HOT ISSUES @ bpeg.ca

The Ministry of Environment’s July 7, 2009 letter to the hydrological consultant working for the proponent of the Keppel Quarry expansion was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The letter written by W. Armstrong, Regional Environmental Planner from the Ministry of Environment states:

“The potential impacts upon the Shouldice Wetland are still undefined…… the karst assessment in the April 8, 2009 Cowell Report … concludes that the wetland is hydraulically connected to the underlying bedrock and likely both gives water to and receives water from the bedrock.”

“If the proposed quarry proceeds and it induces drawdown impacts similar to those of the existing quarry, the cone of influence from the advancing extraction face will at some point spread beneath the Shouldice Wetland. Given current data, it is unclear when this will happen and what the water resource impacts will be. The interaction between the Shouldice Wetland and the bedrock needs to be better defined and the potential impacts of localized de-watering near and beneath the wetland needs to be more accurately forecast.”

“Given this continuing uncertainty about hydrogeologic impacts, we are not able to provide a further opinion as to the hydrologic impacts upon those surface water features in the vicinity of the proposed quarry. Based on the predicted hydrologic impacts, in our view, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) will need to consider the consequences of those hydrologic impacts upon natural heritage features and fluctuations and come to some position regarding what are acceptable impacts.”

To view the full correspondence see the slides at:
http://smugmug.com/gallery/6000046_zj4H8#567867874_qF4pP

(Photos are best viewed by clicking on the large photo, then clicking through the 137 images with the ">" button. Alternate method to view photos is click the "slideshow" button, then click the "fast" button in top left of screen. You may need the free Adobe "Flash" reader to be loaded on your computer for proper viewing.)

Does the Ministry of Environment really let the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority decide what are “acceptable impacts?”
That seems like a conflict of interest: The Ministry of Natural Resources have a mandate to develop quarries under the Aggregate Resources Act. The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority is funded by aggregate fees/taxes collected by the local governments who have already expressed public support for the quarry expansion. Are they really taking an unbiased perspective in the approval process?

The proposed expansion of the Keppel Quarry is adjacent to the Provincially Significant Wetlands that are the headwaters of the local spring fed lakes Francis, McNab and Shallow Lake. The location is also adjacent to the headwaters of the Park Head Creek and Sauble River. Many residents of both Grey and Bruce County may be impacted by the decisions to approve the Keppel Quarry Expansion. According to the MOE, the impact on these wetlands are unknown and potentially of high impact.

Surely there are better locations to locate blast extracted rock quarries. What evidence is there that the site needs to be located within the Niagara Escarpment Plan area, in a designated Greenbelt? The proposed site is also in a recognized World Biosphere Reserve and adjacent to an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. Surely there are better locations for a quarry.

What can you do to object to the Keppel Quarry Expansion? Write to decision makers now, during the review process. Your written objection will help!

1) Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Toronto ON M7A1A1
or log your comments with the Premier at web site: http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/default.asp

2) Honorable Donna Cansfield, Ministry of Natural Resources
6th floor, Room 6630, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley Street, West,Toronto, Ontario M7A 1W3
or comment online at:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/ContactUs/index.html
select Online Feedback: Please select a Subject “Message to the Minister”

3) Dwight Duncan, Ministry of Finance, email at: Duncan.mpp@liberal.ola.org

4) Kevin Daniel Flynn, Ministry of Environment, email at: Kflynn.mpp@liberal.ola.org

5) Hon. Michael Gravelle, Northern Development and Mines,email at: Mgravelle.mpp@liberal.ola.org

6) Hon. Gerry Phillips, email at: Gphillips.mpp@liberal.ola.org

7) Hon. Leona Dombrowski , Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,
email at: Ldombrowsky.mpp@liberal.ola.org

8) Bill Mauro, Ministry of Natural Resources
Suite 6522 6th Floor, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley Street, W., Toronto M7A 1W3

9) Honorable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, 12th floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue W., Toronto, ON, M4V 1P5
or online at: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/forms/email-form.php?replyRequested=y

10) Write a letter of support to the Niagara Escarpment Commission (the NEC have opposed the Amendment Plan PG 167 - Quarry Expansion) Kathryn Pounder, Senior Planner, NEC, 232 Guelph Road, Georgetown, Ontario L7G4B1

Or email: Kathryn.pounder@ontario.ca

11) Write a letter to the editor of:

The Owen Sound SunTimes, 290 9th Street East, Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 5P2
or by web: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx

The Wiarton Echo, Box 220, Wiarton, Ontario N0H2T0
Or by web: http://www.wiartonecho.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx

The Toronto Star, Ian Urquhart at email: oped@thestar.ca
or write to address: One Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E6.

