No doubt there are lots of…

No doubt there are lots of comments on the potential removal of a full environmental assessment of the proposed Dresden Ontario dump site. Aside from the FACT that no comprehensive hazardous material investigation has been completed to identify existing hazards, the proximity to Mollys Creek and the subsequent drain to the Sydenham River should be sufficient to stop this project immediately. The fact that it is within 800 meters of the Town of Dresden and the adjoining residential areas contradicts previous Ontario guidelines for setback. Has anyone from your office actually visited the proposed site? Any person on the ground can easily see that the site was never intended for large scale waste of any type and was used, as intended, for the disposal of small amounts of ash. This was well before environmental assessments were ever carried out but that does not exclude the site from current standards if it is to be re-instated. The road traffic anticipated was never planned for when #21 HWY was resurfaced in that area. It would have to be ripped up and re-done at the Province's expense if the Province were to mistakenly approve the project. Adjacent land values would subsequently tank. The increased noise level would force the Municipality to implement a noise by-law effectively shutting down the facility for 12 hours per day, removing much of the financial incentive for the proponent. Notwithstanding these issues, the Premier stated last year in Windsor that if the citizens do not want it it would not proceed. Was that cynical electioneering?
The additional traffic past our doors will put our children at risk from heavy trucks and tandem dumps who cannot stop readily and are often driven by the less skilled while working their way up. The risk of collisions increases exponentially, particularly considering the heavy farm equipment traffic on these roads during planting and harvest seasons. They operate at night as well as during the daytime. Heavy trucks traveling 100KPH coming up on tractors moving at 30-40KPH at night is a recipe for disaster.
The stench and noise from the proposed site will make Northern Dresden residential properties uninhabitable, leading to civil unrest and probably vandalism of the site and the trucks delivering to the site. There will be a requirement for increased police presence. The Province will have to foot the bill for that as well.
If the proponent is contributing to the PC coffers the resulting scandal will sink the PCs in the next election, and with good reason, though going back on the Premier's word will do the same.
There is no easy out for the Ontario Government here. We already receive more than enough garbage from the Toronto area at the Ridge landfill site. Prime agricultural land wasted on a dump!! Ontario has plenty of rock covered land and disused mine sites to fill in and create mountains on. There is the place for fill to go. In 50 years the fill could then be used for development. Think ahead!
We do not want or need another dump site in Chatham-Kent. The citizens of this area will fight it with every means at our disposal!