To Whom It May Concern, I am…

To Whom It May Concern,

I am submitting this comment as a school bus driver who travels daily on Concession Road B C, directly past the NRK Holdings Inc. excess soil/waste disposal site currently under ECA No. 6332 A2GNRY. I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the proposed expansion of this facility.

My primary responsibility is the safety of the children I transport every day. Based on my daily experience on this road, I am extremely worried about how the proposed increase in truck activity will further compromise the safety of school buses and the children who rely on them.

1. Increasing Truck Traffic Creates Dangerous Conditions for School Buses
Truck traffic is already heavy on this road, and drivers frequently:
• Travel at high speeds
• Fail to yield adequate space
• Pass unsafely
• Follow too closely behind the school bus
Operating a school bus requires wide turning space, consistent stopping, and predictable braking patterns. The current truck volumes already make safe operation difficult. Doubling the site’s capacity will significantly increase truck traffic, making the road even more hazardous for school transportation.

2. Debris Falling From Trucks Is a Daily Hazard
I regularly encounter debris falling from truck loads, including soil, rocks, and loose materials. These hazards:
• Strike the road surface in front of the bus
• Create potential tire damage
• Reduce traction
• Endanger students boarding or exiting the bus
Loose debris is also a sign that loads are not being properly secured.

3. Dust Clouds Reduce Visibility and Create Safety Risks
Dust generated by trucks entering, exiting, and travelling from the site often creates large dust clouds that:
• Reduce visibility for bus drivers
• Make it difficult to see students waiting at roadside stops
• Obscure lane markings, shoulders, and oncoming traffic
School bus safety depends on clear sightlines. Dust clouds make this impossible — and they occur daily.

4. Spillage of Waste Material Has Already Occurred
There has been at least one incident where a truck spilled waste material directly onto the roadway. Encounters like this require sudden braking or swerving, which is especially dangerous when transporting children.
Any expansion that increases load frequency and volume increases the chances of more spills.

5. Increased Capacity Will Put Children at Greater Risk
The proposed amendment would significantly increase truck traffic, storage volumes, and daily operations. As someone responsible for the safety of numerous children each day, I believe this expansion directly increases the risk to student transportation and should not proceed without addressing the following:
• Improved dust control
• Enforcement of load securement requirements
• Restrictions on truck speeds
• Safer road design or infrastructure upgrades
• Measures to prevent debris and spills
• Limits on truck traffic during school transit hours
Until these issues are addressed, expanding this operation poses an unacceptable safety risk to school buses and the children who rely on them.

Conclusion
Based on daily firsthand experience operating a school bus on this road, I strongly oppose the proposed amendment to ECA No. 6332 A2GNRY. The current level of truck activity already compromises safety. Any expansion will worsen this situation and place children at greater risk.
Thank you for considering these important safety concerns.