Richmond Landfill’s contamination problem resurfaced in the town of Napanee at this week’s council meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

Kingstonist

Ian Munro, a long-time member of the Concerned Citizens Committee of Tyendinaga and Environs (CCCTE), made a deputation at the meeting to update Council on the state of the landfill site on Beechwood Road.

Munro made Council aware of an attempt by Waste Management Inc. (WM) to bring the closed landfill into compliance with Ontario laws and regulations. WM has submitted three applications to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for approval, said Munro. He wanted Council to understand that, in the expert opinion of the CCCTE’s hydrogeologist, the proposals are “not adequate to protect human health and the local environment” from being exposed to noxious chemicals.

Munro stated that the decisions on these applications are expected to be issued in the coming weeks, and the Town of Greater Napanee Council should be aware of the implications.

There are two main conclusions for Napanee, stated Munro. “First, this landfill should never have been located at this location given the complex groundwater environment, and there should never be an expansion of this facility. Second, the currently proposed ‘solutions’ to the off-site groundwater contamination are untested and potentially very dangerous.”

At the outset of his deputation, Munro said, “I know I have a 10-minute limit [to speak], and I’m happy to live within that. But please understand that what I’m giving you tonight is a ‘Coles’ Notes’ version. There are plenty of resources out there for you to learn more.”

Munro then set the scene by going over the history of the Richmond Landfill site, explaining that the landfill was started in 1950, was expanded dramatically in the 1980s, and was immediately sold to a corporate waste company. Then it was sold in the 1990s to WM, which sought to undertake a massive expansion of the dump.

“That particular proposal was rejected in 2006 because the site was not safe,” Munro explained. “It took the MECP six more years after that to order the landfill to be closed… and it took until 2012 to get it closed.”

In 2012, CCCTE, the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and Napanee Green Lights challenged MECP and WM at an environmental review tribunal to ensure safe long-term monitoring. “This process proved the landfill was contaminating the groundwater, despite years of denials by Waste Management,” noted Munro. Due to the tribunal decision, WM is required to “delineate” the extent of “leachate contamination” and bring the site into compliance with Ontario laws and regulations.

An image from Munro’s presentation to Council shows the landfill site as a grey rectangle at the top of this map. The red area on the map represents the current plume of leachate contaminating the groundwater. Screen captured image.

Munro reported that, in 2022, MECP declared the contamination plume to be “reasonably delineated” — in his opinion, “a very strange selection of words.” The CCCTE does not agree with that conclusion, mostly due to issues related to the privately owned property located to the east of the landfill, he said. “Very little testing is being carried out on that property due to a lack of agreement between Waste Management and [landowners] the Martins… so that’s the basis of our concerns about the delineation.”

Munro presented maps to illustrate the group’s concern. “Waste Management, a year ago, submitted applications to get approval for their latest environmental monitoring plan, the Contaminant Attenuation Zone [represented on the map by a dotted line], and a controversial purge well system to manage the contamination onto the neighbouring Martin property. And, perhaps most controversial of all, they’re seeking approval to pump that contaminated water from the ground and deposit it onto the surface, in the stormwater control ponds, south of the landfill.”

Monro emphasized that “as far as I know, and as far as our expert hydrogeologist knows, this is the first time such a proposal has been considered by Ontario. It’s a very strange approach.”

According to Munro, the proposed hydraulic control system poses major risks. First, he said, there is no guarantee that it will work as Waste Management expects, due to very limited testing. “There’s no evidence yet that it could even work. It has been used in other environments where it’s not a fractured limestone base, with success. But this [landfill site’s fractured limestone base] is a completely different environment.”

An image from Munro’s presentation showed the proposed purge well system. Screen captured image.

Second, he said, it could actually make the situation much worse by causing deep saline water to upwell, drawing contaminated water from further underneath the landfill and bringing it to the surface, thereby increasing groundwater contamination.

Third, pumping contaminated groundwater onto the surface and allowing it to flow into the Beechwood ditch poses danger to those downstream, as it flows into Marysville Creek. Munro called this the “most gobsmacking proposal: [to] take this contaminated water and basically dump it into the creek, indirectly.”

Munro said the CCCTE met with MECP on April 11, 2023, and were advised that approval of these applications is expected by the end of May 2023. “Based on what we know at this point, these applications do not address the significant concerns of our hydrogeologist. There is a potentially serious threat to human health and the environment posed by these proposals. [But] in spite of that, MECP appears to be on the verge of approving these applications.”

Munro surmised that in the best-case scenario, the proposal will lower the exposure to the single property to the east of the landfill, but increase the exposure to many properties to the west and downstream on Callaghan Road and including Tyendinaga Township and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

“In the worst case scenario,” he reiterated, “it will make matters much worse by drawing highly dangerous saline to the surface and spreading it around.”

