Lambton asks for full Environmental Assessment for York1 project

Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton County says there should be an Environmental Assessment of the York1 project at the former Dresden dump.

Dawn-Euphemia Mayor Al Broad brought the issue to council Wednesday. Dawn-Euphemia is borders on the property purchased by the Mississauga company and the municipality has been closely watching the most recent developments.

Last year, York1’s plan for a construction waste and soil recycling for the property on Irish School Road , north of Dresden, was posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. It revealed the company would bring up to 6,000 tonnes of waste to the site, using 700 trucks, each day. It also plans to expand the derelict landfill.

York1’s plan was going through the Environmental Compliance Approval process which allowed little public input.

After a community outcry about the plan, the province agreed to require a full Environmental Assessment of the project.

But, as Broad told Lambton County Council Wednesday “our wonderful premier has decided that there was going to be an Environmental Assessment done, and now he’s changed his mind.

“He’s introducing this act called Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. It’s funny how you call protect Ontario when you pull the EA away? Doesn’t make any sense to me,” he said.

Broad went to a public meeting held by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Officials there are urging residents flood the Environmental Registry of Ontario with requests to require the full Environmental Assessment. And he agrees saying Lambton County should also submit its objection directly to the Premier and local MPPs “to be visible that we 100 per cent need that Environmental Assessment done on that piece of property.”

Warwick Mayor Todd Case, whose municipality hosts one of the largest landfills in the province, says the Environmental Assessment is “crucial” to the development of the landfill. And he says, without it, the public will have little input in the plans.

County council agreed to write the letters to provincial leaders asking for the Environmental Assessment “for the York 1 waste disposal site be required.”

All councillors but Sarnia City/County Councillor Bill Dennis agreed. He told reporters after the meeting; “I don’t think the environmental checks and balances should be taken off the dumps. But the way that the motion is read, they (council) wanted to do away with the legislation altogether.

“That environmental legislation is an hindrance to business in general, whether it’s building projects, whether it’s building subdivisions.”

Aside from the letters to the Premier, Minister of the Environment and local MPPs, Lambton will submit a full response to the province’s proposal to the Environmental Registry of Ontario.