Dufferin Wind has “No Comment” at tribunal hearing, refuses to make mitigation plans public

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Hydro pole beside house at Kerwood and Townsend Rds.. Property devaluation much?Orangeville Citizen
At a preliminary hearing by Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal held Tuesday, Dufferin Wind Power Inc. (DWPI) lawyers refused to explain why the corporation, which has erected 316 transmission-line poles between its wind farm and Hydro One’s Orangeville Transformer Station will not make mitigation plans public as requested by Melancthon Council and residents near the right-of-way. Citizen concerns arising from pole bore holes extending into the local aquifers, possibly allowing for ground water contamination, and fears that the pentachlorophenol (penta), a wood preservative coating the entire length of the poles, may travel into surrounding wells, prompted Green Party candidate Karren Wallace to file for the hearing as a private citizen.

The panel for the preliminary hearing, held at Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex in Shelburne, included Dirk VanderBent, Vice Chair of the Environmental Review Tribunal, and Tribunal member Justin Duncan. The Tribunal is an independent body that hears public appeals under the Environmental Protection Act. Also present were Sylvia Davies, lawyer for the Director of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Control (MOECC) and lawyer John Terry plus an additional lawyer for DWPI. The hearing was to confirm procedural directions for the main hearing to be held in the new year.

Ms. Wallace had said previously that her objection was based on DWPI’s mitigation plan for transmission lines never having been formally approved. The transmission poles, located alongside the County-owned rail corridor, will carry power from 49 new turbines in Melancthon to the transformer station near Dufferin 109 and the 3rd Line of Amaranth. Ms. Wallace looked at the issue of possible health risks posed by DWPI penta-covered transmission pole holes, many surrounded by water, some constructed in wetlands, and others near manure piles, “Walkerton had one conduit for contamination,” she said. “We now have 316.” Read article

20 thoughts on “Dufferin Wind has “No Comment” at tribunal hearing, refuses to make mitigation plans public”

  1. Kathleen Wynne has made the mandate of her party, very clear on this and other items contrary to her doctorial agenda! “Lie, Steal, cheat, and screw the people, propelled, by the fact, the average Lemming, living in Ontario, will likely forget by the time, there is another election, so not to worry!”

    Reply ↓

    • I have made a blog about Ontario’s electricity system which you can check out here: tyeselectricityblog.wordpress.com

      Let me know you thoughts

      Thanks,
      Tye

      Reply ↓

      • Tye, most of the school day is taken up with learning subject matter. So there isn’t much time to spend on discussions.

        But outside of school time affords opportunities to learn about and discuss issues.

  2. Dufferin Wind has ” NO COMMENT” because they know they goofed up! They are guilty, Period. If they do not remove these poles and clean the contaminated soil they should be fined and jailed!

    Reply ↓

  3. The due negligence – I mean due diligence –
    [that mayors and councils rely upon]
    – of farmers and their private wind generation contracts;
    and, the dilemma of –
    who’s driving a shiny new truck!
    [question mark].

    The global climate change process…….

    Point 1:
    ‘[excerpt] The panel for the preliminary hearing, held at Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex in Shelburne, included Dirk VanderBent, Vice Chair of the Environmental Review Tribunal, and Tribunal member Justin Duncan.’

    Point 2:
    ‘[excerpt] The hearing was to confirm procedural directions for the main hearing to be held in the new year.’

    Point 3:
    ‘[excerpt] DWPI lawyer John Terry said the corporation would be “moving to dismiss the appeal on the basis that it is not within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.” Asked to elaborate, he replied, “No comment.” When asked why DWPI would not reveal mitigation plans in the interest of good public relations rather than create further public suspicion, he replied again, “No comment.”’

    Point 4
    ‘[excerpt] Despite numerous complaints about DWPI from both Shelburne and Melancthon councils, elected officials followed the advice of municipal lawyers and none were present to observe proceedings at the preliminary hearing…….’

    Happy New Year!
    Premier Social Justice – picks ‘winners and losers;
    and, the smartest adults they could find.

    p.s. how much does a shiny new truck – depreciate?

    Reply ↓

  4. Go Falconer!
    – all the way up – to the Supreme Court of Canada!

    Hey Ontario!
    Let’s focus on the positive!
    http://www.jingle-bells-lyrics.com/

    p.s. Merry Christmas! and Happy Hanukkah!
    and, may God Bless you!
    p.s. Exclamation mark!

    …..pass it on – it’s not a frivolous case!

    Reply ↓

    • I agree with FREE THINKER this will need to go to the Supreme Court However do people realize the costs of doing this. We cannot expect the 3 families who started this case with Falconer to shoulder the costs of moving on to Supreme Court Some of us know what the actual costs to get this far are and it is astronomical. Are we content we sit back and ride on their coat tails. We all need donate SERIOUS money to SWEAR if this case is to continue to the next level . The outcome will affect everyone in Ontario LETS GET ON WITH IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply ↓

    • Ecojustice Canada was formerly known as the Sierra Legal Defence Fund

      There are some new ERT members including:

      Marlene Cashin who was with Ecojustice Canada with ERT term 22-Oct-2014-21
      Oct-2016

      Reply ↓

    • Those interested in ERTs may like to check out this website:

      Review of European Comparative & International Law/RECIEL

      Section: Special Features
      Note the articles featured.

      Editorial Board includes:
      Hugh Wilkens, Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal, Canada

      http://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2050-0394

      —————————————————————————
      Since November 6, 2013, 8 members have been appointed to the ERT by the present government.

      Reply ↓

  6. Hi Barb could you please help me! – I haven’t rec;d any info from this website in a number of months?? I just wondered what is going on???

    Reply ↓

    • Don’t have anything to do with the administration of this website.

      Have you tried to disconnect the e-mail and then wait awhile and then re-connect.

      Or just visit OWR everyday to pick up the news and make comments.

      Reply ↓

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