He left Council with options he said they should consider. The first was to confirm the Town of Greater Napanee’s earlier resolutions declaring Napanee to be an unwilling host for any expanded landfill at this site. Also, assuming the WM applications are in fact approved, the Town could appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal within 15 days, or partner with concerned citizens and neighbouring communities (Tyendinaga Township and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte) to file a combined appeal.

After councillors had a chance to clarify their understanding of the presentation, Mayor Terry Richardson thanked Munro, admitting that the landfill situation may have slipped out of the current Council’s sphere of awareness. “I know that most of us weren’t around when this whole process started with Waste Management. So for most of us, even in the last term of Council, we didn’t really experience a lot of it,” he said.

As always, you can read full Council meeting agendas on Napanee’s civic web online, and watch meetings live or recorded on the town’s YouTube channel.

The notice reported that a driver transporting leachate from the landfill to a temporary storage lagoon was instructed by WM staff to dump the load of approximately 3500 gallons (16,000 liters) in a wooded area on the property. This decision was taken because it was feared the vehicle would become stuck in the soft ground while en route to the lagoon.

This incident is of grave concern for the following reasons:

• The dumping occurred close to the headwaters of Marysville creek which runs through Tyendinaga Township and onto Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.
• Leachate contamination of the creek would threaten private wells, wildlife, livestock and residents.
• WM did not follow the compulsory Public Notification Plan (PNP) ordered by Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal decision (Case Number 12-033 dated 24 December 2015) putting residents and local communities at risk. (Note: the PNP requires reporting to the Ministry, local officials and the public within 36 hours of the event, whereas this incident was not reported for nearly a week.)

The concerned citizens have repeatedly recommended that the practice of dumping leachate in a storage lagoon on the Richmond Landfill property be stopped. This practice began in 2017 and has been assessed by an independent expert to be unsafe because the lagoon is leaking directly into the groundwater and threatening Marysville creek. This incident confirms that this unsafe practice is continuing.

Waste Management Notice to Residents can be found at:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5xdehq2yiatb3uc/Richmond_LF_WM_Notice_to_Residents_20200120.pdf?dl=0

ERT Decision can be found at:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/prq1ad4q2k5fupb/ERT12033d1.pdf?dl=0

Public Notification Plan can be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fivcm2ahf4x6i9b/Public%20Notification%20Plan%20Feb%202013.pdf?dl=0

FEATURING:John Deere lawn tractor; snowblower; wooden decoys; 2 hp outboard motor; 2 wheel utility trailer; electric leaf mulcher; new alum ramps; Doulton figurines; child’s large doll house;

COLLECTABLES: Old washing machine wringer; dynamite box; antique bread maker; milk bottles; 2 advertising coke books; Rawleigh tin in original box; buck saw; 2 wooden spoke car wheels; Singer treadle sewing machine; old speaker horn; counter scales; coke carry cooler; 2 old bob sleighs; Scythe; 3 hay car forks; cast iron fireplace cooking pot with tripod; old saws; spool bed; Tonka gravel transport & grader (metal); Rideau Canal charts; marine compass; wooden carpenter box; cast-iron log tongs (Blacksmith made); Globe, Antique Screw Barn Jack; large candle chandelier & 3 trunks; cast base figure lamp; Maple Leaf items; Cobourg Coin Set; 3 Napanee post cards; McDonalds promotional & employee pins 1990s; violin; Sherry Pringle painting; 2 hp Evinrude trolling motor;

FURNITURE: Gibbard wine table; high round table with 5 chairs; oval dining table 6 chairs, buffet hutch; 2 caned seat chairs; 3 section barristers book cases; dining table (small to large) 3 leaves; round pedestal dining table with 5 press back chairs; 2 bar stools; walnut dresser; white wardrobe; antique mirrored dresser; antique settee & chair (excl); harvest type table & 4 chairs; small tables; ornate padded bench; cheval mirror; set of 6 dining chairs & others; mantle clock; 2 half moon tables; love seat; 2 wooden stools; nursing rocker; set of stacking tables; open bookcases; wicker make up table; roll away cot; flower stands; coffee & sofa tables;

CHINA & GLASS: Cranberry pieces; quantity of blue & white china; Floral Garland Royal Doulton 10 place setting plus extra pieces; partial set of Bridal Rose china & Limoge luncheon set; cups & saucers; Rogers 8 place setting of gold cutlery; crystal pieces etc.; 4 Royal Doultons – 3859 – Sweet Bouquet – signed; 3767 Christine – signed; 3266 Diana – signed; 3263 Beatrice;

