Letter from Jennifer & Douglas Manary, 748 Base Line

The following is the full text of a letter sent to the Ontario Minister of the Environment Chris Stockwell by Jennifer and Douglas Manary of 748 Base Line. This document is faithful to the original and has not been edited for spelling or grammar:

**************************************************************** Jennifer and Douglas Manary 748 Base Line A Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A5K6

March 19th, 2003 Minister of the Environment 135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th Floor Toronto, ON M4V 1P5

Re: City of Sault Ste. Marie Class Environmental Assessment, Industrial Lands Servicing Site 1B - Base Line Rd at Leighs Bay Rd

To whom it may concern;

This letter comes as a result of the city wanting to service a piece of property located across the road from our home and along the St. Mary's River.

Further to the city's notification of its intentions to service the above mentioned site to permit the future development of industry within our city, we have several concerns which we feel need addressing.

1. Are there no "standards" pertaining to the development of heavy industry so close to residential homes and a school?

Are there no "standards" to alleviate concerns regarding safety, emergency, response, and the environment?

As our home is located almost "across the road" from said site, of course we have concerns.

It is my understanding that some municipalities incorporate "transition zones" around all industrial land within city limits.

Should this not be the case for all municipalities? Safety is a grave concern.

2. Only the residents located directly across the road from the site in question were actually notified in writing that this development was taking place.

Others, who live within several kilometers did not receive notice - and did not see the notification placed in the local paper.

Is this adequate notification when heavy industry is coming to one's neighbourhood?

3. We are being told that this Environmental Assessment is the last step in actually bringing more industry to this neighbourhood.

Once this assessment is complete, the city will be permitted to allow construction of any type of industry - due to the zoning of the property.

This is very disturbing to us as residents of this neighbourhood.

We are being told that a noise impact study was completed - but how is this possible - when the actual facility has not yet been chosen?

The only "noise impact study" that has yet been completed was that of the actual noise involved with the servicing of this site.

Is there no process by which we will be protected from noise from a new facility?

We are told that there is no process to limit what they do in the future (ie what industry is permitted to be developed on the site).

4. We are being assured that our well water "quantity and quality" will be looked into both before and after the installation of services at the above site - but we are also being told the city will not "guarantee" our wells.

In other words, we can apply for funding to have them re-drilled - but there is no guarantee in place to protect our existing well.

It should be noted that upon the installation of another facility within several hundred meters of this one - 4 wells in our immediate neighbourhood dried up.

It should also be noted that at a public meeting held to address this issue (as it was raised by many people in the immediate area), the city and the engineering firm could not answer the question as to just how this test would be performed - and at what cost. They merely assured us that they would do it.

5. It has also come to our attention that at one time the waterfront of this site was considered part of a City wetland area. We, as residents, would like to see this area protected - not "developed".

Due to the large number of issues outstanding, and a feeling of not being reassured by the city that our safety, water quality/quantity, and quiet living will be protected, we are requesting that the project comply with Part 11 of the Environmental Assessment Act - and perhaps some of these issues can be resolved.

We appreciate the fact that industry is needed to secure employment and bring "life" to our city.

However, at what cost? We are merely residents of a city in which we enjoy living - trying to protect one of the most important assets a person can have - their home - and the enjoyment of it.

It is our hope that someone from your department may be able to offer some assistance with our concerns.

We have attached a copy of our initial letter to TSH Engineering (the firm contracted by the city to do the Environmental Assessment study), the TSH reply, and the notice of completion.

We are not sure if enclosing these documents will be of any benefit to you but perhaps they might make our concerns a bit clearer.

It is our hope that someone will take an interest in this situation and offer some help and advice to two concerned residents in a rural residential area.

Jennifer and Douglas Manary

cc: Don McConnell, Planning Director, City of Sault Ste. Marie