon Chronicle
March 25, 2010
Michigan officials need to keep the pressure on Washington concerning Asian carp and on scientists trying to prevent them from entering the Great Lakes.
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Cox, Camp hold meeting on Asian carp
NBC 25 Mid-Michigan
March 10, 2010
More than 100 people attended a town hall-like informational forum at Saginaw Valley State University Monday for a peak at strategies to battle the invasive Asian Carp. The forum was hosted by Attorney General Mike Cox and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland), Ranking Member on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
"They will out compete the walleye, they will out compete the perch, and they will impact the trout and salmon populations (in the Saginaw Bay region)," Cox said in an interview with media just before the meeting began.
Cox said the Supreme Court will hear a motion filed by Midwestern attorneys general to close locks in the Chicago-area. Camp introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to urge the shutdown as well, with a companion bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in the Senate.
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Camp urges closure of Chicago locks to prevent Asian carp invasion of Great Lakes
Saginaw Valley News
March 15, 2010
U.S. Rep. Dave Camp called for the immediate closure of Chicago area locks to prevent the threat of the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.
Camp and state Attorney General Mike Cox organized a town hall summit today about 100 people attended at Saginaw Valley State University in Kochville Township on the threat of the species.
"We need to act now to prevent this invasion," said Camp, R-Midland. "We must close the locks now."
Cox had joined with other Great Lakes states to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a preliminary injunction to close the locks, but the request was denied. A rehearing is set this week, he said.
Visit StopAsianCarp.com and Sign Our Petition
You are currently subscribed to 501c3 as: sogg@tds.net.To unsubscribe click here: http://list.111power.com/u?id=6385989G&n=T&l=501c3&o=3839142(It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken)or send a blank email to leave-3839142-6385989G@list.111power.com

Giant Hogwood Alert for Inverhuron

One plant seen at the end of the public walkway on Lake Street in Inverhuron beside #131.
The description is as follows :-
A giant ( six foot plus ) Queen Anne's Lace look-a-like with reddish-purple stems.
If touched, the plant releases sap which can cause severe skin inflamation and blisters ; if eyes are rubbed it can cause temporary or permanent blindness. Emergency treatment :- get out of the sun, throughly wash skin with soap and water.
The Giant Hogweed is condemned as a "noxious weed" by Huron, Perth and Grey Counties. Viz. London Free Press Thursday 24 June 2010 - chip.martin@sunmedia.ca .
We saw this weed on our visit last week to the family cottage.
We may be reached by telephone in London at 519-679-0144.
Yours truly,
Murdena Sangster.
FOR MORE INFORMATION

TROY PATTERSON
Kincardine News Staff

The public has less than a week to comment on a government document that could lay the framework to introduce off-shore wind power development off of Point Clark, Kincardine, Port Elgin and up the west coast of the Bruce Peninsula and east coast of Georgian Bay.
The Policy Proposal Notice, entitled 'Renewable Energy Approval Requirements for Off-shore Wind Facilities - An Overview of the Proposed Approach' began its 'public review' process June 25, with comments from the public to be submitted by Aug. 24.
The purpose of the policy is to further develop wind resources in Ontario by providing clarity to developers on off-shore wind turbine requirements. The information is to be included as part of the Renewable Energy Act (REA) and the policy will also be "supplemented" by research conducted by the Ministry of Environment ( MOE), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
"In addition to this approach to off-shore wind projects, the MNR is undertaking a phased review of Ontario’s current process for making Crown land available for renewable energy projects," the Environmental Registry website reads. "The second phase of this review will include consideration of where, when and how the Government makes Crown land available for off-shore wind projects."
The Kincardine News was made aware of the documents by Mike Sapiro, a member of the newly formed Huron-Kinloss Against Wind Turbines (HALT). The group is in the midst of fighting a 55-turbine project set next to Point Clark by International Power Inc.
Sapiro is circulating the info in an effort to save the lake "from being damaged by these Industrial Wind Turbines."
"Once again, the government is trying to slip this legislation in without proper public input and proper notice to everyone, by putting this notice on a website that most people are not aware of," he said via e-mail.
Another Ministry of Environment: Renewable Energy website shows a map illustrating ' Wind turbine applications proposed in Lake Huron'.
The coloured areas illustrate proposed turbine locations in the water off of the shoreline north of Goderich to Amberley, in a line directly off of Point Clark and along the shore to Kincardine. The application areas continue off the shores of Bruce Power, north of Inverhuron to the shores off of MacGregor Point Provincial Park, just south of Port Elgin.
Sapiro said the source document for these maps originates from a 2008 report prepared for the Ontario Power Authority by Montreal-based wind power consultant Helimax Energy Inc. entitled ' Analysis of Future Off-Shore Wind Development in Ontario.' It is currently posted on the OPA website.
The document lists the sites ' More Favourable" for off-shore wind development already mentioned along the Bruce coast, as well as areas off of Stokes Bay, the coast north of Bruce Peninsula Provincial Park and between the peninsula and Manitoulin Island.
Comment period for off-shore wind power policy ends Aug. 24
It also lists ' More Favourable' to ' Least Favourable' locations on the east coast of Georgian Bay near Parry Sound, along the northern edge of Lake Erie and the north eastern part of Lake Ontario.
Sapiro said the report identifies the technical assessment and ranking of 64 sites in the Great Lakes region, considered 'Most Favourable' for development. The sites are in water depths between five metres and 30 metres, have an average wind speed of at least eight metres per second and have enough area to accommodate at least 100 megawatts of wind power.
He is encouraging the public to log on to the website and share their comments on the proposed off-shore wind developments.
A representative at Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell's office said they knew about the policy that's up for review, but was unaware of the applications within the riding. Mitchell is currently at Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference and was for comment as of press time.
Mitchell's staff member, Jennifer Hubbard, said the Aug. 24 deadline is only the first stage of comment and there will be more opportunity for the public to comment in the fall, with more information on dates and locations "available soon" at www.ontario.ca.
Huron Bruce MP Ben Lobb said he'd been informed of the off-shore projects by his constituents, but nothing officially. "It's the best kept secret I've heard in a while," said Lobb. Although it's a provincial issue that's out of his jurisdiction, Lobb said there is a "great energy mix" already and believes the focus should be on promoting nuclear power at the Bruce site and elsewhere in the province, rather than on wind along the lake shore. He also had questions that need answering about ice issues, depth and proximity of turbines to the shoreline, as well as the impact on tourism and private property.
Lobb said he would be following the issue with interest as more information surfaces.
Municipality of Kincardine chief administrative officer John deRosenroll said "this is the first time that I have seen a document for public comment."
Speaking from the AMO confrence, Municipality of Kincardine mayor Larry Kraemer said he'd only heard of the possibility of turbines and nothing about applications for actual projects.
"Nobody has brought it to my attention, but I'm very interested in it," said Kraemer, who plans to look into the issue while at AMO. "I've heard a couple of rumours, but I'll be making an inquiry (with MPP Mitchell) myself."
Bruce Power spokesperson John Peevers said via e-mail that he would have to check to see if the company had been notified, which may take some time, but was unsure if they would have a comment on it.
"As a company, it's been our policy not to comment on projects or proposals such as these," Peevers said.
To view and comment on the policy document go to The Environmental Registry website at www.ebr.gov.on.ca and enter 011-0089 in the registry number field.
To view the off-shore wind turbine application areas, visit the MNR website at www.lio.ontario.ca/imf-ows/imf.jsp?site=renew_en To navigate link: • Zoom into Point Clark/Kincardine, or Douglas Point/ MacGregor Point. • Open Wind resources layers folder on side bar. • Uncheck wind speed box. • Check Wind power applications, if the box is gray, zoom in until it is white, then check box. • Scroll down on side bar and click refresh map. • Click on legend on side bar.
Follow the story as it develops throughout the week at www.kincardinenews.com

