Agnico Eagle Upper Beaver Gold Project – Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines & Public Participation Plan

By Linda Heron on Saturday, March 12th, 2022

Posted in Fisheries, Impact Assessment Act, Mining, Misema River, ORA Submissions, Pollution, Regulatory, Regulatory Submissions, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Species at Risk, Upper Beaver Gold, Water Quality

The Agency has deemed the Project to be within federal jurisdiction and required it to undergo a federal Impact Assessment, and yet Agnico Eagle (AE) is planning to move forward with their advanced exploration as soon as weather permits. ORA objects to the Project moving forward with any advanced exploration activities that would result in any damage to the environment.

AE boasts about setting the “gold standard”, “for over 60 years Agnico Eagle has been attracting investment to Canada, from those who seek a mining company committed to make mining work better for communities, shareholders and the planet”.[1] ORA submits that Stakeholders expect AE to set the “gold standard” on this Project by undertaking the most environmentally and socially rigorous, advanced and responsible project “for communities, shareholders and the planet”. [1] Agnico Eagle Twitter Posting, 22 November 2021
ORA comments requesting a federal review under the Impact Assessment Act, 2 October 2021.
Upper Beaver Gold Project – IAAC Portal.

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ERO 019-4219 – Moving to a project list approach under the EAA

By Linda Heron on Monday, January 24th, 2022

West Credit River Brook Trout – Photo by Steve Nokams

When these unregulated projects come home to roost, and the environmental impacts begin to damage or destroy highly valued public interests, such as our lakes and rivers, endangered species, our drinking water, and the economy, the government will pay a very high price. Unfortunately, the damage that will result from these irresponsible and negligent actions will not easily be undone, and in many cases will not be resolved in our lifetimes.

If the government wants to incorporate “one-project, one review”, then it must be a robust EA process with fulsome public and Indigenous consultation, or it may find the process much longer than it might have intended.

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Bradford Bypass – Designation Request for a federal Impact Assessment – 63 groups

By Linda Heron on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021

Posted in Impact Assessment Act, Joint, ORA Submissions, River Concerns, Species at Risk, Urban Development

We are 63 environmental, farm and community organizations, many of which supported the February 3, 2021 designation request for a federal impact assessment of the Bradford Bypass highway (400-404 extension link) under the Impact Assessment Act. We are writing to indicate our support for the November 9, 2021 designation request made by three local community groups: Forbid Roads Over Green Spaces, Stop the Bradford Bypass and Concerned Citizens of King Township. Like them, we believe the proposed highway will result in adverse social and environmental impacts within federal jurisdiction.

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Agnico Eagle Upper Beaver Gold project – ORA Comments

By Linda Heron on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021

Posted in Government, Heavy Metal Contamination, Impact Assessment Act, Industry, Mining, Misema River, ORA Submissions, Pollution, Regulatory, Regulatory Submissions, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Upper Beaver Gold, Water Quality

The ORA strongly urges the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) to determine that a federal Impact Assessment is required to ensure that the ecological, social, and cultural effects of this proposed Project are rigorously assessed and mitigated. A federal IA would ensure that the potential ongoing cumulative effects of this Project on the environment, Indigenous communities and the public are fully addressed to ensure a more environmentally and socially sustainable outcome.

Upper Beaver Gold Project – IAAC Portal.

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Media Release: Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant – Federal Review Denied

By Linda Heron on Thursday, May 27th, 2021

Posted in Aquatic Life, Brook Trout, Erin WWTP, Fisheries, Impact Assessment Act, Joint, ORA Submissions, Pollution, Press Release, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Sewage, Urban Development, Waste Water Treatment Facilities, Water Quality, West Credit River

West Credit River. Photo by Steve Noakes.

Judy Mabee, Chair of the Coalition and President of the Belfountain Community Organization stated that, “The Coalition is not deterred by the Minister’s Decision. We will continue on with our work to protect this highly valued coldwater Brook Trout population in the West Credit River. We are more than willing to work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and other federal and provincial regulators, including the Town of Erin and its consultants, to advocate for a wastewater plant that sets a new best in class industry standard for the protection of sensitive coldwater receiving streams.”

