Submit Comments to the Environmental Registry of Ontario
The Eastern Fields project is following the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) approval process. In December 2017, the promoter filed documents and reports with the MOECC. The Ministry deemed the application complete and published a notice to the Environmental Registry on April 18, 2018.
We have until July 4, 2018 to submit comments based on the promoter's final reports that can be found on Eastern Fields website. All members of the public concerned by this project may submit comments. After the commenting period, according the comments received, the Ministry may ask the promoter to modify its plans or to provide more information. This phase may take several months.
Then, the ministry will render a decision on the project application - approved or rejected. To this date, the ministry has systematically approved almost all projects. When a project is approved, a citizen or a community group may appeal to the Environmental Tribunal and ask for the cancellation or the modification of a project. Almost all industrial wind turbine projects in Ontario have been appealed by community groups. This phase may last several years.
So it’s still not a done deal!
We have until July 4, 2018 to submit comments based on the promoter's final reports that can be found on Eastern Fields website. All members of the public concerned by this project may submit comments. After the commenting period, according the comments received, the Ministry may ask the promoter to modify its plans or to provide more information. This phase may take several months.
Then, the ministry will render a decision on the project application - approved or rejected. To this date, the ministry has systematically approved almost all projects. When a project is approved, a citizen or a community group may appeal to the Environmental Tribunal and ask for the cancellation or the modification of a project. Almost all industrial wind turbine projects in Ontario have been appealed by community groups. This phase may last several years.
So it’s still not a done deal!
Why is it important to submit comments?
Submitting comments is the only way to make your concerns officially known to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. The Ministry has the obligation to consider all relevant comments before rendering a decision on the project. Your opinion matters - make it heard!
What should your comments be about?
When it comes to your life, your health, your property and your environment, you are the expert! You may submit comments on any elements of the project that you are concerned with. For example:
Noise: The promoter elected to apply outdated noise modelling rules instead of the new standards that would better protect human health. If the revised noise guidelines were applied, several turbines could not be installed as planned. How do you feel about that?
Well water and aquifer: Did you know that our area's aquifer is considered to be highly vulnerable and that there could be an impact on the quantity and quality of water for the next 20 years? What impact would this reduction have on your daily life, farm or business operations?
Setbacks: Minimal distances between a turbine, a house and property lines are regulated by the province. Are the promoter's plan clear enough to locate your property? Do you know how the distance between a turbine, your house and your property lines was calculated? Do you agree with this calculation? Are you concerned?
Unstable ground: Are you concerned with the construction of huge vibrating structures on unstable ground? Are you concerned with damage to human health and the environment should sinkholes or landslides occur?
Human health: Do you have a medical condition that could worsen due to this project? Do you have children at home?
Shadow flickers: Are you concerned with the impact of shadow flickers on you or our family?
Consultation process: Do you feel that the promoter answered your questions in a straight-forward way and has taken your concerns seriously? Did you receive sufficient information? Do you feel like your opinion was taken into account? As an adjacent property owner, did the promoter reach out to you?
Wildlife and their habitat: Are your aware of any species at risk or habitats located near the proposed site of a turbine or an access road?
Citizens' protection: Are you concerned with the dangers of ice thrown by turbine blades?
Animal health: Are you concerned with the impact on milk production or other livestock?
Property value reduction: Do you have a property for sale, but potential buyers run away when they learn of this project? Did you recently sell a property at a reduced price because of this project? Did you have plans for selling or renovating your property, but now hesitate because of this project?
Enjoyment and use of your property: Will this project prevent you from fully enjoying your property or expanding your business?
Municipal infrastructure, inconveniences during construction, damaged roads and property taxes: Are you aware of the construction details? Will the roads used and the construction schedule have an impact on your business operations or quality of life? Will transmission lines be installed near your property? Could the construction work damage your trees or shrubs?
The above topics are only food for thought. Please use them to reflect on how this project may impact your life, your family, your business, your community and your future. The list is not comprehensive and you may comment on any topic that is important to you; although the comments must be specific to Eastern Fields project and based on the promoter's final reports. You can find copies of the reports on Eastern Fields website in About the project/Project Documents section. Comments such as "I hate wind turbines because they are ugly" would be considered irrelevant and would not serve the cause.
