Hatley Township Council tackles issues in monthly meeting
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Contaminated soil, public works, and residential development were at the forefront of Hatley Township’s monthly council meeting on Nov. 5, led by Mayor Vincent Fontaine. Roughly eight residents attended, actively engaging in the question periods, which were the main platform for discussing pressing local concerns.
Contaminated soil management
Contaminated soil management, a major municipal and environmental issue, raised heated discussion during question period. Council members detailed the rising costs and logistical challenges of handling naturally occurring contaminants such as manganese, sulfur, and various metals. Current regulations require municipalities to transport even mildly contaminated soils to designated treatment sites, which often lie hundreds of kilometres away. These requirements are costly and have notable environmental repercussions, as soil hauling generates greenhouse gas emissions.
A council member noted the difficulty Hatley Township faces in following regulations that are perhaps overly broad. “We’re dealing with a situation where the soil might naturally contain substances like manganese and sulfur,” the council member explained. “It’s not truly ‘contaminated’ in the way people often think, but we’re obligated by the Ministry of Environment to treat it as such.”
Mayor Fontaine pointed out that compliance with these guidelines adds a considerable financial strain on the municipality, one that is expected to grow if the rules remain unchanged. The township now plans to lobby for regulatory changes, hoping to make a case for specific adjustments based on natural soil composition.
A resident expressed curiosity about whether Hatley Township was tackling this issue alone or if other municipalities shared similar frustrations. “Is Hatley (Township) the only one looking at this, or are other municipalities concerned?” he asked. Mayor Fontaine assured him that Hatley Township was part of a broader effort, with the Quebec Federation of Municipalities supporting municipal concerns over the cost and sustainability of these soil transportation rules.
“We’re not alone in this,” Fontaine responded. “The situation isn’t sustainable for a lot of us,” he added, emphasizing the financial and environmental costs of transporting low-risk soils across the province.
