North Kent Wind is seeking a court-imposed injunction, as a blockade and protest continues at a wind turbine construction site on Bush Line.
Members of Water Wells First have lined up trucks, tractors, and three people have even chained themselves together in a show of solidarity, as the group continues to raise awareness about water wells in North Kent.
The group says several wells have been contaminated with sediment, as a result of pile driving and wind turbine construction in the area.
Matt Dallas, a spokesperson for the North Kent Wind Farm projects, says the company is seeking an injunction.
“North Kent Wind regrets that it will have to seek an injunction against unlawful activity that is presenting a serious safety risk to the participants and workers on site,” Dallas said in a statement.
“We must provide a safe environment for our workers.”
Dallas said North Kent Wind understands there are concerns about groundwater.
“We are committed to working with the community,” he said in a statement.
“We have actively engaged and responded to concerns and hired qualified experts that have conducted testing at the Project site and confirmed in detailed reports that the construction of the turbines will not cause harm to groundwater quality at water wells or in the broader subsurface groundwater environment.”
Dallas said these reports are available on North Kent Wind’s website.
Reports says workers with the wind company crossed the blockade on Friday morning an left after half an hour.
Police on site
Const. Kelly Helbin, public information officer for the Chatham-Kent Police Service told the Sydenham Current three officers are at the scene to “keep the peace” on Wednesday.
“There are police officers there within the vicinity of where the protesting is going on,” Helbin said.
“They have been seen and some of the questions I’ve been getting, ‘are they escorting different companies passed the protesters’, they are not. A lot of the time the officers are walking some of the bigger companies up to the protesters, just in order for them to talk among themselves and hopefully agree on a few things.”
Helbin said the Chatham-Kent Police Service are handling the protest on a situational basis.
“Police will act if it crosses the line of a peaceful demonstration or a peaceful protest to where it is not so peaceful,” she said.
“I don’t know how long that is going to go on for. I know the protesters are blocking certain individuals from going onto the site, but again they are stopping at the protesters and nobody is going forward passed those protesters at this point. It has remained somewhat peaceful.
Helbin added there were three officers, who were brought in on overtime, at the site on Wednesday.
Municipality moving forward with water testing plan, seeking moratorium on wind construction
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent announced last week they are moving forward with a water testing plan.
Municipal officials say residents near the project, whose wells have experienced water quality issues, were set to be contacted by Chatham-Kent officials last week to allow them to select a firm to test their well water at no cost.
Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire said the municipality, working with public health officials, have identified 17 labs in Ontario that are both licensed and accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation to test drinking water for microbiological agents, organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, and other particulate matter.
Chatham-Kent officials say part of council’s motion on August 21 was that: “The (Municipality) will cover the cost of inspections on five wells currently experiencing problems. Inspectors will be selected jointly by the well owner and the municipality.”
Shropshire said residents will have the option to choose any of the accredited labs.
“We want to ensure there are no concerns about who does the testing,” Shropshire stated in a press release.
“We’ve provided the list but the choice will be up to the residents.”
At a recent meeting between Chatham-Kent officials and representatives of the provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Municipal officials say the province also committed to contact owners of wells which have experienced issues and reviewing those concerns with Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy, developers of the project.
Part of council’s resolution asked the provincial government to halt wind turbine construction in the municipality until the issue of water well quality is fully investigated.
That request is still before the premier’s office, Chatham-Kent officials said.
More details from North Kent Wind
North Kent Wind officials says community members have communicated to the company that they have concerns their construction activity may be impacting their water wells.
“Having access to clean water is essential, and this is an issue that the North Kent Wind team understands can be unsettling and takes very seriously,” North Kent Wind officials said in a previous statement.
“We would like to share how we are responding to these concerns and the results of the research and investigations conducted by independent third-parties to date.”
Beginning with the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process that requires comprehensive analysis of the project area, North Kent Wind conducted assessments to help ensure our activity will not affect groundwater quality at nearby wells, company officials stated.
Geological and hydrogeological surveys were conducted and site-specific geotechnical investigations confirmed the soil and groundwater conditions at each turbine foundation location.
In response to water well concerns raised during the REA appeal, North Kent Wind retained scientific experts to study the issue further and developed a monitoring program that was approved by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) to monitor vibrations from construction activity, company officials stated.
The research completed by Golder Associates concluded that construction and operation of the turbines will not cause harm to groundwater quality at the wells or in the broader subsurface groundwater environment.
“The study found there is no plausible mechanism by which fine rock particles can be transported tens or hundreds of metres from turbine locations to water supply wells,” North Kent Wind officials stated.
“Water well quality issues, such as turbidity, are more likely to be affected by regional water quality characteristics and their natural variability, near-well conditions (within a few metres), well construction details, well and pump conditions, and pump operations.”
Company officials say North Kent Wind began test piling activity at two turbine sites in March.
Following approval of the test results by the MOECC, North Kent Wind began piling at the first foundation on June 20 and that foundation was complete on July 4.
Each foundation takes approximately 10 days to complete.
All 34 foundations are expected to be complete in October.
“Our vibration monitoring program provides data to assist with the investigation when we do receive a water quality complaint,” North Kent Wind officials stated.
“When a complaint is received, we quickly mobilize third-party experts to investigate, and we share the results with the well owner, MOECC, and Municipality. Analysis involves collecting well-water samples at the residence of the complainant by a qualified, licensed expert in assessing wells and groundwater, reviewing vibration monitoring data available to-date, and comparing water samples from the well to baseline water samples taken prior to construction.”
Company officials say they received the first water well complaint on July 31.
“To date, we have received 5 complaints,” North Kent Wind officials stated.
“The first investigation by environmental consultant AECOM concluded that based on vibration monitoring data and the distance between the piling activity to the well site, the groundwater quality and supply issues experienced are not a result of turbine foundation construction or pile-driving activities.”
North Kent Wind said Golder Associates’ report on August 3rd, 2017, referenced within AECOM’s report, determined that the vibration magnitudes from pile driving were no greater than may be induced by other common day-to-day sources and inconsequential for the wells.
The full investigation report can be viewed on the North Kent Wind website.
“Four complaints are currently under analysis with results expected soon,” North Kent Wind officials said.
“We know water quality issues can be stressful for well owners and their families, and we are committed to continue working with well owners, the MOECC, and the Municipality as construction progresses. We will continue to investigate any water quality complaints we receive either directly from the affected landowner or from the MOECC promptly and will continue to be transparent with the results of the analyses.”
North Kent Wind wanted to remind everyone who experiences water well disturbance near their project area, to please contact info@northkentwind.com or call, toll free, 1-855-780-3859.
