To Paul Isaacs November 20, 2014

Denbigh Townhall

46 Ackroyd Lane

Denbigh, Ontario

K0H 1L0

Dear Mr. Isaacs: Thank you for your letter of October 30, 2014 regarding Denbigh Townhall motions M2014-13 and M2014-14 and received by me on November 13, 2014.

You are correct that Ontario Regulation 232/98 (landfills) only applies to certain classes of landfills. However, irrespective of whether Regulation 232/98 applies to landfills operating in the Township of Addington Highlands or whether the Environmental Compliance Approvals for the landfills stipulate monitoring conditions, the MOECC wants to make sure all landfills are not having an adverse impact on the environment contrary to the general provisions of the Environmental Protection Act (S 14) or impairing the quality of any waters in Ontario contrary to the general provisions of the Ontario Water Resources Act (S 30). In order to ensure this environmental monitoring is typically required at landfill sites.

I would encourage you to review information that supports the current monitoring programs at the Township’s landfill sites. Per the note from Ms. Gillian Dagg-Foster from our office sent in response to your May 15, 2014 letter to her, I would request that as a member of the public you request this information through the Freedom of Information process.

I have provided a hyperlink to that process here https://www.ontario.ca/government/how-make-freedom-information-request

I would also suggest you try and scope your request to specific sites, time periods etc.

You may also consider contacting the municipality to request this information directly and discuss your concerns around landfill monitoring with them. Further to Ms. Dagg-Foster’s previous note to you, I would also like to re-iterate that the ministry is aware and mindful of the costs associated with all environmental monitoring undertaken by the either the public or private sector. The ministry is willing to consider requests for reduced monitoring where it is warranted and justified while ensuring the environment is protected for the benefit of all Ontarian’s.

Peter Taylor

Manager, Technical Support Section

Eastern Region

Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

1259 Gardiners Road Unit 3, Kingston, ON K7P 3J6

P:613-540-6884; F:613-548-6908; E: peter.g.taylor@ontario.ca