[All] Highland Quarry discharge permit: Lulu comments

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks
The Highland Quarry is seeking a permit to allow for discharges from their proposal. Below are the comments I submitted in regards to this issue.
To leave your comments visit here: http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEzNzUy&statusId=MTcwNDA3&language=en
Lulu :0)__________________
The particulates associated with the trucking include Benzo (a) Pyrene, trace metals, VOC's PAH's and gases including nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and formaldehyde. The use of road salts also toxic, poses a significant threat to both surface and groundwater resources on and off site. From the plans I reviewed, it appears the company intends to wash trucks on site in order to reduce the risks but in light of this concern:
-How with the water from the truck washing be discharged? -Will this discharge be properly analyzed for pH and total suspended solids, oil and gas before being released?-If the water is contaminated, how will this issue be addressed?-Has there been a pre-development salt mitigation strategy proposed for this project? -Will there be ongoing monitoring for water quality and salt impacts? If so how long will these studies continue?-Have pre-development studies been conducted in tributaries to reflect the 12 month seasonal variants including pH and total suspended solids? -Should salt levels increase in wells as a result of this proposal, who is fiscally responsible to re-mediate those wells?
Snowbanks along creek systems could be used to gather data in regards to monitoring the impacts of airborne particulates heading into creek systems but it would require pre-development studies first.
In regards to management of dust, water spraying requires frequent applications while CaCl2 and MgCl2, absorb moisture, but are toxic to plants and can potentially contaminate the aquifer.  Oil derivatives and lignin compounds pollute. In light of these issues:
-How will the company reasonably prevent introducing deleterious substances into area water supplies and farmlands?-How long will dust mitigation strategies be required for this project? How many years? -How much energy will be required to facilitate the dust management strategies and where will that energy come from?
The quarry proposal is planned to go 200m below the water table. In a pit of this depth it is reasonable to assume particulate matter will concentrate on site posing a serious risk for employees working in the pit.  There is incontrovertible evidence that increased PM 10 is related to increases in cardiopulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumoconiosis and premature death in those with pre-existing conditions.  Studies by the Heart and Stroke foundation released in January 2008,  show that every 10 mg/cm increase in long-term exposure to fine particulate matter can increase the risk of dying from heart disease and stroke -- in some individuals, such as smokers -- by as much as 94 per cent. Another study has reported that a day-to-day increase in a PM 2.5 level as low as 20 mg/cm can elevate the risk of heart attack within 24-hours by 69 per cent. Crystalline silica dust is common from processing sand and gravel and is a known
 carcinogen. I advise that dust reporting include a specific analysis of crystalline silica content and dispersion. In regards to these concerns:
How will this company assure healthy air quality for their workers and the residents of this community and others adversely impacted by the increased traffic?
What monitoring will there be to protect the public from particulates associated with the diesel trucks and Quarry and should those levels be surpassed, will residents be informed in order to allow them to take precautionary measures?
What is the “safe” threshold of Particulate Matter Pollution in regards to this project?
There are significant geological risks due to the fact the location contains Karst systems that can collapse with the introduction of sound and land augmentations.  It is my understanding the blasting will take place daily with the exception of holidays.  If explosions take place in the vicinity of Karst it can result in serious issues including:
-the sedimentation of caves-water quality deterioration-land form destruction -sink hole collapse -stream desiccation- water table lowering- earthquakes-overall ecological degradation with impacts that could expand for miles well beyond the current study area. 
What measures are proposed to reasonably address these risks?
It is my understanding that there are threatened species in the vicinity to this quarry including the Henslow Sparrow and the Bobolink. In light of this concern:
-Has the critical habitat been clearly delineated in regards to this project? -Will the noise produced by the Quarry have adverse impacts to these protected species? ----Will the air quality or trucking activities or sound degrade their habitats?-Are MNR permits being sought to destroy specimens? If so how many?
Should there be property devaluation in the adjacent farmlands, residences or area businesses, either by way of noise, traffic or dust, who is fiscally responsible to compensate these individuals? 
Thank you kindly for your time
Louisette Lanteigne700 Star Flower Ave.Waterloo OntarioN2V 2L2



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