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Washington - As President Bush prepares for his
visit to Canada at the end of this month, several members of
the Michigan Congressional delegation are asking the
President to urge Canada to suspend municipal solid waste
shipments into Michigan. In a letter to the President, Sen.
Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and
Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) argue that the continuation
of the shipments is dangerous and also threatens the
positive trade relations and tourism that the U.S. and
Canada have long shared. For years, these Congressional
members have attempted to get the Bush administration to
stop the shipments.
“Canada is currently importing thousands of truckloads of
waste into Michigan every week, which poses health risks,
environmental hazards, and security concerns,” Levin said.
“As the President prepares for his first official meeting
with Canadian Prime Minister Martin, we want to make sure he
is aware of the seriousness of this issue to the people of
Michigan and we want him to press the Canadian government to
stop these shipments until reasonable safeguards have been
put in place.”
“Last year, in a matter of months, more than 165,000
Michigan residents signed my online petition, sending a loud
and clear statement that they would like the administration
to block these shipments,” Stabenow said. “These shipments
pose a homeland security threat, hurt Michigan’s environment
and recycling efforts and jeopardize the states roads and
bridges - and they should be a key agenda item when the
president meets with the Canadian prime minister.”
“President Bush can stand with Michiganders as we struggle
to prevent our state from becoming an international dumping
ground, or he can continue to stand idly by as this
happens,” said Dingell. “It is our sincere hope that we can
impress upon the President the seriousness of this situation
and that he will finally take action to correct it.”
In their letter, the Congressional members raise concern
that the number of truckloads of Canadian municipal waste
entering Michigan has more than doubled in the past year,
from 180 trucks per day last summer to a current average of
415 truckloads of waste a day. The members point out that
these shipments exacerbate environmental concerns due to
limited landfill space in Michigan; and they represent a
potential security threat because the nature of the cargo
does not allow for border inspectors to detect chemical or
biological weapons or other anomalies.
The letter to the President states that in 1992, the U.S.
and Canada agreed allowing the shipment of municipal solid
waste across the border, but requires notification of
shipments (which Canada ignores) and provides that the
importing country may withdraw consent for shipments. Levin,
Stabenow and Dingell urged the President to press Prime
Minister Martin to stop the shipments until there is
compliance with the terms of the agreement and the U.S.
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection is able to
adequately inspect these vehicles.
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