Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall, is sponsored by Country Style in Wallaceburg:
An Environmental Review Tribunal had been scheduled to begin last week between Kevin Jakubec, an organizer with the Water Wells First group, and North Kent Wind 1.
However, the tribunal was cancelled when Jakubec withdrew his appeal.
A report by Golder Associates September 2016 indicated that ground-vibrations generated during construction and subsequent turbine operation on well water conditions is likely to be insignificant and will not influence the rate of radon within the groundwater, Municipal officials stated.
The report further indicates that there is no plausible mechanism by which fine rock particles, and their radionuclide constituents (if present) can be transported tens or hundreds of metres from turbine foundation pile locations to water supply wells, Municipal officials stated.
John Norton, chief legal officer for Chatham-Kent, said the “compelling multi-disciplinary report… cannot be ignored” and Mayor Randy Hope said the “evidence” in the report satisfies the withdrawal of the appeal.
Not everyone in the community agreed with these sentiments.
Mike deBakker said in a letter to the Sydenham Current that the families in the former Dover Township with contaminated wells need an explanation for why their wells became damaged, after wind turbine foundation construction.
“The thousands of well owners in North Chatham-Kent also will want Mr. Norton and Mayor Hope to release the Golder document for independent scientific review,” deBakker said.
“Media reports say the Golder document states that “ground-vibration through the construction and operation of wind turbines has a insignificant effect on well water conditions.” If this statement were true, why did the MOECC release on June 29, 2016 the North Kent 1 wind farm REA permit with section H-ground-bourne vibration monitoring conditions.”
Peter Hensel said in a letter to the Sydenham Current that he’s not convinced the pile driving construction for the turbines is not making an impact on the rural wells.
“When 28 steel spiels per turbine are driven down to the rock, they go through the aquafer area from which rural dwellers with wells get their water,” Hensel said.
“In north Dover this was done 1,540 times to accommodate the 55 turbines in the area. Yet this does not affect anything in the sub-terrain?”
What are your thoughts?
Should the tribunal have went forward, despite the Golder report?
Feel free to vote below:
[polldaddy poll=”9547528″]
Not impressed with C-K roads
The results are in, and it appears the majority of people are not impressed with the condition of roads across Chatham-Kent. Here are the results:
Are you happy with the road conditions across Chatham-Kent?
No 83.33% (95 votes)
Yes 16.67% (19 votes)
Total Votes: 114
If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
Photo of the day
Weather forecast for Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Today – A mix of sun and cloud. High 18. UV index 4 or moderate.
Tonight – Partly cloudy. Becoming clear overnight. Low 9.
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Re: Industrial wind turbine construction and ground water
It is highly unlikely that the Golder report contains “evidence” that there is no or little risk of groundwater contamination, as the mayor is reported to have said. If the mayor did say that, it would suggest he did not know the difference between “evidence” and opinion, which is what would likely be provided in the Golder report. The report must be made easily accessible online to the public for review.