Pipeline rupture could fill Olympic swimming pool

By John Curry, Ottawa Community News, February 5, 2015

Imagine an Olympic swimming pool full of oil. That's the volume of oil that could escape into the environment if there were a full scale rupture of the proposed Energy East pipeline that would run just west of Stittsville. A total of 2.7 million litres could spill from a ruptured pipeline before it was shut down. This is because it would take 22 minutes for such a shut down to occur.

This is because once a problem were discovered by the leak detection system of the pipeline, it will take operators ten minutes to determine if it is a leak or a non-leak. Then, if it is a leak, it takes 12 minutes to shut down the pipeline. So, 22 minutes altogether elapse between the time of a leak and the ensuing shutdown.

Last chance to dump Carlsbad dump

By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Community News, February 7, 2015

About 100 residents gathered at the Carlsbad Springs community centre on Feb. 5 for a final push against Taggart Miller’s proposal to build a 172-hecatre industrial and commercial waste management site on Boundary Road. The Dump This Dump 2 campaign has been fighting Taggart Miller’s proposal for more than two years, citing concerns about long-term environmental impacts, traffic volumes and smell. The public meeting – which Taggart Miller did not attend – is part of the group’s ongoing campaign to inform residents about the developer’s environmental assessment (EA) submitted this winter, and to continue a letter-writing campaign to provincial decision-makers to stop the project in its tracks. via Last chance to dump Carlsbad dump.

City of Ottawa proposes new wildlife protections during construction - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, February 6, 2015

The City of Ottawa is proposing new rules for construction companies to follow when developing areas such as wetlands or forests. The proposal could limit heavy construction in habitats during what the rules describe as "sensitive times," such as if foxes are denning there during the winter or if baby birds are being cared for in the spring. via City of Ottawa proposes new wildlife protections during construction - Ottawa - CBC News.

NCC criticized for coyote warning after attack on horse - Ottawa - CBC News

By CBC News Ottawa, February 7, 2015

The head of the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre says the National Capital Commission was scaring south-end residents when they should have been informing them about coyotes in the area. On Tuesday, the NCC closed two trails after an attack on a horse in the Greenbelt near Woodroffe Avenue. Tracks found near the attack site were believed to belong to a coyote. via NCC criticized for coyote warning after attack on horse - Ottawa - CBC News.

Op-Ed: A new kind of city budget consultation
Ottawa Citizen

By Tobi Nussbaum, Catherine McKenney, Mathieu Fleury, Jeff Leiper, David Chernushenko, Ottawa Citizen Op-Ed, February 8, 2015

The words “budget” and “public consultation” may evoke suppressed memories of uncomfortable folding chairs, stale muffins and cold coffee. More worrisome, however, is the fact that for many, those words are synonymous with being talked at, not listened to. This week, we are hosting two sessions of what we are calling Budget Speak, in addition to the city-run area consultations. These will be an opportunity for residents of the urban wards to identify their municipal priorities, communicate their views on how to fund them, better understand the city budget process and learn how to influence budget decisions over the long-term. With help from Citizens Academy, a local citizen engagement organization, we are designing the sessions to be interactive – a mixture of small group discussions, voting and exchanging ideas, preceded by a short presentation on the draft budget. Importantly, we are asking residents to come prepared for thoughtful deliberation. via Op-Ed: A new kind of city budget consultation | Ottawa Citizen.

Letter: NCC is over-reacting to coyote spotted on Greenbelt
Ottawa Citizen

By Donna Dubrueuil, Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, February 6, 2015

Re: Mystery ‘wildlife’ attacks horse in Greenbelt, NCC says, Feb. 3. You would expect the National Capital Commission, responsible for a large natural area like the Greenbelt, to be more progressive when it comes to wildlife. Sadly, its over-reaction to a coyote spotted on the Greenbelt this week is par for the course — like the young lynx that was trapped and euthanized by the NCC in Gatineau Park a few years ago for no legitimate reason, resulting in much public anger. via Letter: NCC is over-reacting to coyote spotted on Greenbelt | Ottawa Citizen.

Homebuilders concerned over city’s draft rules to protect wildlife
Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen,  February 6, 2015 Ottawa homebuilders are concerned over the city's new draft proposals to protect wildlife. Ottawa homebuilders are concerned over the city's new draft proposals to protect wildlife.

A draft set of wildlife protection rules governing Ottawa’s homebuilders would raise costs (according to the builders) while protecting animals (according to a wildlife advocate). Ottawa has had a protocol for 15 years but wants to update it. It’s online here. The new draft, as summarized by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, “addresses sensitive timing windows for clearing, pre-stressing, site clearing, construction site management, wildlife encounters, and wildlife-proofing. It also provides guidance to developers on how they can help reduce post-construction conflicts between residents and wildlife, using wildlife-proofing measures and owner awareness packages.” via Homebuilders concerned over city’s draft rules to protect wildlife | Ottawa Citizen.

Orgaworld leave to appeal declined
Ottawa Citizen

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen, February 6, 2015

Orgaworld has been denied leave to appeal an arbitration ruling made in favour of the city last summer. The Ontario Superior Court delivered the news in a decision dated Jan. 30. The organics-composting company and the city engaged in a lengthy legal dispute about, among other things, how much leaf and yard waste could be included in the green-bin program. Both the city and Orgaworld had agreed that any contract disputes were to be settled through secret arbitration — the parties engaged in a 72-day hearing. via Orgaworld leave to appeal declined | Ottawa Citizen.
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