I submiited my first comment…

I submiited my first comment about this proposal in late May. Having recently reviewed the traffic and noise assessments, I need to comment again.

Since Covid hit, I’ve been working from home full-time and go for walks at lunch. I’m quite shocked how many trucks currently travel up and down Beechgrove Drive and Manse Road to get to Coronation. I can’t imagine how much noisier and disruptive it’ll be if the biogas facility opens its doors.

The two reports were commissioned and paid for by the company itself. Neither of them are impartial, they’re only going to report a positive outcome for the facility/applicant. I know that sounds very cynical, but I don’t believe it’s a fair process.

Since I don’t have an engineering degree, I can’t point to specific discrepancies and challenge the data. I can observe they were referring to a lot of old data and making assumptions in cases where they didn’t have actual results and/or equipment reports/details. For example, on page 13 of the report, it says:

"Where a particular equipment model has not been chosen at this time, the analysis accounts for a similar unit with a representative power level."

Sorry, I’ve purchased many things for my home over the years. When it comes to noise, it varies greatly based on models. Bathroom fans are a prime example. Until you install it and start using it, you don’t know. While that may seem like a trivial example, I hope you get my point. The report doesn’t even include the actual model as the company hasn’t identified it yet. Sorry, you can’t base studies on unknowns.

Throughout the report, it also says something like this:

"There are sources of both continuous and impulsive noise associated with the proposed facility."

I went to university in Windsor and basically lived below the Ambassador Bridge for four years. I eventually got used to the non-stop truck noise because it was steady and continuous. It’s the impulsive noise which is disruptive, especially during the night when people are trying to sleep. I’ve lived in this neighbourhood for almost 30 years and it’s gotten increasingly louder over the years. This facility will only make it that much worse.

Even though the report states the company itself is within maximum noise levels, it doesn’t account for combined noise levels. On page 10 it says:

"The guideline for Class 1 areas (applicable to the subject facility and surrounding areas) limits the sounds from the facility, not to exceed the existing ambient sound level (Leq) generally due to road traffic in any hour of operation, or the MOE exclusion limits of:"

It refers to ambient sound levels “generally due to road traffic in any hour of operation.” What about the noise level of the facility itself in addition to the traffic noise?

The statement below, also from page 10, concerns me the most and is one of the main reasons why I question the validity of this report. The last sentence admits lack of investigation on the ambient noise levels – at the very least, that needs to be completed, and not by a company/organization hired by the applicant.

"As the proposed facility is located in an existing industrial area with existing facilities operating under valid Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs), the MOE guidelines also permit the use of the existing ambient sound level generated by these facilities within the respective time period (day/evening/night) as the applicable sound level limits. The ambient sound levels have not been investigated at this time and the above noted Class 1 Area sound level limits have been used to assess the proposed facility."

I don’t want to wear ear plugs when I go to bed every night. Besides the noise and traffic, the current proposal will add significant dangerous emissions to a part of Scarborough that’s already one of the most heavily toxic parts of Toronto (according to City of Toronto report in 2017).

The proposed facility will add trucks every day, all day when we currently have peace and tranquility in our sleeping hours (though it’s been getting increasingly noisier throughout the night, much more than it used to be). It’ll also add significant odours to our old, tree-lined neighbourhoods.

Please stop this facility from being built in a residential neighbourhood. It doesn’t belong here.

Thank you again for your attention to this matter.