More time for public input on Lake Huron's offshore wind turbines

By KINCARDINE NEWS
Due to increased public interest, the Ministry of Environment will be extending the public review period for it's O f f s h o r e Wi n d p o w e r Environmental Registry Posting from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7.
On June 25, the MOE, posted amendments on the Environmental Registry to provide clear, up front provincial rules for offshore wind facilities, including a 5 km shoreline exclusion zone for offshore turbines, measured from the water’s edge of the Great Lakes and other inland lakes like Lake St. Clair. The public review for this registry ( 011-0089) has now been extended to a 74-day review.
An Environmental Registry was also posted by the Ministry of Natural Resources on August 18 to invite comment on potential offshore areas and criteria that should be taken into consideration, which may constrain future development as part of the Crown land application process. The proposed regulations (011-0907) can be reviewed at www. ebr. gov. on. ca and are open for a 47-day public comment until Oct. 4.
Huron Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell is encouraging her constituents to participate in these public consultations. All comments will be considered as part of the decision-making process by MOE and MNR if submitted in writing or electronically, with the EBR Registry numbers provided.
Additional background information on Ontario’s Green Energy Act: www.mei.gov.on. ca/en/energy/gea/.

Bruce Power's steam generators plan shouldn't trigger full EA

DENIS LANGLOIS
QMI Agency
Staff at Canada's nuclear regulation agency are recommending the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approve Bruce Power's application to ship 16 low-level radioactive steam generators overseas without triggering a full-blown environmental assessment.
In a 28-page report CNSC staff conclude that Bruce Power's proposed emergency plan for the shipments is adequate to protect the health and safety of the public.
" For the protection of the environment, CNSC staff concludes that the environmental and human health risk from a release due to a credible accident during loading and transport would be very low," the Aug. 20 report says.
CNSC recommend the commission tribunal grant Bruce Power a transport licence, to expire in one year, for the shipment of the decommissioned, school bus-sized steam generators through the Great Lakes and on to Sweden.
More than 60 non-governmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and Great Lakes United, have called for a halt to the shipments pending an environmental assessment.
CNSC staff have concluded that an environmental assessment " is not required," the recommendation report says.
The commission tribunal will consider the CNSC staff's report and recommendation, accept submissions from interveners at a public meeting and then issue its decision. The public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Ottawa.
The CNSC staff recommendation to approve the shipments comes as no surprise, as the agency announced in a statement last month that Bruce Power's plan poses " no safety significant issues" to the public, workers or the environment.
That early declaration, before the public meeting into the matter, angered critics who accused the CNSC of prejudicing the public hearing process.
The CNSC, meanwhile, said the commission tribunal will make an independent, transparent and fair final decision.
Bruce Power, in its application to the CNSC, which was also obtained by The Sun Times, says the shipment plan presents " no risk to the public or the communities the steam generators will travel through."
The vessels will be transported by qualified companies, Bruce Power says, and all health, safety and environmental requirements have been met.
" Bruce Power believes the recycling of the material from the steam generators is a correct and reasonable action," Bruce Power's submission says.
CNSC staff are also satisfied with Bruce Power's land and water transportation plan for the steam generators as well as the company's compensatory measures, according to the recommendation to the commission tribunal.
" CNSC staff conclude that appropriate radiation safety measures have been proposed by Bruce Power to protect the health and safety of the workers and the public," the report says.
Staff also say the proposed shipment would comply with applicable national and international regulations.
" CNSC staff performed an evaluation of the inventory of the nuclear substances present and concluded that the activity contained within the steam generator has been adequately estimated," the report says.
The vessels contain 22 isotopes, including plutonium.

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revised 2010 Sept 1