Regulations and standards that promoters must follow are described in the Technical Guide for Renewable Energy Approvals.
Do you need help to prepare your comments? Check out our section Why do we oppose this project to build your arguments.
You may also contact us and our volunteers will do their best to schedule a meeting. Submitting comments is really, really, really, really important. Speak now or forever hold your peace. Did we mention that this is a critical phase?
Noise: The promoter elected to apply outdated noise modelling rules instead of the new standards that would better protect human health. If the revised noise guidelines were applied, several turbines could not be installed as planned. How do you feel about that?
Well water and aquifer: Did you know that our area's aquifer is considered to be highly vulnerable and that there could be an impact on the quantity and quality of water for the next 20 years? What impact would this reduction have on your daily life, farm or business operations?
Setbacks: Minimal distances between a turbine, a house and property lines are regulated by the province. Are the promoter's plan clear enough to locate your property? Do you know how the distance between a turbine, your house and your property lines was calculated? Do you agree with this calculation? Are you concerned?
Unstable ground: Are you concerned with the construction of huge vibrating structures on unstable ground? Are you concerned with damage to human health and the environment should sinkholes or landslides occur?
Human health: Do you have a medical condition that could worsen due to this project? Do you have children at home?
Shadow flickers: Are you concerned with the impact of shadow flickers on you or our family?
Consultation process: Do you feel that the promoter answered your questions in a straight-forward way and has taken your concerns seriously? Did you receive sufficient information? Do you feel like your opinion was taken into account? As an adjacent property owner, did the promoter reach out to you?
Wildlife and their habitat: Are your aware of any species at risk or habitats located near the proposed site of a turbine or an access road?
Citizens' protection: Are you concerned with the dangers of ice thrown by turbine blades?
Animal health: Are you concerned with the impact on milk production or other livestock?
Property value reduction: Do you have a property for sale, but potential buyers run away when they learn of this project? Did you recently sell a property at a reduced price because of this project? Did you have plans for selling or renovating your property, but now hesitate because of this project?
Enjoyment and use of your property: Will this project prevent you from fully enjoying your property or expanding your business?
Municipal infrastructure, inconveniences during construction, damaged roads and property taxes: Are you aware of the construction details? Will the roads used and the construction schedule have an impact on your business operations or quality of life? Will transmission lines be installed near your property? Could the construction work damage your trees or shrubs?
The above topics are only food for thought. Please use them to reflect on how this project may impact your life, your family, your business, your community and your future. The list is not comprehensive and you may comment on any topic that is important to you; although the comments must be specific to Eastern Fields project and based on the promoter's final reports. You can find copies of the reports on Eastern Fields website in About the project/Project Documents section. Comments such as "I hate wind turbines because they are ugly" would be considered irrelevant and would not serve the cause.
Regulations and standards that promoters must follow are described in the Technical Guide for Renewable Energy Approvals.
Do you need help to prepare your comments? Check out our section Why do we oppose this project to build your arguments.
You may also contact us and our volunteers will do their best to schedule a meeting. Submitting comments is really, really, really, really important. Speak now or forever hold your peace. Did we mention that this is a critical phase?
How to submit comments to the Environmental Registry
- The deadline to submit comments is June 2, 2018.
- Use Word or another word processing application to write your comments. This will enable you to save a copy and to avoid inconveniences related to internet connection problems during comments submission.
- Make one distinct comment per topic. You may submit as many comments as you wish.
- Follow this link to the Environmental Registry https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ (We agree, not sexy or use-friendly!)
- In the box Search Notices, enter these numbers (registry number) : 013-2290.
- Under Notices and EBR Registry Number, click the number 013-2290
- For your information, on this page, you will find the contact information of the person in charge of this file at the ministry and a link to the promoter's website.
- On the right side of your screen, click on Submit Comment.
- Follow the instructions on the screen. You may copy/paste your comments in the Comment Box.
- Click on the button Save (bottom right) Watch out! When clicking Save, your comment will be submitted.
- A new window will open and confirm that your comment was received. Print a copy for your records.
- Please email us a copy for our records. The list of comments could become very useful in our legal case.
