AS MUCH AS IT PAINS ME

As much as it pains me, I have to admit that the article in the Orangeville Citizen/Shelburne Free Press on the NDACT meeting was balanced, so thanks to Wes.  For the entire article, here is the link:
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2011-01-27/Front_Page/NDACT_speaker_Pope_opposes_solar_wind_farms.html

I do take exception to some of the statements made by Highland spokesperson Michael Daniher to the reporter in response to NDACT's comments in the meeting.

Hi-lites as follows:

"...Mr. Cosack predicted Highland would have five sidings at the proposed quarry and would be running 25-hopper trains six times daily. He painted a scenario of slow-moving trains of that length taking perhaps 20 minutes to cross roadways....

Daniher said: "Information on activities associated with the proposed quarry will be contained in the application. Regarding NDACT’s comments at the meeting, rail operations often contain multiple tracks at the end of the line to accommodate and shunt traffic,” he said."

So Highlands isn't disagreeing, that is good.

"On water, Mr. Cosack said the area recharges the Nottawasaga and Grand rivers, a primary source of water “for a million people from Lake Erie to Georgian Bay.” He said Highland intends to pump water out of the pit and return it pure to the water table “after it has been mixed with dirt and oil” in the mine....
Daniher said:  The proposed quarry will not and cannot have the impact alleged by NDACT. Quarries are highly regulated, and a water management plan must be contained in the application."

Notice Daniher did not deny there would be an impact, just not the impact that NDACT is alledging. 

And as far as regulation of water, the MOE can only go on the information provided by the proponent.  No one except the proponent does their own tests, although the municipality could certainly choose to do so.  At this point they have indicated they will only peer review the information in the application which means the peer reviewers assesses the outcome with the information provided by the proponent.  Hmmm.

And a quarry with no impact on water because it is highly regulated?

Tell that to the people of Guelph where workers at James Dick's Dolime Quarry excavated four or five metres into a confining bedrock layer, exposing the city's water supply aquifer and drawing concerns of potential contamination. 

Original tests (you know those highly regulated ones) done by James Dick Construction showed bedrock layers were flat, but in fact the 420-million-year-old formation actually has an irregular topography, with some areas jutting upwards which you can ONLY tell by blasting and digging.  Hmmmm, not very reassuring for the 1 million Ontarians who rely on the water from Melancthon.