As an informed citizen …

As an informed citizen (professional engineer & Ph.D. in healthcare governance), who is impacted by a possible decision to allow an aggregate facility in the proposed location, I have the following concerns:
1. The hydrogeological report not sufficient according to experts, which is very concerning given that the province recognizes the value of such expertise such as my designation.
2. The impact & maintenance of wash ponds is also a significant matter of both technical & operational concern that is not adequately addressed in the application.
3. There is inadequate documentation & controls associated with the issue of drawing water, especially an enforceable permit to avoid future expensive litigation due to harmful impact to landowners impacted by excessive water consumption.
4. The raw materials that this pit produces are primary products used in the most harmful carbon-creating secondary products (i.e. cement).
5. The recycling, specifically of asphalt & concrete, is not detailed in any technically sufficient report. Executed improperly, such activities not only increase carbon emissions but also can emit toxic gases into the atmosphere which impact local food, both agriculture & animals, which indirectly impacts human health but there is also a direct impact on humans without the food chain issue.
6. Any pit of the size proposed will have a negative impact to surface water flow to in a provincially significant wetland. See point #1, the hydrology is nowhere near sufficient, especially considering this sensitive wetland issue that is already recognized by the province.
7. There is a direct impact to homes in close proximity to the pit in terms of increased particulate matter in the air & noise. Both of these issues have direct impact on the humans who live in those homes. Such particulate matter air densities have been proven to cause respiratory illnesses, including those that are fatal while the medical evidence on noise pollution is well documented in terms of impact on a broad variety of medical conditions.
8. Pursuant to point #7, the hours of operation of this pit will further enhance not only the medical impact of operation but also the quality of life for homeowners but this significant increase in heavy vehicle will also increase the wear on basic infrastructure such as roads, making this venture more costly for all citizens (taxpayers) in the area affected. Note to that this traffic increase correlates directly to an increase in frequency of vehicle accidents, especially their severity to local residents due to collisions of passenger vehicles & heavy aggregate trucks.

Therefore, this entire proposal, which only benefits a company, will cause not only short term harm to local residents & existing agriculture but will also directly impact the environment in a non-recoverable manner, causing long term harm to the health of local residents & existing agricultural firms which depend upon safe clean water in adequate volumes as well as clean air.

Therefore, the application for this pit must be denied due to these factual & provable arguments. A decision to move ahead with this pit is highly irresponsible given these short & long term impacts to residents, food chain & existing agricultural operations, let alone the impact to our macro environment.