Comment Period Too Short

Tuesday, 25 March 2014 07:46

April 11 still deadline to comment on quarry pump application.

BEACHVILLE -- A member of the community liaison committee studying the Walker landfill proposal says more time is needed to consider reports related to the permit application -- now before the Environment Ministry -- to allow Carmeuse Lime Canada to pump water out of the west quarry pond at their Beachville site.

Ingersoll resident Mike Farlow, who's with the committee, says some of the reports addressing the permit are simply too large to assess in just 30 days...

"This ministry, with this permit have a thirty day comment period and that ends April 11th. The documents, just the hydro-geologist report is 85 pages on its own and that's just not enough time to go through this."

Farlow believes lowering the water level of the quarry pond will impact the water table. To gain more knowledge on the potential impacts, the liaison committee wants the attention of both Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman and Oxford MP Dave MacKenzie, and while Farlow says they know the committee is aware the matter is mostly a provincial issue at hand, he adds there could be aboriginal involvement which needs to be considered at the federal level as well.

"There is aboriginal involvement coming with this, and also anybody can make a comment -- this is an important issue for the citizens of Oxford County so we're hoping these two political leaders will step up to the plate and encourage this longer period needed to comment on this."

The community liaison committee studying the Walker landfill is hoping to get an extension to a consultation period for Carmeuse Lime's ask for a permit to pump water out of the west quarry pond of their Beachville operation.

Farlow says 90 days would give all parties concerned enough time to inquire and comment on the permit under consideration.

Walker Environmental Group have maintained that the Carmeuse Lime site in Zorra Township is capable of supporting a modern landfill facility. The Environmental Assessment Process will assess whether the site is actually suitable, and could take another four years to complete.