Comment ID: 194883 …

Comment ID: 194883

Delighted to contact you as per a strong desire to protect the environment in the region of Prescott-Russell, Ontario, Canada, and the imminent crisis in which we all find ourselves - as a "non-welcomed" Cement Plant Project is literally threatening our way of life. This Cement Project should be banned by local politicians (Colacem has - needless to say - not a great track record, here or abroad). Moreover, this Cement Plant Project actually contradicts the actual mandate of Champlain Township (which focuses to develop means for a resplendant 21st century agricultural approach along with a leisurely way of life). Please take this and other comments at heart as we are not prepared to give up on Champlain Township quite yet (a Cement Plant would destroy the heritage and rich potential of the region). Indeed, the proposed SWM pond is intended to capture runoff from the entire Colacem Cement Plant site. lt will most likely capture dust, particulate matter outputs from both the activities on the Cement Plant site and adjacent quarry (whose activity will double from its existing output). This would most likely have implication of toxic matter releases directly into the Ottawa River via the Charlebois drain... not monitored by the proposed monitoring program (!). Potentially harmful substances such as heavy metals, mercury and others toxic pollutant, apart from the 20 % releases coming from the SWM pond, could be released directly into the Ottawa River via the Charlebois drain (the heart of the region, a major affluent of the St Lawrence, less than 100km from Montreal). This could pollute the Ottawa and Saint-Lawrence Rivers and constitute a very serious public health threat to the population who use the water from these two rivers for drinking water. We believe that heavy metals are not filtered by Municipal Water Station downstream for all the population of Eastern Ontario along the Ottawa River, including also the inhabitants bordering the Ottawa River in Quebec. Will the MOECC monitor the quality of our drinking water? If so, how and at what frequency? What would be the indicators? There is already a very high level of cancer ratio in the region (32% higher than others), leading to higher medical costs for each of us struggling with parents or family member affected. There must be a stop to this madness and we hope not only better control of our water quality (IVACO is not only already a great pollutant in the heart of L¿Original) but a stop of more polluters such as this Colacem Cement Plant. There is no need for this heavy industry in the core of our agricultural region. The consequences imply directly the health of many Canadians living in the immediate region. Worse, the Charlebois drain is an open creek that runs through agricultural lands and between residences on both side of Bay Road. Families live there and some have children who play near this creek or in the water, in the vicinity of the drain discharge into the river. Also, because of the recreational nature of the L'Orignal Bay, many citizens are getting in contact with an already contaminated water almost everyday of the summer, this new contamination would simply be the end of our quality of life. The Ottawa River has been an important waterway in the history of Canada, Ontario and Quebec. The River itself has obtained a heritage designation this summer. Any pollution of this River is of faderai jurisdiction, according to the Canadian Constitution Act. We hope for your wise revision and rejection of the Colacem Cement Plant.