(Letters to editors must include full name, address and all phone numbers of sender (daytime, evening and cell phone. Street names and phone numbers will not be published.)

Rare species need your help. The health of our eco system is in question. Once the government approves the quarry, it will be too late.

This is an outline of concerns regarding expansion of Harold Sutherland Construction Limited “New Keppel Quarry” on Grey Road 17 just northwest of Owen Sound on way to Copper Kettle and Bass Lake.

An application for a very large “New Keppel Quarry” has been underway for some time and now is the time to express your concerns in order to have an impact that may help stop the application. The proposed location of the quarry expansion is currently a pristine environment beside Grey Road 17 near the Copper Kettle, just a few miles northwest of Owen Sound. There are many reasons for alarm.

For photo research on the Keppel Quarry expansion, goto this link:
http://smugmug.com/gallery/6000046_zj4H8#567867874_qF4pP

(Photos are best viewed by clicking on the large photo, then clicking through the 137 images with the ">" button. Alternate method to view photos is click the "slideshow" button, then click the "fast" button in top left of screen. You may need the free Adobe "Flash" reader to be loaded on your computer for proper viewing.)

The Aggregate Resources Act, (ARA) has a legislation that enables what they call a “proponent driven” approach for quarry applications, which means the proponent initiates and runs meetings, notice, etc. in keeping with the legislation.

The Aggregate Resources Act may be viewed at the web-link provided
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90a08_e.htm

Under the ARA process, Harold Sutherland Construction Ltd advertised its proposal in the local Sun Times newspaper on April 17/07 and the public information meeting was held on May 9/07 at the proposed location of quarry site just northwest of Owen Sound on Grey Road 17 on the way to the Copper Kettle. However it appears that many affected people and organizations were not aware of this proposed development because it was reported that only 3 people attended the May 9th meeting. Odd for a proposal with such far reaching consequences.

A call to the Ministry of Environment (Greg Powers 519-873-5000) confirmed that the site plan for the “New Keppel Quarry” includes provisions to pump 5,250,000 litres per day of water. This would occur 17 hours per day, 265 days per year for 10 years. There is a great concern that this activity would have a negative impact on the adjacent wetlands and the wildlife. Local farmers are also concerned about the impact on water levels. See the following Ontario Environmental Registry web site for specific details on the proposed water pumping.

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTAwNDc3&statusId=MTUwMTEz&language=en

The proposed site for the Quarry expansion is adjacent to a designated, protected Area of Natural & Scientific Interest (ANSI).

The proposed site for the quarry is surrounded on three sides by Grey Sauble Conservation Authority managed area 72, “The Glen”.

The site is also very close to the Bruce Trail and is within the protected area of the Niagara Escarpment.

The proposed site is adjacent to Provincially Significant Lifescience protected wetlands and within a World Biosphere Reserve and regcognized Greenbelt.

There are significant environmental, noise, traffic, dust issues involved. Rare species of plant, animal and insects are at risk.

Here is a link to the Niagara Escarpment Initial Staff Report, 2007 regarding the PG167 Ammendment Application received from the proponent:
https://ospace.scholarsportal.info/bitstream/1873/9963/1/279235.pdf

Alarming aspects of the official “New Keppel Quarry” site plan appear to include:

1) The site plan calls for a quarry much larger than the size of the existing Harold Sutherland Construction Limited Quarry. A hole roughly 70 feet deep will be dug and very large quantities of water will be pumped. The site plan shows that this hole will require vigorous pumping in order to allow access to the rock. Once completed the plan shows that the natural water level will be 55 feet deep. This hole will become a sink into which the local wetlands will drain.

2) The new quarry will use massive amounts of explosive material per blast. During heavy blasting phases up to 1126 pounds of explosive per day could be used. There is a real concern that the amount of blasting called for in the plan will fracture the bedrock and result in a catastrophic draining of the water table and the adjacent protected wetlands.

3) The plan shows 600,000 Tons of gravel to be extracted per year. With each truck loaded to 25 Tons, this works out to 24,000 truck loads per year. This site application would provide for 48 years of operation at this level. Add to this countless truck loads of Redi-Mix and Asphalt.

