How to comment on Gilead Power Ostrander Point new EBR posting
Earlier this week Gilead Power Corporation’s application for a Wind Energy Project at Ostrander Point was deemed complete by the Ministry of the Environment. The Ostrander Point Project was posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights registry (EBR) on November 30 with an advisory of a 60-day comment period commencing immediately and ending January 29, 2012.
Canada Post letters and individual emails create more impact
We encourage you to submit comments about the Project. However we do have a few words of advice. You will notice on the EBR posting that the Ministry of the Environment is allowing you to send comments electronically. This is provided under the pretext of providing convenience to you.
We have learned from previous experience with the EBR posting for Gilead Power’s application for a permit to kill, harm and harass species at risk at Ostrander Point that your response will have more impact if you write letters or send emails to Shannon McNeill Senior Project Evaluator MOE and to others as well, including Premier McGuinty, the Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of Energy, etc. To be even more effective, we encourage you to submit your comment electronically AND by letter or email. This will ensure your comments reach as many people as possible and keep MOE busy. Contact information is provided at the end of this email.
PrinceEdwardCounty’s internationally-recognized IBA is a “super-highway” for migratory birds and bats: hundreds of thousands of birds pass through this IBA during spring and fall migratory seasons. The IBA provides a safe haven for birds that arrive in the spring exhausted after a strenuous trip across the lake and provides a feeding ground in the fall so they are able to build up their strength for their journey south. The IBA is critical in terms of biodiversity: according to Environment Canada 300 species of birds have been recorded atPrinceEdwardPoint, including some on the federal endangered species list. We have some understanding now of the impact this project will have on certain species at risk such as the Whip-poor-will and Blanding’s Turtle but what of other turtle species, other wildlife.
The construction of the wind turbines and 5.4 k of permanent access roads to the turbines will disrupt habitat and result in injury and mortality from vehicular collisions. We have learned from other such projects that wildlife will leave the area. If this Project moves forward we believe that it is only a matter of time before this area of great biodiversity becomes a barren wasteland. There are many reasons why this Project should not be approved.
Mike Lord at Gilead Power Corporation recently said “the objective of this project is not to have any impacts to the birds at all.” It could be said that the objective of Gilead Power Corporation’s studies is to show that this project will not have any impacts to the birds at all. Gilead’s studies are the products of selective reporting: sweeping generalizations, conclusions based on insufficient data and objective-sounding analyses. When you submit your comments, insist that the Ministry of the Environment undertakes a proper study of bird and bat mortality.
As you already know the SSC is considering legal action. The protection of endangered species is embedded in the laws ofOntarioand the damage that has already been done without the requisite permit has not as yet been addressed. We will update our members on any new developments in this regard.
The best Christmas gift for our endangered species
We know that December is a busy time of year for everyone. However, when you are writing gift lists, or sending Christmas cards or other holiday greetings, and already have pen, paper and stamps at hand, remember to send your written comments to the parties listed below. It may be the best Christmas gift you will give or receive this year – hope for our endangered species.
The deadline for your comments is January 29, but please do it now. You may also forward this post to like-minded friends.
URL to Gilead Power Corporation Ostrander Point Wind Energy Project :
As instructed on the EBR submit your comment to Ms McNeill
Please include reference number 011-5239
Shannon McNeill
Senior Project Evaluator
Ministry of the Environment
Operations Division
Environmental Approvals Branch
2 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 12A
Toronto Ontario
M4L 1L5
AND “CC”
Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON
M7A 1A1
dmcguinty.mpp@liberal.ola.org
The Honourable Jim Bradley
Minister of the Environment
77 Wellesley Street West
11th Floor, Ferguson Block
Toronto ON
M7A 2T5
jbradley.mpp@liberal.ola.org
minister.moe@ontario.ca NEW !
The Honourable Michael Gravelle
Minister of Natural Resources
6th Floor, Ste. 6630
Whitney Block
99 Wellesley St. W
Toronto, ON M7A 1W3
minister.mnr@ontario.ca NEW !
The Honourable Chris Bentley
Minister of Energy
Hearst Building, 4th Floor
900 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2E1 cbentley.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Mansoor Mahmood
Director, Environmental Protection Act
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
2 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 12A
Toronto Ontario
M4V 1L5 mansoor.mahmood@ontario.ca
Doris Dumais,
Director, Approvals Program
Environmental Assessment and Approval Branch
Ministry of the Environment
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A
Toronto, ON M4V 1L5 doris.dumais@ontario.ca
Clinton Randolph
Project Evaluator
Ministry of the Environment
Environment Assessment & Approvals Branch
2 St. Clair Ave W., Floor 12A
Toronto, ON
M4V 1L5 Clinton.Randolph@ontario.ca
Paula Norlock
Agreement Specialist
Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy Division: Species at Risk Branch
Robinson Place South Tower
300 Water Street, 2nd Floor
Peterborough Ontario
K9J 8M5 paula.norlock@ontario.ca
Eric R. Prevost
Renewable Energy, Planning Ecologist
Ministry of Natural Resources
Robinson Place South Tower
300 Water Street, Floor 1
Peterborough Ontario
K9J 8M5 eric.prevost@ontario.ca
Karen Bellamy
District Manager
Minister of Natural Resources
Robinson Place South Tower
300 Water St
Peterborough, On
M9J 8M5 karen.bellamy@ontario.ca
Gord Miller
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario
1075 Bay St, Ste 605
Toronto, ON
M5S2B1 commissioner@eco.on.ca
