I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition and deep concern regarding the proposed landfill development in Dresden, particularly in light of the area's documented history as a former bomb range.

The decision to remove environmental protections and proceed with this landfill proposal is troubling enough on its own, but when combined with the land's past use as a military training site, the risks increase exponentially. Sites formerly used as bomb ranges are well-known to pose serious dangers due to the potential presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO), chemical residues, and underground gas buildups. Disturbing this land for landfill construction may trigger unexpected and catastrophic consequences.

We do not need to speculate about these dangers — we have a recent and tragic example in Wheatley, Ontario. In 2021, an explosion caused by a buildup of trapped gas beneath the surface of a former well site destroyed several buildings, injured multiple people, and forced the long-term evacuation of residents. That disaster was the result of incomplete knowledge of what lay beneath the ground — a painful reminder of how devastating the consequences can be when development proceeds without adequate caution, study, and transparency.

If this landfill is built on ground that may contain buried munitions or volatile gas deposits, the outcome could be even worse. Landfills generate heat and methane through decomposing waste, and the combination of this with potential buried explosive materials is simply too dangerous to ignore. Have the appropriate geological and explosive ordnance assessments been carried out? Have environmental and public safety authorities been consulted at length?

Abandoning environmental protections and fast-tracking this landfill is not only short-sighted — it may endanger lives. I urge you to prioritize a full investigation into the land's military history, conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment, and halt any development until the safety of this site can be assured beyond all reasonable doubt.

The people of Chatham-Kent deserve to be protected, not put at risk for the sake of convenience or profit. I respectfully request that this proposal be reconsidered in light of the very real and proven dangers associated with former bomb ranges and buried gas pockets.