There are major concerns in…

There are major concerns in regard to this proposal as it relates to our community in Porcupine, Ontario. There has been 50 years of sewage bypasses going into our small lake and no one paid attention until concerned residents became vocal due to sewage and toilet paper along their docks, etc.
If no follow up or reviews were done during this period then this should show that processes need to be tightened. If I understand correctly, there will not be an up-front, detailed review by Ministry staff to assess the potential environmental impacts of the specified operations; public participation and appeal rights under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 would no longer apply. Waste management systems that transport and store waste - in particular, asbestos waste, hazardous waste, and biomedical waste - have the potential to cause serious harm to our health and the natural environment. The City of Timmins is looking at becoming a Northeastern Ontario Regional Hub to transport sewage and compost waste into our community. Should this come to fruition, residents need to be assured that protections are in place. Improper management of wastewater and stormwater has the potential to cause serious impacts to freshwater systems and safe drinking water. Allowing up to 379,000 litres of groundwater-taking per day without a permit threatens aquifers, impacts wells, and strains municipal infrastructure and will greatly impact our small lake and watershed. Removing the requirement to inform Conservation Authorities about water-taking limits their ability to protect drinking water sources is concerning since if the co-digestion project is approved, waste and compost waste would be transported to the Mattagami Wastewater Pollution Control Plant which is located on the main drinking source for the city. Should there be any toxic spills, etc. communities living along the Mattagami River would be impacted. Before changes are made, it is critically important that a review is done on proposed projects in each municipality to see how any changes would have a negative effect on public health and safey and our environment.