The companies behind the North Kent Wind 1 project have committed to providing water tanks to well water users if necessary. However, the Water Wells First group are not impressed with a North Kent Wind 1 newsletter sent out this week, calling it a “marketing spin.”
Meanwhile, a Chatham councillor is hoping Chatham-Kent will participate with a water protection group and develop a response to the water issues facing some residents in the community.
Wind companies say they will work with residents
North Kent Wind officials said they were happy to see the appeal made against the project be cancelled.
“The appeal alleged that health would be affected through vibrations from the project causing radon in the ground to impact groundwater in the area of the North Kent Wind project,” North Kent Wind officials said.
“North Kent Wind has been advised by scientific experts it retained during the application for the REA (Renewable Energy Approval) and the subsequent appeal that there are no grounds to believe that vibrations caused by the construction and operation of the wind turbines in the project will influence groundwater. We are happy that we were able to meet and work with the Appellant (Kevin Jakubec) to resolve the matter to the satisfaction of all parties.”
North Kent Wind officials said as a result of the mediation and “in the spirit of good faith” they have agreed to clarify certain conditions of approval to alleviate the Jakubec’s concerns.
“While groundwater impacts are not anticipated, North Kent Wind and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change had considered the issue of groundwater quality in wells in the area and groundwater monitoring requirements have been addressed in the REA,” North Kent Wind officials said.
“The use of an alternate water source, if necessary at all, would only be required for a limited period of time. Although section G contemplates a contingency measure of providing bottled water, we confirm that we have committed to providing an adequate quantity of water in appropriately sized containers (eg. water tanks) if such contingency measure is necessary.”
North Kent Wind officials said Samsung and Pattern Development, the partners involved in the project, are committed to the community.
“Samsung and Pattern Development place great importance on being an active part of the local communities where we develop projects” North Kent Wind officials stated.
“As part of this effort, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with community members to ensure that we move forward together in a direction that provides significant local benefits and we work proactively to find ways to expand the project’s benefits.”
Well Water First no impressed
The local Water Wells First group not agree with the sentiments expressed by North Kent Wind in the mass e-mail.
“In response to a marketing email sent out Oct. 18, 2016 by (North Kent Wind) to spin the company as a trustworthy steward of our environment, several facts need to come to light,” Water Wells First officials said.
“Let our community judge for themselves if this corporation has our interests of safe well water at heart or is more interested in profit taking and peddling propaganda dressed up as science to us. Let the facts speak.”
Water Wells First says North Kent WInd has “broken the rules.
“The corporation breaks the very regulation meant to protect people and the environment from windfarm development. In early June 2016, the corporation constructed a Meteorological tower on Oldfield Line without obtaining the necessary REA permit from the (Ministry). The (Ministry) is prosecuting (North Kent Wind) for this blatant disregard of following the rules,” Water Wells First officials say.
North Kent Wind filed construction and decommissioning plans with the Ministry for spread-foot foundation type to be used for the Meteorological tower, Water Wells First officials say.
“Instead the corporation used a pile driver to use a pile type foundation for the tower resulting in a number of local wells over one mile away from the construction site to have turbidity problems. (North Kent Wind) has proven it files one thing with the (Ministy) and does something completely different in the field. How can our community trust that (North Kent Wind) will follow any of the groundwater and vibration monitoring conditions in the REA Permit in good faith.”
Water Wells First officials say families are out of pocket “considerable monies” fixing the damage to their wells from this “illegal construction.
“Clearly the science they have purchased doesn’t hold up to facts in the real world. It’s up to each family on a well in Chatham Township to make a judgement call. Do you trust this (North Kent Wind) corporation or do you trust Water Wells First to stand up for our well water supply.”
Bondy seeking council support
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy is set to bring forward a notice of motion, asking for council to support a pair of items:
– For Chatham-Kent to immediately nominate a representative from Chatham-Kent on the Thames Sydenham Region Source Water Protection Committee for 2017
– And for Chatham-Kent administration to formulate a response to the current source water problems being experienced by citizens of the Municipality
Bondy said he’s looking for water contingency plans and communication with stake holders.
Bondy’s motion will be discussed on Monday, Oct. 24 during council scheduled planning/council meeting.
‘Golder report’ led to tribunal cancellation
A “compelling multi-disciplinary report” by Golder Associates led to the cancellation of a tribunal focused on the impact wind turbines have on well water in North Kent.
The Sydenham Current has obtained a copy of the full report, and it can be seen here.
“Based on the analysis and conclusions presented in this report we can conclude to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty that the construction and operation of the turbines at the planned setback distances will not cause harm to ground water quality either at the wells or in the broader subsurface groundwater environment as alleged in the notice of appeal,” the ‘Golder Associates report’ states.
Following the cancellation of the tribunal between Jakubec and North Kent Wind 1, the Municipality said the Golder report could not be ignored.
“We reviewed the expert reports by both the appellant and the company,” stated John Norton, chief legal officer for Chatham-Kent. “One particular report, prepared by Golder Associates in September 2016, is a compelling multi-disciplinary report that cannot be ignored.”
The Golder Associates report indicates 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.
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.
“Chatham-Kent council declared that we are willing hosts to the North Kent wind project but only if it does not affect the health of our people,” stated Mayor Randy Hope.
“We insisted on evidence. Now that we have the evidence, we are satisfied that this appeal has been withdrawn.”
Watch for more on this story.