4) Noise will be created during work days M-F 6AM-6PM & Saturday 6AM-1PM. The noise has been bothersome to homeowners along the delivery routes.

5) The plan also incorporates an on-site Asphalt Plant and Ready-Mix Cement Plant adjacent to the existing Area of Natural and Scientific Interest with smoke stacks expelling contaminants. Noise and chemical by products are troubling.

6) Noise levels of the on-site equipment are shown at 104-121 db. This is well above the audible pain level and likely to have a direct impact on wildlife, even though some thought has been put into attenuating the noise.

7) The site plan anticipating pumping water back and forth between the new and existing quarry via a tunnel under Grey Road 17. Lime clouded water will be settled out in ponds so that the lime can be sold for various purposes.

There is a plan to pump site water into the ANSI designated area once per year. PRIOR TO TESTING, NO WATER SHOULD BE PUMPED UNLESS IT HAS PASSED THOROUGH TESTING JUST PRIOR TO THE PROPOSED PUMPING. Tests should be completed for Ammonium Nitrates and other chemicals in addition to the limited list of chemicals proposed to be tested for. Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) is often used as an explosive compound by quarry operations because it is relatively inexpensive. With over 1100 pounds per day being exploded there is a real fear that Ammonium Nitrate will get into the water. Since Ammonium Nitrate is clear, the water may be clear but still contain deadly concentrations this and other harmful contaminants.

8) Surface water that was once wetland water will become open pond water with a surface area approx 144 acres. Such open water evaporates much faster than natural habitat wetlands, which will result in a draining effect on the natural wetlands in the Area of Natural and Scientific Interest.

9) The site plan eliminates an existing Road Allowance since it is located in the middle of the proposed quarry pit. A Road Allowance is public land, and in my opinion the plan should be set back 20 metres.

10) The site plan shows a small setback from the adjacent Area of National and Scientific Interest, however this buffer zone is also shown as a storm water pond. In my opinion, the whole quarry is just too close to this protected area.

11) There is a real concern that the site plan does not fully address the recent “Species at Risk” and “Source Water Protection” legislations.

The complete application and supporting documentation is on file at:

Ministry of Natural Resources, 1450 Seventh Avenue East, Owen Sound, N4K 2Z1, attn: Dave Munro, Aggregates Technical Specialist 519-371-8470

Harold Sutherland Construction Limited, R.R. 2, Kemble, Ontario NOH 1S0 Attn: Harold Sutherland 519-376-5698

Georgian Bluffs Township office, 177964 Grey Road 18, R.R.3, Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 5N5 - Planning Office 519-376-2729

County of Grey Office, 595 9th Avenue East, Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 3E3 - Planning Office 519-376-2205

While we appreciate the importance of available aggregate materials, surely there are alternate locations for a proposed quarry that are not within the Niagara Escarpment protected area, not within a World Biosphere reserve, not within a recognized Greenbelt, not adjacent to a Provincially Significant wetland, not adjacent to a designated Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), and not surrounded on three sides by a protected Conservation Area.

Talk about the proposed Keppel quarry with your friends and neighbours. Do we benefit enough to leave the results to our children’s children?

What can you do? Act now, during the review. Get involved. Speak up. Be heard.

1) Write the Premier of Ontario: Dalton McGuinty, Premier, Legislative Building, Queen's Park,Toronto ON M7A 1A1
or log your comments with the Premier at web site: http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/default.asp

2) Write the Ministry of Natural Resources: The Honorable Donna Cansfield, Ministry of Natural Resources, 6th floor, Room 6630, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley St., West, Toronto M7A 1W3
or comment online at:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/ContactUs/index.html
select Online Feedback: Please select a Subject “Message to the Minister”

3) Write the Ministry of the Environment: The Honorable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, 12th floor, 135 St. Clair Avenue W.,Toronto, ON, M4V 1P5
or online at:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/forms/email-form.php?replyRequested=y

4) Write a letter of support to the Niagara Escarpement Commission. The NEC have opposed the PG167 Ammendment file to expand the quarry: Kathryn Pounder, Senior Planner, 232 Guelph Road, Georgetown, Ontario L7G4B1. Or Email Kathryn at kathryn.pounder@ontario.ca

5) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is the Hon. Leona Dombrowski
ldombrowsky.mpp@liberal.ola.org

6) Dwight Duncan,Finance
dduncan.mpp@liberal.ola.org

7) Kevin Daniel Flynn Ministry of the Environment
kflynn.mpp@liberal.ola.org

8) Hon. John Gerretsen
jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org

9) Hon. Michael Gravelle Northern Development and Mines
mgravelle.mpp@liberal.ola.org

