I have a saying I repeat…

I have a saying I repeat when I speak to people about the environment “Nothing should be more important than protecting the air that we breath and the water that we drink”.

It is with that in mind that I write you today to express my concern over the possible approval by the Ministry of Environment to the application made by Heidelberg Materials, formerly know as Lehigh Cement, to burn Alternative Low Carbon Fuels or ALCFs.

Following is a list of concerns that I have with the proposal;

The cement plant in question is on an environmentally sensitive body of water (Picton Bay) that is surrounded by residential homes, some of whom draw water from the bay. The Town of Picton is located at the southern end of the bay and draws water from the bay for it’s residents. Including the town of Bloomfield and surrounding area over 7,000 residents rely on Picton Bay for their drinking water.
The plant currently burns coal, pet coke and natural gas in the process of making cement. I have always been uncomfortable with the piles of coal laying on the shore adjacent to the water. I had thought that we were well past using coal as a source of energy. Unfortunately the cement industry has a dismal environmental track record.
The introduction of ALCFs has been sold to the public as a way to reduce Greenhouse gases. I would like to see solid evidence that this is the case. Any analysis would need to include the carbon emitted from trucks bringing the ALCFs to the Picton plant.
I am also concerned about these materials being brought in from the United States. I had been told originally that the refuse would be sourced from inside 200 kms. Will these materials be trucked in or brought to the plant by boat?
I believe Heidelberg Materials has applied to the MOECP for an exemption to exceed the levels of noise and air pollution stated in the Environmental Protection Act. Given the number of residents who live in close proximity and live down wind, I would think that there would be more stringent controls on this plant and not an exemption.
I have read with interest the challenges many citizen groups in Europe, U.S. and Canada have had with the introduction of ALCFs in their locations. I am sure you are aware of these as the residents of Clarington had raised concerns regarding odour that occurred with the introduction of ALCFs at the St. Marys Cement plant.

I urge you to review this application as someone who lives near this plant. Noise is constant. Pollution to air and water is a threat to our health and well being.