<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div>I've just sent the following request to Waterloo Regional Council. <br><br>I would like to propose that GREN send an official letter to the Region and various municipalities requesting that our municipalities establish an official position in regards to the Highland Quarries ( as Guelph is doing.)<br><br>Details below for your reference. <br><br>Lulu<br></div><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font face="Tahoma" size="2">----- Forwarded Message ----<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu@rogers.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Regional Councillors
<RegionalCouncillors@regionofwaterloo.ca><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Wed, April 27, 2011 3:34:34 AM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Regional position regarding the Highland Quarry requested.<br></font><br><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div>Dear Hon. Council Members<br>
<br>
The Highland Company Quarry proposal is slated to be placed in
Melancthon in the vicinity of recharge areas and A1 farmlands. This project would introduce a quarry approximately 2400 acres, 200
meters below the water table. Many explosives will be required to access the aggregates, there
will be enormous amounts of trucking required and this project will use
600 million liters of water per day equal to 25% of Ontario's total daily
water usage. There is a section of the Grand River
Watershed on site but as with all watershed schemes, delineation is based on topography
without any regard to subsurface geological connectivity so the true impact
of this project will be much greater in terms of how it will impact our local water supplies both in the Grand River and in our Aquifers.<br>
<br>
Currently Guelph's City Council is reviewing the potential impacts of
this project to see how it may impact Guelph's aquifers and I would like
to formally request that the Region of Waterloo do the same. To review a Guelph Mercury article regarding this visit here: <br><br><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/521025--guelph-officials-examining-massive-quarry-proposal">http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/521025--guelph-officials-examining-massive-quarry-proposal</a><br><br>
The Highland quarry application has been submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). Public feedback by way of the Environmental Bill of Rights process was initially going to end on Tuesday April 26 however a 75 day
extension for public comment has been given by MNR Minister Linda Jeffery on Tuesday April 26. At this time we
have 75 days to initiate an official position on this matter. <br><br>I have personally reviewed this project and submitted input to both the
MNR and the Highland Quarry focusing mainly on the hydrogeology as seen in the attachments. The response
includes numerous pages of supporting materials that I will deliver in full to the Region later this week should you wish to review the rest of the documentation.<br><br>To review the technical studies produced for the Highland Companies supporting this proposal visit here:<br><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.highlandcompanies.ca/index.php/companies/melancthonquarry/technical_studies/">http://www.highlandcompanies.ca/index.php/companies/melancthonquarry/technical_studies/</a><br><br>In a nutshell:<br><ul><li>Stantec handled the hydrogeology studies using Modflow, a computer program created by the US geological survey to predict impacts. Essentially all they did was punch bore hole numbers into this computer program to get their results. </li><li>Modflow lacks specificity to sediment type and localized geology.
It's a flawed model to rely on and almost impossible to replicate because the program is so subjective. To be effective it requires proper data gathering to adequately map out the geology of an area. <br></li><li>The hydrology data used for this report lacks spring thaw analysis and they rely on bore hole studies done in 1945 to support their data.</li><li>In an outwash moraine system bore hole info results in false readings unless the data is reasonably supported with Ground penetrating radar images. </li><li>There is an overwhelming lack of regard to sediment composition and geology to prove their infiltration systems will actually work.</li><li>Basically, Stantec repeated the same flaws here as seen in the West Side Lands, Mount Nemo in Burlington, Capital Paving in West Montrose etc. They use the same standard strategies to undermine water risks while pitching promises that they can replace lost water volumes by infiltrating water into the ground.
<br></li><li>They assessed spring thaw surface water runoff by peaking over the fences to make observations and they admit this in reports. </li><li>They relied on water quality submissions regarding residential wells to predict water quality impacts of this project on local wells. </li><li>It's horrible data to work with and not the least bit reasonable to assess a project of this magnitude. </li></ul>Technically speaking this quarry does not require a proper Environmental Impact Study. The risks to our water supply are many. This project will adversely impact flow, flow rates, water temperature and water volumes heading to both the Grand River and our Regional aquifers because this area is located in the headwaters for the Grand. <br><br>Technically by law it is subject to the Haldimand Tract treaty because the project sits within the 6 miles of the Grand. I've spoken with aboriginal leaders from the Anishnebeg and Iroquois communities about this
issue on Tuesday. They have yet to be consulted and they strongly oppose this project along with the Council of Canadians. <br><br>It is my sincere hope that our Region and perhaps individual municipalities as well, can take the initiative to establish an official position on this issue. Should the MNR approve this project an OMB hearing will be forthcoming. It would be in our best interest to have a say now before it gets to that point. It's our water supply and our community should have a say on this. <br><br>The protocol at this point is to forward concerns to both the MNR and the Highland Companies at the following addresses:<br><br>Ministry of Natural Resources Midhurst District, 2284 Nursery Road, Midhurst ON, L0L 1X0<br>The Highland Companies, P.O. Box 377m Shelburne, ON L0N 1S0<br><br>Thank you kindly for your time.<br><br>Louisette Lanteigne<br>700 Star Flower Ave.<br>Waterloo Ontario<br>N2V 2L2<br>519-885-7619<br><br></div>
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