Citizens oppose WM application based on advice of expert hydrogeologist.
March 6 | Posted by Jeff | The Leaky Land BlogWaste Management (WM) has applied to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for approval of an updated Environmental Monitoring Plan(EMP), a Containment Attenuation Zone(CAZ) and a Hydraulic Control System (HCS) at the now-closed Richmond Landfill in the Town of Greater Napanee. The landfill has been leaking toxic leachate for years, putting it out of compliance with Ontario’s laws and regulations. Due to the inadequacies of the proposed EMP, in 2012 the Concerned Citizens Committee of Tyendinaga and Environs (CCCTE) appealed the proposal before the Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT). The ERT confirmed the proposed EMP was not acceptable and WM was ordered to delineate and mitigate the off-site leakage. The new applications by WM were intended to bring the landfill into compliance and respond to the requirements ordered by the ERT. Unfortunately, after all these years, it is the opinion of the CCCTE and its consultants that they still fail to do so. In summary, our hydrogeologist concluded the following: 1. The extent of the leachate plume has still not been defined. 2. The proposed EMP is insufficient to protect the neighbours and community from off-site impacts from the landfill. 3. The extent of the proposed Contaminant Attenuation Zone does not enclose the known leachate-contaminated plume. 4. The proposed HCS has not been shown to contain the leachate plume and could actually make the situation worse. 5. Contaminated effluent from the proposed purge well system should not be permitted to flow into the unlined storm water ponds and onward to the Beechwood Road ditch. 6. These applications should not be approved by the MECP Attached are the detailed submissions made by the CCCTE in response to these matters. The CCCTE would like to remind you that an application from Waste Management to establish a new mega-dump at this location is still active and an Environmental Assessment (EA) could begin at any time. If you would like to support our work in protecting our small community from receiving enormous volumes of garbage from elsewhere, please send your donation to CCCTE, 5 Carcallen Drive, Napanee, ON K7R 3H6.CELA letter to MECP re Richmond Landfill (February 24, 2022) Final Report_Wilf Ruland (Feb 23, 2022) EBRsubmissionFeb22 JWW Submission EBR 019-4955
Tags: Beechwood Road Environmental Centre, BREC, Concerned Citizens, Dump, Environment, Environmental Review Tribunal, Greater Napanee, groundwater, Landfill, leachate, Leaking landfill, Napanee, Richmond Landfill, Waste Management, Waste Management Corporation, CCCTE
Tell us what YOU think ...