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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)

 

 

Richmond Landfill

 

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

 

Opposition’s Application for Review (.pdf)

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

Environmental Review Tribunal – 26-Apr-2013 Decision (.pdf)

2013

WM and MOE acknowledge that Richmond landfill is leaking and that further investigation is required

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOE Project Status link

 

 

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

Putting Art to Work – Iris Raffle to STOP the Dump

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

Current Developments Related to the Richmond Landfill

Ian Munro, Napanee

2013-08-11

LeakyLand.com Blog

‘The Battle Rages On!’ The Scoop Aug-Sept 2013

 

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

No, Means No: Mohawks, Municipality, and Residents will Vigorously Oppose Waste Management's Latest Mega-Dump Proposal in Napanee

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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