Dresden dump expansion won't go ahead without tackling concerns, environment minister says

Ontario's environment minister says that a controversial proposalto expand a dormant landfill in Dresden, Ont., will face a "comprehensive environmental assessment."

The announcement comes after significant community opposition to the plan.The landfill, located just over a kilometre from the edge of the southwestern Ontario community,could receive 6,000tonnes ofconstruction and demolitionwaste each day.

Environment MinisterAndrea Khanjin said Friday the assessment would "require this site to address local community concerns and mitigate potential impacts before it could open."

"This site was established over 40 years ago, prior to Ontario's requirement that landfills undergo an environmental assessment," she said in a statement.

"In keeping with the process that any other landfill would be required to undergo today, I will be taking steps to require this project to complete a comprehensive environmental assessment under theEnvironmental Assessment Act."

Before Dresden became part of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998,incinerator ash was deposited on the site.

Because ofthat,the site needs no rezoning from the municipality, and approval is in the hands of the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Municipality has 'serious concerns'

Chatham-Kent called for afull environmental assessment in a submission to the ministry sent Friday.

The municipalitysaid there's a potential for the project to have significant social, economic and environmental impacts, and raisedconcerns over transparency and consultation.

"We all have serious concerns with this proposal from York1, and together with council, we are taking action," Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniffsaid in a statement Friday.

A Greater Toronto Area company, York 1, owns the property. It has submitted two applications to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for this issue, and wants to expand the site to cover a total of25 hectares.

The company previously told CBC it was inthe early stages of the provincial process to amend the existing permits for the site, which it called a"regenerative recycling facility."

Multiple studies including traffic control and species-at-risk-are being conducted, according to the company.

LISTEN: Dresden residents speak out against landfill proposal

Windsor Morning10:43Dresden residents are fighting plans for landfill site

People in (Dresden) a southwestern Ontario community are mobilizing to fight plans for a landfill site, one their municipality has no power to approve or deny. They warn there could be cases like this in other parts of the province. Windsor Morning Host Peter Duck spoke to CBC Producer Peter Duck about the issue.

Community members have banded together tofightthe plan.

Members of the groupDresden C.A.R.E.D (Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal) werestill reviewingthe minister's statement when reached by CBC News Friday evening but viewed the step as apositive one.

"Preferably, we would love the whole thing to just be shut down and not happen at all, but if, you know, astarting point is getting a full environmental assessment, then absolutely, let's get that piece done," saidWendy Vercauteren, secretary of the group.

Vercauteren, who lives withinkilometre of the site, said the concept of the regenerative recycling facility isn't a bad one, but it's too close to the community. According to the most recent census, about 2,400 people live in Dresden.

"It's not even just the close proximity to town, it's the threat to the environment, the watershed, the endangered species. The Sydenham River has been identified as a river at risk inCanada," she said.

Vercauteren and board member Martha Fehr shared concernthat other inactive landfill sites they have counted 13 properties in Chatham-Kent alonecould face similar fates in the future.

"So this is not just a thing that could happen to Dresden, it could happen to all of Chatham-Kent," Fehrsaid.

The group says its meeting with candidates for the vacant provincial seat forLambtonKentMiddlesex on the issue.

They are also holding public information sessions on April 4 and 11.