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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.