June/July 2011

NDACT NEWSLETTER
NDACT BOARD
Chair: Dale Rutledge V-Chair: Carl Cosack Board Members: Dave Vanderzaag Rick Wallace Ralph Armstrong Rob Green Norm Wolfson John Herndon John Lever Ted Metz Sec/Treas: Diane Cowen Contact: info@ndact.com Website: www.ndact.com

PROTECT YOUR WATER and FOOD

UPDATE ON LICENSE APPLICATION
More than 2,000 letters were submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) by the April 26, 2011 deadline regarding Highland Companies application for an aggregate licence under the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA). The commenting period on the Environmental Bill Registry (EBR) for Highlands application for an aggregate license closed July 11, 2011. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) has serious concerns with Highlands proposal and has recommended that: Given the above noted inaccuracies and concerns, the ministry objects to the application. The MOE letter can be read in its entirety at this link: http://www.aware-simcoe.ca/images/stories/hydro-g-moe.pdf Many of the letters of objection can be read at this link: http://66.212.167.146/MelancthonMegaQuarry/

SUBMIT YOUR comments on or before July 29 regarding Highlands application for Approval to discharge noise, particulate and other contaminants into the natural environment , which appliabtion can be found on the Environmental Registry. Application number is
011-3976

Politicians who have called for an Environmental Assessment include David Tilson, Dufferin-Caledon MP; Michael Schreiner, Leader Green Party of Ontario; Michael Chong, Wellington Halton Hills MP.

NEXT STEPS ON THE AGGREGATE LICENSE APPLICATION Highlands now has up to two years to work on resolving any issues/objections
that were raised in the submissions on their application. The comments on the EBR will be taken into consideration by the Ministry of Natural Resources at the time they make their decision as to whether to grant the license or not. Highlands, however, can at any time within the two years move to expedite the process by notifying all objectors via a registered letter stating that they have met all objections. NDACT will be very vigilant on this issue and will, at the appropriate time, notify and assist individuals with the next step to object related to this process. In the meantime NDACT will continue lobbying municipal, provincial and federal politicians for support. NDACT will also continue fundraising to pay for the ongoing legal, subject matter consultants and other costs. Please submit donations to NDACT, Box 15, Honeywood, Ontario LON 1H0

Click here for link:

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERSWEBExternal/displaynoticecontent.do ?noticeId=MTEzNzUy&statusId= MTcwNDA3&language=en

NEW APPLICATION FILED BY HIGHLAND

On June 29, 2011, 3191574 Nova Scotia Company, operating as Highland Companies, filed an application on the Environmental Bill Registry for Approval for discharge noise, particulates and other contaminants into the natural environment other than water. The proposal is for a new Certificate of Approval (Air & Noise) for the operations of a dolostone quarry; a permanent processing plant, including extraction, handling, processing and shipping operations; a concrete batching plant and ancillary equipment at the proposed Melancthon Quarry located in the Township of Melancthon, Ontario. Operations at the facility include drilling, blasting, excavation, transportation, aggregate processing, ready-mix processing, site preparation and rehabilitation. Emissions discharged to the atmosphere including suspended particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. All comments received prior to July 29, 2011 will be considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry of the Environment if they are submitted in writing or electronically using the form provided in this notice and reference EBR Registry number 011-3976. For more information and to file your comments electronically BEFORE JULY 29, 2011, please click this link: http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEBExternal/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEzNzUy&statusId=MTcwNDA3&language=en

Here is a link to Highlands website that shows their submissions on blasting, noise and air quality. http://www.highlandcompanies.ca/index.php/companies/melancthonquarry/technical_studies/

Our website, www.ndact.com is currently under construction. We heard loud and clear the issue people were having with the old site and are working to ensure the updated site will be easier for people to find information and support NDACT. In the meantime the best place for information is on the Stop the Quarry facebook site or email your questions to info@ndact.com You can also set your google alerts to Baupost, NDACT, Melancthon, CAUSE, Highland Companies, John Lowndes, Michael Daniher, Lindsay Broadhead and see what pops up.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
One of the most important ways you can assist NDACT is to take part in letters writing campaigns and filing objections, signing petitions, etc. As an example of the power of numbers, the quarry issue was listed on Avaaz at this link:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/?vc

STOP THE QUARRY SIGNS

There are three versions of STOP the QUARRY signs.