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Minister Wilkinson Decision on Designation Request – Letter to Coalition

By Linda Heron on Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

Posted in Aquatic Life, Brook Trout, Erin WWTP, Fisheries, Government, Impact Assessment Act, Joint, Land Use, ORA Submissions, Redside Dace, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Sewage, Sewage, Urban Development, Waste Water Treatment Facilities, West Credit River

After careful consideration of the information provided by the Town of Erin, federal authorities, provincial ministries, the local conservation authority, the concerns expressed in your letter, other known public concerns, and advice from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency), I decided that the Project does not warrant designation pursuant to Subsection 9(1) of the IAA.

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Proposed Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant – Follow-up Commitments to the Environmental Study Report

By Linda Heron on Friday, May 21st, 2021

Posted in Aquatic Life, Brook Trout, Erin WWTP, Fisheries, Impact Assessment Act, Joint, ORA Submissions, Regulatory, Regulatory Submissions, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Sewage, Urban Development, Waste Water Treatment Facilities, West Credit River

The Coalition has carefully reviewed the ESR to see what habitat related to endangered or threatened species, Schedule 1 SARA species, migratory birds or rare and uncommon plants may have been impacted by significant damage that was done on the Solmar property in late December 2020 and into the first quarter of 2021. In particular, the damage related to the premature removal of brush and trees in and around the Project site, as well as significant damage to a first order tributary to the West Credit River in a Provincially Significant Wetland and Greenlands Natural Heritage designated area (Addendum 2). The Coalition has ascertained that there were no permits or authorizations for any of this work to take place. It is very difficult to do additional bird and tree studies when a great number of the trees and habitat were removed and burned.

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Requests to Ministers – Erin WWTF

By Linda Heron on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021

Posted in Erin WWTP, Fisheries, Impact Assessment Act, Joint, ORA Submissions, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Urban Development, Waste Water Treatment Facilities, West Credit River

The proposed Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant (Project) would release over 7 million liters of sewage effluent daily into the West Credit River, which is a relatively tiny receiver stream. This large volume of sewage effluent would be released downstream at the Wellington County Line into one of the last remaining native Brook Trout Populations in southern Ontario. This self-sustaining Brook Trout population is thriving because of the West Credit River’s unique and pristine coldwater habitat.

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Erin WWTP – Concerns over Brook Trout and Fish Habitat on the West Credit River

By Linda Heron on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021

Posted in Aquatic Life, Brook Trout, Climate Change, Environmental Assessment Act, Erin WWTP, Fisheries, Impact Assessment Act, ORA Submissions, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Urban Development, Waste Water Treatment Facilities, West Credit River

Redds just below culvert.

To confirm our position that the habitat within the culvert is not degraded and supports Brook Trout throughout the year, we draw your attention to a video by Steven Noakes, a local videographer, entitled, Brook Trout fry at proposed outfall location Erin WWTP, taken on the 30th of April 2021 in and around the culvert at the proposed effluent discharge site. The video confirms that Brook Trout fry are abundant in and around the culvert and demonstrates that the culvert habitat is not degraded, removing any question that it supports Brook Trout. In addition, Brook Trout spawning activity occurs a short distance above and below the culvert, where redds are abundant within 75 to 100m of it. There is no question that this area supports Brook Trout in various life stages.

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Erin Wastewater Treatment Plant – Assertion by the Haudenosaunee

By Linda Heron on Friday, April 30th, 2021

Posted in First Nations Treaty Rights, Impact Assessment Act, Joint, ORA Submissions, Pollution, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Sewage, Waste Water Treatment Facilities, Water Quality, West Credit River

The purpose of Aaron Detlor’s communication was to “advise that the Haudenosaunee hold treaty rights over the area contemplated by this Project, and that the Project will interfere with those rights and interests… At the same time we are hereby asking Minister Wilkinson and the Crown generally to withhold any pending approvals subject to the commencement of a good faith process to uphold the honour of the Crown”.

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