Beechwood Road Environmental Centre (BREC)
In early 2010 Waste Management of Canada (WM) applied to construct the Beechwood Road Environmental Centre (BREC) at a location north of its existing Richmond landfill. The company promised to use the latest technology and processes to ensure the highest standards and efficiency. The facility would be an integrated waste management site that would include the following components:
- Material Recycling Facility
- Residential Diversion Facility
- Landfill-Gas-to-Energy Facility
- New Landfill Footprint
- Electronic Waste Handling Facility
- Organics Processing Facility
- Construction & Demolition Material Facility
The proposal is for management of 8 million tonnes/year over 20 years.
See WM project website – http://brec.wm.com
EBR 011-6110 – Environmental Compliance Approval (air)
In 2006, Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment refused to expand the Richmond Landfill due to environmental concerns.
“In our view, the science is clear: fractured bedrock aquifers are complex, vulnerable to contamination, difficult to monitor, and virtually impossible to clean up if contaminated,” said Mike Bossio, Chairman of the CCCTE. “For example, the Richmond Landfill was built in a fractured bedrock setting, and now the Ministry of the Environment (“MOE”) has found that the landfill has impacted groundwater at, and beyond, the landfill boundaries in excess of allowable limits under MOE Guideline B-7, contrary to the site’s Environmental Compliance Approval under the EPA.” (article)
The Richmond Landfill was closed due to environmental concerns in 2011.
Opposition
BREC opponents are concerned because as Margaret Walsh, Reeve of Tyendinaga Township said, “The hydrogeological characteristics of this area – such as highly fractured bedrock, thin soil cover, and proximity to watercourses – make this location fundamentally unsuitable for the establishment of the BREC landfill.” (article)
They point to the problems with the Richmond landfill. “As noted in a previous SCOOP article leachate from the [Richmond] dump is trucked daily to an intake behind Napanee District Secondary School. Through the Napanee sewer system, it is delivered to the sewage treatment plant. Sludge from this plant has been finding it’s way to local farmer’s fields and eventually into our food chain. Yikes!” (article) (www.thescoop.ca)
As at August 2013, opposition groups are collaborating to request Ontario Regulations to be amended to prevent the siting of new landfills or the expansion of existing landfills on geologically unsuitable locations like fractured bedrock. The application also requests that a new regulation would prohibit applications for landfills on or adjacent to sites that have had previous landfill applications declined for environmental reasons. (article) (www.thescoop.ca)
Timeline
|
Date |
Event |
|
2006 |
Ministry of Environment denies Richmond landfill expansion |
|
2009 |
Environmental Commissioner recommends Richmond landfill closure due to environmental issues |
|
2010-09-30 |
Deadline set by MOE to cover and close Richmond landfill – phase I |
|
2010 |
Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) application. Terms of Reference submitted. |
|
2011 |
Richmond landfill closed |
|
2012-02-17 |
MOE approval of Terms of Reference letter (.pdf) |
|
2012-04-16 |
EBR 011-6110 Environmental Compliance Approval – comment period to 31-May-2012 |
|
|
|
|
2012 |
Opposition granted leave to Appeal the terms of the Environmental Monitoring Plan |
|
2012-11-13 |
Open House #2 at Napanee Lions Hall |
|
2012-11-27 |
Workshop #2 at Napanee Lions Hall |
|
2013-04-26 |
|
|
2013 |
WM and MOE acknowledge that Richmond landfill is leaking and that further investigation is required |
|
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News
|
Date |
Source |
Title |
Comment |
|
2014-05-30 |
LeakyLand.com Blog |
Steve Medd on why you should care about the Richmond Landfill and the BREC megadump proposal |
|
|
2014-03-09 |
LeakyLand.com Blog |
Featuring the art of Harlan House |
|
|
2014-01-14 |
LeakyLand.com Blog |
Quinte News Reports Toxic Chemicals Leaking From Richmond Landfill |
|
|
2013-11-04 |
LeakyLand.com Blog |
Ian Munro, Napanee |
|
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2013-08-11 |
LeakyLand.com Blog |
|
|
|
2013-07-11 |
LeakyLand.com Blog |
No Means No! Residents, Mohawks and Environmentalists Apply for Changes in Ont. Landfill Law |
|
|
2010-04-29 |
Canadian Environmental Law Association |
Media Release |
Industry Contacts:
Randy Harris
Site Manager
Waste Management of Canada
RR#6, 1271 Beechwood Road
Napanee, Ontario K7R 3L1
Fax: (613) 388-2785
E-mail: rharris@wm.com
Linda Cooper
Community Relations Representative
Waste Management of Canada
RR#6, 1271 Beechwood Road
Napanee, Ontario K7R 3L1
Fax: (613) 338-2785
E-mail: lcooper1@wm.com
Opposition Groups:
Concerned Citizens’ Committee/Tyendinaga & Environs (“CCCTE”)
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (“MBQ”)
Canadian Environmental Law Association (“CELA”)
Fighting the Richmond Dump (Bay of Quinte watershed) - www.LeakyLand.com
“It is time for Ontario to catch up with other jurisdictions in Canada and the United States which preclude siting landfills on fractured bedrock. Since the MOE’s own policies caution against landfills on fractured bedrock, it is long overdue to amend the EPA to reflect this appropriate and precautionary safeguard.” Richard Lindren, CELA (article)
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Disclaimer: This information has been compiled through private amateur research for the purpose of allowing the reader to make an informed and educated decision. However, while the information is believed to be reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
APPENDICES
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