STOP THE MEGA QUARRY PRESERVE OUR FARMLAND or PROTECT OUR WATER
A minimum donation of $10.00 is requested for a sign. Signs are available at: McCarthy Signs, 110 Centennial Road, Shelburne, ON Mon-Thurs 8-5 Friday 2 Lennox Farms, 518204 Dufferin County Road 124, West Side of Road, Township of Melancthon NDACT booth at various locations over the next few months Groundswell Coffee House, 96 Victoria Street West Alliston Bob and Shirley Mitchell 247503 5th Sideroad Orangeville Call first: 416) 802-3989 NDACT is very grateful for all those businesses and individuals who have offered to assist with the distribution of signs.

Within 24 hours there were 50,000 signatures from around the world. Within four days, over 110,000 signatures were delivered to the Minister of Natural Resources. In fact at one point the Minister even tweeted about the petition. For those who wish to do more, there are several opportunities to assist at the information booth that NDACT will have at several events over the next few months. There is an urgent need right now for volunteers to help at the information booth over the next few weeks at the Creemore Farmers market and at the July 17 awareness day in Orangeville. If you live outside the area you could volunteer to be a sign depot for people who would like a STOP the QUARRY sign. If you can help please contact info@ndact.com and someone will follow up with you.

MEDIA COVERAGE The media around this issue has been overwhelming to say the least. Once our website is up and running links to all media coverage on this issue will be provided there. In the meantime, facebook has a site with lists of the media coverage as well. One particular article, however, stands out. It appeared in the summer issue of In the Hills magazine and was written by Tim Shuff, called Birth of a Protest. Here is a link to the article. http://www.inthehills.ca/2011/06/current/birth-of-a-protest/ Be sure you also check out this link that accompanies the article titled Melancthon Mega Quarry by the numbers: http://www.inthehills.ca/2011/06/current/melancthon-mega-quarryby-the-numbers/ 3

UPCOMING EVENTS and DEADLINES

Avaaz petition-comments open-currently 120,000 signatures in four days-new goal is 150,000 signatures: http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/?vc August/September: Creemores Farmers Market, every Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm July 17: Community gathering in Orangeville to raise awareness of the Quarry issue from 11 am to 8 pm at Alexandra Park, behind the Orangeville Townhall. Info at this link: http://www.gpo.ca/event/community-gathering-stop-mega-quarry July 21: First Nations led gathering at Queens Park, South Lawn, 77 Wellesly Street at noon on July 21 http://www.aware-simcoe.ca/meetings/meetings/1961-aggregate.html?tmpl=component&print=1&page= July 21 Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture Summer BBQ-Vice President of NDACT, Carl Cosack will be a guest speaker http://www.aware-simcoe.ca/meetings/meetings/1988-water.html July 22: Jim Cuddy concert in support of CORE (who support NDACT in stopping the Quarry). http://www.corecares.ca/index.htm_/GET_INVOLVED.html July 23: Honeywood Beef B-B-Q NDACT booth will be present. http://www.thehillsofheadwaters.com/townshipofmulmur/mem-eventinfo.php?id=1665 July 29: Comment on Highlands application for Approval for discharge into the natural environment other than water before July 29 at this link: http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEBExternal/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEzNzUy&statusId=MTcwNDA3&language=en From the application: Operations at the facility include drilling, blasting, excavation, transportation, aggregate processing, ready-mix processing, site preparation and rehabilitation. Emissions discharged to the atmosphere including suspended particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. August 2011 (date to be determined) Cross Canada Tractor Tour in support of small farms-through Dufferin ending on County Road 124 in quarry country-quarry site-details to follow. BIG farming vehicles are encouraged to attend, as are weekend warriors including John Deere lawnmowers and Kubotas. Autumn 2011-Equestrian event-details to follow October 2, 2011: Blessfest, Newmarket, NDACT booth on site details at this link: http://www.blessfest2011.com/ October 16, 2011: Join Chef Michael Stadtlander and 70 of the best chefs from across Canada for an outdoor, pay-what-you can, public food event in support of the movement to Stop The Mega Quarry. All funds raised will go to fighting the mega quarry application that has been put forward by the Highland Companies to create a limestone quarry over 2,300 acres in size on prime, fertile agricultural land and digging into pristine aquifers. Each chef will prepare one item, celebrating the local bounty and encouraging Ontarian's to stand up and have their voice heard by the government. Everyone is welcome. Further details to follow. Please share widely we anticipate 20,000 guests!