MCK announces temporary suspension of all landfill operations

12/05/2013

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that, effective immediately, the MCK is suspending all landfill operations within the Territory. The decision was made today at a duly convened meeting and was supported unanimously by the ten (10) chiefs present. Chief Gina Deer was in Ottawa to make a presentation, while Chief Martin Leborgne did not participate due to the fact that he has a working relationship with the MCK’s Landfill Office.

The MCK is addressing allegations of possible unacceptable materials, concerns about landfill spilling over onto other properties and other compliance issues. It has begun an internal investigation into actions and procedures related to landfill operations. The Landfill Office will remain closed while the investigation takes place.

“We are obviously taking these matters very seriously,” said Grand Chief Michael Ahríhron Delisle, Jr. “We need to find solutions before problems become unmanageable. Protection of community members and protection of the environment are of utmost importance, so we need to ensure that our processes have the necessary integrity to provide the proper safeguards.”

“If it turns out that remedial measures need to be taken, we will do so without hesitation,” he concluded. “But we are not there yet.”

Landfill operations are administered through the MCK’s Landfill Office to ensure compliance with regulations in regard to quality of soil, possession of proper authorization permits and other matters of due diligence. Landfilling includes both residential and ‘large scale’ operations (defined as landfilling of areas over one acre in size).