ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT
In the early part of January 1986, I attended a meeting of concerned citizens in West Lincoln Niagara. The Ontario government (OWMC) had decided to place a mega-site toxic waste dump site in the heart of the Niagara Region. The major concerns were: soil, air, food chain contamination, toxic spills, land value, short and long term health impact, and missing the opportunity to truly resolve the global toxic waste issue rather than just burying and burning it.

As I drove home that night, I felt in my heart the anguish of these concerned citizens and the powerlessness against the Ontario government. I also felt compassion towards our future generations inheriting a Toxic Waste Dump Site and a contaminated environment. I also knew that toxic waste was a reality and needed to be dealt with immediately.

The next two and more years of my life, and that of my enduring volunteers, were dedicated to organizing and leading a series of public awareness demonstrations and environmental assessment hearings. The People Power Rallies Against Toxic Waste Dumps had attendances in the thousands. Nobody had ever witnessed before this time such a public interest in an environmental issue. The governments were now listening. After a long and arduous road this proposed Toxic Waste Dump was scrapped in favour of Reduction-Reusing-Recycling. The environment had been freed, inhabitants of this planet had shifted towards taking the responsibility for their waste, caring citizens (David) had won against the insensitive government (Goliath).

During this process, I met and was assisted by many thousands of people who truly loved and cared for this planet. Two very special ones were Lois Gibbs and Dr. John Jackson.

Lois Gibbs was the housewife who led and won the Love Canal environmental-disaster fight against the government. The Love Canal communities were built on old, forgotten toxic waste sites. People bought homes and created family nests. As time went on, residents became ill and innocent children were born deformed. The Love Canal became synonymous to toxic dumps world wide. In the process, people and governments became more conscious of this planet. Thank you Lois Gibbs and your concerned citizens.

Dr. John Jackson, a national leading environmentalist, with his scientific background, brought to my awareness the scientific aspect of the environmental issues. Thank you John Jackson, for your assiduousness and leading role you played in the environmental hearings that opened new doors for a cleaner future.

Both John Jackson and Lois Gibbs have dedicated their lives to the preservation of the environment.

Contaminants enter the soil in several different ways and from many different sources. It is imperative to be aware of the environmental integrity of the soil our homes are built on. Often, it is necessary to have an environmental site assessment done on the property we live on, starting out with what is known as Phase 1 and progressing to Phase 2 if required.

Industrial and commercial emissions, spills, careless waste and disposal are the main sources of contamination. Municipal disposal sites and agriculturally induced toxins are also often major polluters. Contaminants travel through the soil, waterways and air a long way for a long time with global affliction. Usually there is no odour, colour, taste or any evidence of past or current presence. Often they are present in parts per billion. Toxic in some cases, carcinogens in others, mixing and mingling to form new chemical cocktails that are not yet named. The contamination of sites is a widely spread problem, no one really knows yet the full extent of this issue.