by Cheryl Leschasin
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 05/97) - The Department of National Defence still hasn't decided what do with PCB-laden materials from the North's abandoned DEW Line sites.

Its options are shrinking, however, with the recent decision by Environment Canada that the toxic waste cannot be buried in the North.

"I don't foresee any changes in time for this year," said Tony Downes, director-general of environment with DND in Ottawa. "It looks like for this year we will have to continue to keep the material in canisters."

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation has the contract to clean up DEW Line sites. IRC consultant Roger Connelly said there was no time frame specified in the cleanup tender and therefore no problems with the delay.

Connelly confirmed that Environment Canada has officially turned down the request to bury PCB-laden materials at the sites, ruling the material is too toxic.

The decision conflicts with a statement issued jointly by the IRC and the DND earlier this year that PCBs do not leach from the paint and are therefore not dangerous to the environment.

However, if painted materials such as wood are burned improperly, there is potential for the PCBs to be harmful.

At the moment, there is only one licensed PCB incinerator in Canada, a facility in Swan Hills, Alta. However, Environment Minister Sergio Marchi recently lifted a ban on the export of PCB wastes.

DEW Line cleanup efforts are scheduled to move into the Cape Perry area, north of Paulatuk, this summer. Some work has yet to be completed in Tuktoyaktuk.