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Category Archives: Heavy Metal Contamination

Hydroelectric Program Development and Assessment – IESO Small Hydro Program

By Linda Heron on Friday, May 13th, 2022
Posted in Class EA for Waterpower, Energy, Heavy Metal Contamination, Hydroelectric, Industry, Ontario Water Resources Act, ORA Submissions, Pollution, Regulatory Submissions, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Species at Risk, Water Quality

First, it was enlightening to be provided with a clear definition of small and large hydro facilities in the Hydroelectric Program Development and Assessment webinar, as well as a total amount of power generated by these categories. You informed that the definition of small hydro would have a scope of installed capacity of 10 MW and under, with 30 companies representing 50 facilities generating a total of 120 to 150 MW, and large hydro having a scope of installed capacity of over 10 MW, with 3 companies representing 22 facilities producing a total of 1,000 MW. 

The increased number of small hydro facilities making such a small contribution to our electricity grid impacts on multiple Ontario riverine ecosystems, whereas the 22 facilities producing 1,000 MW of power on presumably fewer rivers has a much lower trade-off value. Additionally, larger rivers have a greater capacity to buffer some of the worse effects of hydroelectric. 

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Is it Renewable Energy if it Degrades the Environment?

By Linda Heron on Sunday, January 9th, 2022
Posted in Alternatives, Aquatic Life, Dams, Energy, Fisheries, Heavy Metal Contamination, Hydro Impacts 101: The Trade-offs, Hydroelectric, Nuclear Fusion, Pollution, Renewable Energy on Crown Land, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Safety, Species at Risk, Thorium, Water Quality

Is it really renewable energy when it degrades the environment and impacts on communities in a negative way?

There are 241 hydroelectric dams in Ontario, and only 3 facilities have provided any form of fish passage.

The effects of dams and waterpower facilities on fisheries have been well documented over the past century, and include the loss or serious decline of many iconic fish species, which are resources of importance to Ontario’s economy, biodiversity, and natural and cultural heritage. 

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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ERO-019-0773 – “Proposal to transfer requirements from Ontario’s industrial effluent monitoring and limits regulations into Environmental Compliance Approvals and revoke the regulations” – ORA Endorsement

By Linda Heron on Friday, December 6th, 2019
Posted in Heavy Metal Contamination, Pollution, Regulatory, Regulatory Submissions, River Concerns, Support, Toxics, Urban Development, Water Quality

Removing the regulatory baseline for 113 of Ontario’s most heavily polluting facilities in nine environmentally damaging sectors is the wrong approach if the Government of Ontario’s goal is to hold polluters accountable, as it has stated on several occasions.  In order to achieve that goal, the MISA regulations should be updated and expanded to new facilities operating in Ontario across the nine industrial sectors.

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Simon Lake Community wants Reprieve from Algae

By Linda Heron on Friday, October 7th, 2016
Posted in Algae, Climate Change, Heavy Metal Contamination, Pollution, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Stormwater, Urban Development, Vermilion River, Waste Water Treatment Facilities, Water Quality
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Simon Lake – Summer 2009

The VRS clearly recognizes the serious concerns of the SLCSG, however; we urge caution in the City’s approach to mitigating the algae issue. VRS agrees that action must be taken by the City of Sudbury to resolve the long-standing issue of algae blooms once and for all; however, we differ in the recommended approach.

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