Help Stop the ED-19 Mega Dump
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Citizens Against the Dump (CAD) is a not-for-profit coalition of citizens opposing the construction of the ED-19 dump in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal. In 1998, 20 years ago, the Province of Ontario granted the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville conditional approval to establish and operate a large dump on the ED-19 site. However, this approval was never used, and the dump has not been constructed to date.
Over the last 20 years, the site has become a thriving wetland that provides important nesting habitat for blue herons, and that is home to many other species of wildlife, including the potential for the endangered Blanding’s Turtle. Significant residential growth and demographic change has also occurred in the site vicinity over the last two decades. Families have moved into the area, and the number of local residents has increased by approximately 50%. The site also drains towards the South Nation River, which is a critical habitat for wildlife and a source of drinking water for thousands of area residents.
The Counties’ Council is currently negotiating with a private company that proposes to buy the ED-19 site, including the unused approval. The original purpose of the project was to provide local disposal capacity for the Counties; now, the private company has stated publicly that it would bring waste to the dump from areas outside of the Counties.
In November 2016, the Counties’ Council held the first public meeting on the proposed dump in nearly 20 years. Over 400 local residents attended to voice their concerns. None of the citizens who spoke at the public meeting supported the project.
CAD was formed after this meeting and currently has over 1,300 members. In 2017, CAD retained lawyers at the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) to act on CAD’s behalf. CAD has also retained experts who have identified serious technical concerns about the dump, particularly in relation to its proposed location, design and management. The Township has passed a resolution declaring that it is not a willing host for the dump.
Partially because of the efforts of CAD, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) recently suspended the site’s unused certificate of approval, but the Counties’ Council is appealing the MOECC decision to Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT). CAD intends to intervene in the ERT hearing and will be represented by CELA lawyers in this matter. CAD needs to raise $30,000 in order to help cover the significant cost of participating in the public hearing, which is anticipated to commence in the spring of 2018.
Visit our website at stopthedump.ca or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CADED19/
Over the last 20 years, the site has become a thriving wetland that provides important nesting habitat for blue herons, and that is home to many other species of wildlife, including the potential for the endangered Blanding’s Turtle. Significant residential growth and demographic change has also occurred in the site vicinity over the last two decades. Families have moved into the area, and the number of local residents has increased by approximately 50%. The site also drains towards the South Nation River, which is a critical habitat for wildlife and a source of drinking water for thousands of area residents.
The Counties’ Council is currently negotiating with a private company that proposes to buy the ED-19 site, including the unused approval. The original purpose of the project was to provide local disposal capacity for the Counties; now, the private company has stated publicly that it would bring waste to the dump from areas outside of the Counties.
In November 2016, the Counties’ Council held the first public meeting on the proposed dump in nearly 20 years. Over 400 local residents attended to voice their concerns. None of the citizens who spoke at the public meeting supported the project.
CAD was formed after this meeting and currently has over 1,300 members. In 2017, CAD retained lawyers at the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) to act on CAD’s behalf. CAD has also retained experts who have identified serious technical concerns about the dump, particularly in relation to its proposed location, design and management. The Township has passed a resolution declaring that it is not a willing host for the dump.
Partially because of the efforts of CAD, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) recently suspended the site’s unused certificate of approval, but the Counties’ Council is appealing the MOECC decision to Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT). CAD intends to intervene in the ERT hearing and will be represented by CELA lawyers in this matter. CAD needs to raise $30,000 in order to help cover the significant cost of participating in the public hearing, which is anticipated to commence in the spring of 2018.
Visit our website at stopthedump.ca or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CADED19/
Organizer
Kyle Johnston
Organizer
Spencerville, ON
