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Please outline or identify which of the applicant’s consultants’ and other reports Council intends to have peer reviewed? A - Those that are deemed necessary by our experts.
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What process does Council go through in order to select peer review consultants? A - We have our experts and they have either arranged for their extra people or “short listed “ them. Decisions cannot be made until we know who the applicant has employed as there cannot be a conflict of interest.
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Does Melancthon have the necessary Official Plan and by-law provisions in place in order to ensure that it can require the necessary peer reviews at the applicant’s expense? A - Yes.
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Does Council intend to engage consultants to undertake its own independent studies on surface and ground water impact (among other things), as opposed to only peer reviewing studies the applicant’s studies? If so, do we have a fee by-law in place, as is permitted under the Planning Act, in order to ensure that these studies are paid for by the applicant? A - Peer reviews are the “normal” practice and unless through the process “special” or more detailed studies are deemed necessary by our experts, peer reviews will be conducted. If studies are deemed necessary the cost would be the responsibility of the applicant as outlined in By-law 8-2007 and the application.
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Will the Township, the Ministry of Environment or any other governmental agency, be implementing a process to assist residents and agricultural businesses to test their wells to establish an existing baseline for water quality, quantity, levels and flow? A - Yes.
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Given the massive size of this quarry application, what steps can be taken by a member of the public, or governmental body, to require that this be elevated to a full environmental assessment to? A - We will investigate and respond as soon as we get the answer and post it on our website under “Quarry Update”.
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Please identify all of the Provincial and Federal legislation, to protect our water resources that will apply to this application. A - The Planning Act, The Aggregate Resources Act and the Provincial Policy Statement and the Township’s Official Plan.
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Will the Town of Shelburne be consulted with as it pertains to the quality of their water supply? A - They will be notified as part of the process. We are aware that they have requested information and other details from the NVCA. There has been no “direct” contact at this time.
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Does either Council or the Provincial government intend to seek input for all municipalities affected by the Nottawasaga and Grand River Watersheds? A - There will be an extensive consultation process but we cannot at this time comment on whether “all municipalities affected by the Nottawasaga and Grand River watersheds” will be contacted.
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Do the Ministry of Environment and Council and/or the NVCA intend to implement any of the recommendations outlined in the AEMOT Study? A - As we have stated before, mapping and some parts of the AEMOT study are referenced in the draft official plan. You will have to direct the question to the other authorities as we cannot answer for them.
