Comment
Our not-for-profit environmental health organization is based in Oxford County and supports land use planning decisions that protect the environment and public health. Please note that these comments are for the 6 related EBR numbers currently posted for Carmeuse Lime: 012-9852, 012-9850, 012-9849, 012-9848, 012-9845, 012-9843. Our organization is opposed to the proposed major site plan amendments and applications to add, rescind or vary conditions of the Carmeuse Lime site licences as proposed in the 6 postings on the Environmental Registry. We were not able to review any technical documents related to the ground or surface water on or around the site, there were also no documents related to the air quality (which has been an ongoing issue in the area), the traffic, or any other aspects of the quarry or area resulting from these proposals that may impact the environment or public health. The lack of technical documents supporting proposals for such a massive property is odd to say the least. Our organization is concerned with the lack of details related to the progressive and final rehabilitation of the Carmeuse quarry site. Our community has been made promises over the decades by various owners of the property that included public use of the land and quarry lakes for recreation. Our members and many in the community support the restoration of the property to agriculture where possible, and to a natural site supporting native species of plants and animals and passive community recreational activities on the rest of the property. A community who has endured decades of impacts deserves to use the site in a recreational capacity, and Oxford County's flora and fauna would benefit from a return to a naturalized state. The documents do not show where the proposed entrance/exit would be on the Carmeuse property. Keep in mind that this is a very heavily used haul route (County Road 6), that is also frequently travelled by the public, including children in school buses. Any alterations to Carmeuse Lime's haul routes and entrances/exits require proper traffic impact studies to be done. As an organization, we are also appalled that a tunnel is being considered for a location that would be dug underneath County Road 6. What kind of risk does this tunnel ask the public to assume? We are concerned that a lack of engineering documents provided means that all we have is a general location on a map, and not an outlining of how the tunnel would be constructed and reinforced, how it may put the road at risk of sinking or collapse, or how any damages may impact both the safety of Oxford's rate-payers, and also their wallets if something goes wrong. What costs would tax payers potentially be on the hook for? This area is fractured rock and we constantly hear reports about the instability of quarry walls and backfilled areas. Why should the public have to assume the risks of a tunnel dug under a public road, to support a private corporation? The Carmeuse quarry has grown exponentially over the years, with the reported impacts growing as well. If any alterations are to be made to the site licences, it should be to add conditions that control the off-site impacts reported by our community members.
Submitted May 6, 2019 1:56 PM
Comment on
Carmeuse Lime (Canada) Limited - Changes to the site plan for a pit or quarry
ERO number
012-9852
Comment ID
28245
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status