To the Editor:

Despite Waste Management’s efforts over the last 14 years to try to convince people that they are the owners of the “facts” nothing could be farther from the truth.  The fact is their last attempt to expand the Richmond Landfill was turned down in 2006 by the Minister of Environment because they did not understand the complex geology of the site, even after nearly a decade of trying.  The Minister agreed with the facts put forth by the citizens and their experts.
 
During the last expansion attempt people were told that the landfill was not leaking because the bedrock was as tight as pavement.  In 2012 the company is now promoting a geological conceptual model that is the complete opposite of what they had previously supported.  They now believe the fracture system of the site is so well connected that they can easily detect and capture any moving leachate by wells separated tens to hundreds of metres apart.  By any measure, such a dramatic flip-flop of understanding after such a long period of getting it wrong is a cause for concern and skepticism.
 
The on-going hearings of the Environmental Review Tribunal into the soundness of Waste Management’s Richmond Landfill site licence will assess the company’s understanding of hydrogeology and monitoring in order that the existing landfill can be safely closed.  In allowing an appeal to proceed, the Tribunal stated that, “The Tribunal finds that the landfill either is currently producing or could produce significant harm to the environment.”   This is strong language which lines up with what concerned citizens and surrounding communities have been saying for 14 years. 
 
If anything, this story should demonstrate the complex geology of the Richmond Landfill site; the risk to the water which people and livestock rely on for drinking; and the lack of wisdom by Waste Management in trying again to build a megadump on fractured bedrock in Napanee.
 
Stephen Bruce Medd
Greater Napanee

To the Editor:

Last week the first in what will be a series of public hearings that took place in Selby. These formal legal hearings are part of Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT). The Concerned Citizens are challenging the adequacy of the Environmental Monitoring Plan at the closed Richmond Landfill, site of the proposed BREC mega-dump.

We are indeed fortunate to have such a process which has allowed citizens to challenge the agreements made between their government (the MOE) and big business (Waste Management).

Based on the comments made by all parties at this first hearing there are discussions taking place. These might lead to the MOE and Waste Management accepting many of the recommendations made by the citizens, which had previously been ignored.

At their public information session on Wednesday June 27, Waste Management acknowledged that there are indications that the Richmond Landfill is leaking toxic leachate beyond the footprint of the dump and close to or beyond Beechwood Road.  They could not or would not offer contingency plans to contain leaks in the fractured bedrock environment. This is one of the issues that the citizens are challenging at the ERT.

The schedule for the ERT hearings would conclude in late January or early February. In the meantime there appears to be no sense of urgency on the part of the company or the Ministry of the Environment to contain the leaks.

Jeff Whan

Roblin, ON