The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks have announced they are looking to re-designate the York1 proposal outside Dresden under the Environmental Assessment Act.
“We are proposing to designate York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd.’s proposal to re-establish landfill operations and re-establish and expand on-site waste transfer and processing operations in Chatham Kent as a Part II.3 project under the Environmental Assessment Act to require a comprehensive environmental assessment of the project,” the Ministry posted on their Environmental Registry of Ontario website on March 26, 2024.
Ministry officials added by requiring a comprehensive environmental assessment process for the project, additional opportunities for consultation with Indigenous communities and the public would also be provided.
“We have heard the concerns of the people of Dresden about York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd.’s proposal to start receiving waste at a local landfill site that has not been in operation since the 1980s,” the Ministry says.
“We also know that an environmental assessment has never been completed for this site, because the landfill predates Ontario’s environmental assessment requirements for landfills. We recognize the potential impact that a landfill of this size could have on the local residents and the surrounding environment.”
Ministry officials added: “In response to the significant public interest in the proposed project and the environmental concerns raised, in particular regarding potential impacts to species at risk, groundwater, surface water, increased truck traffic, odour, and other potential impacts to the local community, we are seeking comments on a proposal for a regulation that would, if made, require York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. to complete a comprehensive environmental assessment process for the project.”
The posting by the Ministry, which can be seen in full here, says the comment periods will be open until May 10, 2024, which is 45 days after the new posting.
As previously reported, Andrea Khanjin, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in Ontario, announced on X earlier this month that “a comprehensive environmental assessment” would be required for York1’s landfill proposal in Dresden.
“In recent weeks, I’ve heard concerns raised by the local community and municipality regarding York1’s proposal to reopen and expand a dormant landfill,” Khanjin said in her statement.
“This site was established over 40 years ago, prior to Ontario’s requirement that landfills undergo an environmental assessment. In keeping with the process that any other landfill would be required to undergo today, I will be taking steps to require this project to complete a comprehensive environmental assessment under the Environmental Assessment Act. This would require this site to address local community concerns and mitigate potential impacts before it could open.”
A new grassroots Dresden group is also organizing a pair of public information sessions “to unite and fight against York1.”
“For anyone thinking that the dump is a ‘done deal’, rest assured that is not the case,” officials with Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal (CARED) said on social media.
“There is a continually growing group of devoted volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes for this cause. There are two public information sessions being hosted by Dresden CARED to inform and empower the community of Dresden to unite and fight against York1.”
Here are the meeting details, below:
– Thursday April 4, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Old Czech Hall
– Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Dresden Arena
“These presentations will give all the pertinent information and facts to residents,” Dresden CARED officials stated.
“They will also be livestreamed for whoever can not attend in person.”
For more details visit www.dresdencared.ca.
Also, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has created a Let’s Talk page containing relevant information about the proposed facility, including FAQs about the process, the information received to date regarding the applications submitted by York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd. to the Ministry of Environmental, Conservation and Parks, and the presentation delivered by Director of Planning Ryan Jacques to Council on February 26.
Check out the page, here: www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/dresden-waste-processing-site-and-landfill
