Dangerous by-product

The following letter, to Premier Dalton McGuinty, was submitted to the Citizen.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend this government for the green space and clean air initiatives. However, here in Caledon, there is still much that needs to be addressed.

Caledon is a very busy part of southwestern Ontario and home to many gravel-aggregate businesses. The unfortunate by-product of all this industry is filthy air. Both the extraction and hauling of aggregate pollute the environment and undermine the quality of the air we breathe.

At peak hours of operation, our community is severely challenged to manage air quality on a daily basis.

Regulations in place for the management of air quality are incredibly complex and not uniform or comprehensive. Many of the pits currently operating in Caledon operate under antiquated "grandfathered" licences with limited controls on exhaust and dust abatement procedures. To some degree, many of the pits are self-regulated as to when and how they will mitigate the pollution they create. Brand new licences being issued today have some strict quality control measures integrated into the contracts, however, the real danger comes from piggy-backing adjoining properties into existing grand- fathered licences. This piggy-backing, which goes on with alarming regularity, absolves the aggregate producers from the more stringent "new" requirements that come with a brand new application: even the new rules do not go nearly far enough in controlling emissions from these operations.

The main by-product in air quality emissions from aggregate operations is silica. Silica is a known carcinogen. Under new licences here in Caledon, some of the pits have signage in place recommending face cover when entering the pit. It appears to be mandatory in at least one pit I have visited. Ironically, the pit next door operates under the "old" rules and no face protection seems necessary or required.

All of us living in this community are exposed to very high concentrations of silica daily. This is unacceptable. The Clean Air Act should be the umbrella under which aggregate operations fall and to which they should be made 100% accountable.

The Ministry of the Environment must enter into a dialogue with the aggregate community to ensure that air quality becomes a priority for them, as it has become a priority for this government and for ourselves.

Name Withheld

On Request