MILK BOTTLES: Rosebay; Holmes; Hunter (Napanee); Woodland (Parham);

LAWN & GARDEN & PATIO: 14 hp 48″ cut LX277 John Deere lawnmower; gas weed eater; hedge trimmers; 28″/277 cc yard machine snow blower; 3 step ladders; garden seat on wheels; 24′ extension ladder; 5 piece wicker patio set; 2 sets of rod iron tables & 2 chairs; 2 cast iron stand alone bird feeders; 2 cement lions; 2 flying geese; light house; cast iron fountain; cement fountain; iron step plant stand; Master Chef stainless barbeque with 80 lb tank;

OTHER: Karaoke machine as new; Total Gym XLS; treadmill; boat cover; 2 helmets; 2 gas lamps; shop vac; 2 wheel utility trailer; skill saw; sanders; drills; vice; etc.; 2 bicycles; dolly cart; boat bumpers; door shield; sheep skin; microwave; dehumidifier; potato bin; B/D grill; juicer blender; tea kettle; Details and photographs are at:http://www.lambertauctions.ca/auctionad.html# 

In preparation for the upcoming Provincial Elections and in collaboration with  Chief R. Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte we asked our local candidates to respond to a questionnaire about the Richmond Landfill.  We are pleased to report that candidates from all parties expressed their support for prohibiting a new or expanded landfill on the site of the Richmond Landfill. They also committed to work toward passing legislation to site mega-landfills on the safest and most suitable locations. To read our letter and their responses click this link: Provincial Candidates Statements

https://nyti.ms/2o1770s

Contact: cccteinformation@gmail.com Before June 12th to reserve a space.

CAR “BOOT” Sale (CAR TRUNK) COMMUNITY YARD SALE FUNDRAISER Vendors selling Yard sale Items from their Car Trunks

SATURDAY, JUNE 24 8am – 2pm Rain or shine!

(Sponsored by Concerned Citizens Committee of Tyendinaga and Environs-CCCTE)

MELROSE BASEBALL FIELD PARKING LOT McFARLANE ROAD, TYENDINAGA TOWNSHIP (Melrose Rd East from Shannonville Rd; follow signs)

To the Editor
Ten years of prosperity
Unbelievably, it has now been exactly ten years since the Minister of the Environment soundly rejected the plan to massively expand the Richmond landfill in Greater Napanee. The reasons for that rejection were many but boiled down to the unacceptable risks to the local environment, including the groundwater and surface waters surrounding the site as well as the threats posed to human health. Our communities should be proud that this was only the second time in Ontario history that an environmental assessment had been formally rejected in this manner – a tremendous accomplishment.
On the other hand, and equally unbelievably, the community remains at risk. First, the actions required to close and properly monitor the existing landfill still have not been fully implemented and it seems we remain years away from completing that critical task. Second, the site’s owner continues to desperately cling to a plan to establish a new landfill on the same site which had been rejected ten years ago for technical reasons. How can this be the case after all we now know about the unsuitability of this location for hosting a mega-landfill?
Greater Napanee has prospered over the past ten years. I (and many others) feel this is not a coincidence. The fact that this community is thriving without this landfill certainly proves it is not needed for economic growth. Given that we already know the environmental and health risks are unacceptable, we must continue the effort to ensure the threat of a new landfill is removed forever.

Ian Munro
Chair, Concerned Citizens

“Whereas the existing Richmond landfill is situated on a fractured limestone base,

And whereas the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has been quoted as saying that the Richmond Landfill “is arguably one of the worst sites in Ontario to ever locate landfill”,

And whereas the Richmond landfill has been shown to have contaminated the groundwater on neighbouring properties within the Town of Greater Napanee with landfill leachate,

And Whereas the groundwater contamination plume from the Richmond landfill has contaminated 6 private domestic wells,

And Whereas most neighbouring residents and farmers rely on well water,

And Whereas the proposed Beechwood Road Environmental Centre (BREC) landfill is proposed to be located just north of the existing Richmond landfill on the same fractured limestone base,

And Whereas independent studies have shown that all landfill liners will fail long before the end of the landfill contaminating lifespan which is estimated at more than 100 years has been reached,

Be it resolved that Town of Town of Greater Napanee (TGN) declares itself to be an unwilling host for the BREC landfill;
And be it further resolved that TGN requests that WM permanently withdraw their application to locate a landfill on their property adjacent to the Richmond Landfill;

And be it further resolved that TGN requests the MOECC to take the necessary steps to end the BREC Environmental Assessment process.”

MBQ – CLOSING SUBMISSIONS – FINAL – 150612 FINAL SUBMISSIONS OF THE APPELLANT (FINAL)