Interim measures put in place for Landfill, Coordinator named

06/25/2014

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to announce that an Interim Landfill Coordinator has been appointed and interim measures have been approved that will allow for the impending resumption of landfill solely for personal and immediate residential development. No date has been set, but it is expected that these landfill activities will resume within the next few weeks.

Theresa Delisle, who has been working with the MCK’s Strategic Organizational Development Unit, has assumed the duties of Interim Landfill Coordinator. She has been working with an MCK team to develop interim policies and procedures.. The Interim Landfill Policy for Clean Soil and the Interim Landfill Procedures for Clean Soil were unanimously approved at the Tuesday, 24 Ohiarí:ha/ June Council meeting. These measures will provide better mechanisms to ensure that all landfill entering the Territory meets the proper standards for safety and acceptability.

Additionally, greater oversight has been implemented with the appointment of the Landfill Authority, an ad-hoc administrative body created to approve permits. The Landfill Authority will consist of MCK Executive Operations Officer Kevin Kennedy, Director of Public Safety Arnold Lazare and Ken Bourque of the Strategic Organizational Development Unit, who has experience in issues related to compliance.

The MCK wishes to advise the community that no large-scale private projects will be permitted at the present time. No landfill is currently being accepted in the Territory. Once all processes are in place, all requests for landfill will have to be made through the Interim Landfill Coordinator and all permits issued approved by the Landfill Authority. For greater clarity, this includes materials that may be purchased by the land owner.

“There is obviously a lot of work that still needs to be completed so we can get back on track,” said Ms. Delisle. “For community members who are either in the process of home construction or will soon be, we’re hoping to be ready to answer inquiries by Monday, July 7th.”