[All] Part 2: Highland Quarry and critical habitats.

[Louisette Lanteigne]

--- On Thu, 5/12/11, Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com> wrote:

From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
Subject: Highland Quarry and identification of critical habitats.
To: ken.tuininga at ec.gc.ca, craig.laing at ontario.ca
Cc: "justin duncan" <jduncan at ecojustice.ca>, commissioner at eco.on.ca
Date: Thursday, May 12, 2011, 11:58 AM

Hello Mr.Tuininga and Mr. Laing

 
Have the scientists on the Henslow Sparrow Recovery Team mapped the location of it’s critical habitat in regards to the Highland Quarry application in Melancthon where these species has been identified and have they included those maps in a draft recovery strategy in order to clearly identify critical habitat? With the current plan to build the Highland Quarry, my objective at this time is to assure that the mapping has taken place in order to assure a reasonable measure of compliance towards Canada’s Species At Risk Act, the Provincial Policy Statement 2005 section 2.1.3.
 
Please provide me with a written answer via email and kindly email the response to all parties CC'd as well, I would greatly appreciate that. 
 
Also, is my understanding that currently there is NO recovery team established to protect the threatened Bobolink which has been confirmed on-site at the Highland Quarry. This would indicate to me that is far to premature for the province to approve of any aggregate extraction permit until this matter has been reasonably addressed in order to comply to the mandate of SARA. Please review this link for an Environmental Bill of Rights application titled: Amendment to the Ontario Regulation 242/08 (General) under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) respecting Bobolink and establishment of an advisory group to support the development of a long term approach to Bobolink recovery 
 
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEyNjAy&statusId=MTY4ODc1&language=en


Lawsuits have successfully been used to secure the proper mapping of critical habitat in regards to the protection of threatened and endangered species such as the Nooksack Dace in BC and the Greater Sage Grouse.in Alberta. It would not be unreasonable to state that the absence of mapping showing the critical habitat for threatened and endangered species may pose a liability risk for the MNR should the final decision not include that data based on sound science and thorough investigations. The David Suzuki Foundation's recent submission regarding this project cites numerous examples of questionable science in regards to the Highland Quarry application. Their concerns are in the attachments for your reference.

 I strongly advise the MNR proceed with a precautionary approach to secure that the data and mapping is based on thorough analysis of critical habitats for these protected species. It's much more cost effective to assure due diligence prior to the issuance of approvals than afterwards for all parties involved. I send this in good faith to make sure that compliance to provincial and federal laws are met prior to final approval. 

 
Thank you kindly for your time. 


Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2
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