Here's an Idea ...

Industry apparently prefers to be self-monitoring. But are they willing to enforce consequences on offenders? What if every time there were problem emissions of any kind, every industry around the Bay were fined heavily by the government? Companies would then be much more motivated to identify the offending party and pressure them to change their behaviour. They would be much swifter to take action if there were this type of incentive. Not fair to those who are being environmentally responsible? They could always get their fine money back by sending their bill to the company that is really responsible. That way they would not only be self-monitoring, they would be self-enforcing.

Been a while

Haven't had a chance to add anything for quite a while. Sorry. Here are a couple of shots from a friend.

The first two pictures below were taken Dec 3, 2006 at 9:07 and 9:14 am respectively. The second one was taken from Clare Ave. The emissions from this Dofasco stack continued throughout the whole day, going in all directions, but primarily toward the Beach strip.














The above picture is at Bitumar, on Eastport Drive. Note the damage to the top of the tank, caused by an explosion. People who live within 200 metres of this facility were assured, prior to construction, that there was no danger of such accidents taking place. What if the next explosion is larger?

Happy Thanksgiving

It was a glorious day, but did you notice how smoggy it was by the end? The emissions in these pics look fine at first, but check out the haze accumulating from them. After a whole day of this, the blanket of toxins hovering on the city was one thing I was not thankful for ...

Oct 8 2006 9:42


Oct 8 2006 10:43
Oct 8 2006 10:54

Do ya think?

Been busy, so haven't posted anything for a while. Take a look at this birdfeeder though, from a home just north of Centre Mall. It was cleaned a week before this picture was taken. Why bother when your "neighbour" just keeps on messing it up like this. And check out the pool cover - the stuff won't come off. These shots were taken Thurs Sept 21.













Now take a look at what is coming out of the stacks just behind these homes. (The homes in questions are just to the bottom left of these pictures). The shots were taken Tues Sept 26 from 2:40 to 2:46 pm.


Do you think there might be a connection? Can you imagine what would happen if the tables were turned, if someone from this neighbourhood were doing this to the homes and cars of the owners of these industries?

Thurs Aug 31, 2006

Every time I looked this afternoon the emissions from these two stacks were like this or worse - I just didn't have time to take any pictures until a few minutes ago.
6:15pm

Aug 21 2006

MacMaster Professor Brian McCarry has analyzed samples of the soot which has been plaguing our city of late and has concluded that it did not come from Columbian Chemicals. There aren't that many other players out there - surely some very basic detective work could determine those responsible if only Industry and the Ministry of the Environment would stop passing the buck as to who is responsible to take action. Here are a couple more hints as to where one might begin to sniff around ...
7:32 am
7:34 am

Look left, Look right ...

Both shots taken from the same location within seconds of each other (Aug 9, 2006 9:57 am)- just a little shift to the right ...


Google is saying that my blog has spam characteristics. Not sure what that means. They say they are going to check it out, and then send me an email to my gmail account. But when I try to log into that account, it won't recognize my password. When I go through their process for verifying the password, it asks me a security wuestion which I did not create. When I go further, they ask for a verification code, but I never received one of those. Anyone have any advice? I'd really like to not have this blog shut down ...

Aug 9, 2006 Cont'd

Here are more shots showing the contrasts referred to in the previous post
9:51 am
9:53 am
9:54 am
9:55 am

Aug 9, 2006: Smoggin' up a Beautiful Day

It's amazing the difference a change in perspective makes. Today, from ground level, the emissions don't seem extreme at all, just about normal in fact. But that's the problem - look at the difference when contrasted with crisp, clean air - air the way it should be ...

9:43 am
9:44 am

9:48 am

9:49
9:51

Stelco Coke & Sinter Stacks, Aug 3, 2006

1:15 pm
1:16 pm
1:17 pm
1:17 pm

Stelco Coke Stack, August 1, 2006

Do you think Stelco might also be contributing to the Black Soot problem?
6:20 pm

6:21 pm

6:46 pm

6:46 pm

Mystery Source of Black Soot

These shots were taken Monday, July 31 at 2:54 pm. Check out the
series of stories in The Hamilton Spectator on black soot plaguing Hamilton neighbourhoods (just click on the above title to go to one of the articles. To read the rest do a search on The Spec's website for "soot"). Sorry for the sarcasm, but do you think that emissions like these from Columbian Chemicals just might be related? Funny how the company had nothing "unusual" to report. Should that be comforting to us?

UPDATE Aug 9: I just learned that Columbian Chemicals did know of this emission, that it lasted for 10 mins and that they then shut down the stack for 2 days while they fixed the problem. Well done!

July 6, 2006 8:02 am

A friend sent me these this morning. Stelco's plume is coming right down on the Beach Strip, while Dofasco's is just missing it. A great way to start the day for Beach Strip residents!

June 26, 2006 5:55pm and 6:48 pm

It would be nice if it would let up for even a day or so. It's just brutal when the wind direction brings it all onto us, but then again, our city is producing it, it's hardly fair when others have to breathe it.

June 25, 2006 12:30 pm

When the plume is coming towards you, it is more difficult to see, but not to smell. From the corner of Sherman and Gage to the corner of Burlington and Victoria, and perhaps even further, the air wreaked like vomit and you could feel the effect in the back of your throat and sinuses. Anyone experience headaches and extreme irritability Sunday afternoon?