10) Bill Mauro, MNR
Suite 6522 6th Floor Whitney Block
99 Wellesley St.West
Toronto, Ont., M7A 1W3 tel 416 314 6467, Fax 416 327 0617

11) Hon. Gerry Phillips
gphillips.mpp@liberal.ola.org

11) Write a letter to the editor of the Owen Sound Sun Times
290 9th Street East, Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 5P2 or by web:
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx

and/or the Wiarton Echo, Box 220, Wiarton, Ontario N0H2T0

and/or the The Toronto Star, Ian Urquhart at email: oped@thestar.ca
or write to address: One Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E6.

Letters must include full name, address and all phone numbers of sender (daytime, evening and cellphone). Street names and phone numbers will not be published.

Finally, Please email us your feedback: nokeppelquarryexpansion@comcast.net

I hope everyone noticed the information sheet included with your property tax bill recently sent out by North Bruce. It contains a page and a half of 'recycling depot rules' telling you how and what to place in the bins and is worth checking out. I was surprised to discover that milk cartons are okay and here I've been tossing them in the garbage. Useful info and let's hope it's a step toward cleaning up that Ferndale mess.

One of our members sent round a few pictures taken at the Ferndale recycling centre a couple of days ago. They show overflowing recycle bins and several bags of garbage in front as well as a disaster of all kinds of materials in the water behind the boxes.

This is a situation we have seen repeated far too many times in the past few years and it is an embarassment to all of us who care about our local environment. It would be very easy to lay blame on few or many of us for this situation but in truth we all bear some of the blame.
On the one hand many of us do in fact use the boxes to recycle materials which would otherwise significantly reduce the lifespan of our landfills. On the other hand our system of recycling has longer term flaws which we must repair.
-First of all we all must take responsibility for placing the right recyclables carefully in the right boxes.
-Secondly we all might take a minute to pick up a couple of pieces which have escaped and place them back in the boxes.
-Thirdly the boxes must be emptied more frequently to avoid the overloading often seen by our members and reported to us regularly
-Fourthly our council MUST act on its long promised changes to the location to prevent the wind blown mess around the boxes. There must be a fence placed behind the boxes to prevent material ending up in the wet ditch behind and field behind. A better placement of the boxes would be out of the wind altogether.
-Fifthly the return of boxes to Lion's Head would reduce the pressure on the Ferndale containers.
-A better system must be found to keep the area around the boxes tidy. If staff assigned to do it then it should be done thoroughly and daily if required.
Do you have any further suggestions to help clean up this mess? Please add your comments
Don

The following resolution has been designed by Mike Jorna and passed by the board of BPEG. It will be presented to the Council of the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula in the early spring of 2007.

Whereas the International Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the Global Average Temperature will increase between 1.4 and 5.8 degree Celsius by the year 2100 if present trends continue, and whereas:

It is virtually certain that most of this warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions related to human activity, and whereas:

It is believed these temperature changes will have catastrophic consequences to the livability upon the planet for humans, plant and animal species, and whereas:

The concerns for the future living conditions and the wellbeing of ecosystems are shared by scientists, governments at all levels, and by citizens, and whereas:

The basic idea of “think globally, act locally” has become the driving force behind initiatives, activities, and policy changes by individuals, organizations, business and governments, and whereas:

Environmental “sustainability” as it applies to ecosystems, water, atmosphere, habitat, human communities, and resources, is our ultimate goal for the future of the Earth, and whereas:

The citizens of the Northern Bruce Peninsula are the fortunate custodians of a piece of the planet that is in many ways still pristine, with unique forest, water and ecosystems, and whereas:

Northern Bruce Peninsula is well positioned to show others the way to sustainability as it develops toward a future that satisfies the economic, recreational, and residential and energy needs of its citizens without compromising the area’s air, water, forest and ecosystem resources, and whereas:

The proper place for any action plan that leads to a future desired by the citizens, is with the elected representatives, as policies are adopted that will guide the municipality toward sustainability,------

Therefore be it resolved that the Council of Northern Bruce Peninsula commit to including Environmental Sustainability as a factor in its decision making and the setting of policy in areas of budget, economic development, energy use, land use planning, recreation, waste handling and disposal, and forestry.

And be it further resolved that the Council of the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula establish a citizen’s committee to advise Council on environmental and energy matters.