Tuesday 5 December 2023

 Hi Everyone,

We have been contacted by many residents via email and phone about the meeting on December 6th regarding Ash Grove Cement plant. The MWRRA encourages everyone to attend and ask questions! 

Here are some legitimate questions that we have received which may help residents prior to attending the drop in from 4-8pm at the Residence Inn, 2145 North Sheridan Way.

Potential Questions to be Answered

1.     Has the government proposed new emission standards for SO2 and NOX?  If so when is the implementation date?  How many years ago did the process for developing these new standards begin?

2.     If Ash Grove were required to meet the new requirements for SO2 and NOX emissions that all companies in Ontario are expected to meet, how could Ash Grove meet them?  Reduce production, change inputs, change products?

3.     What are the timetables involved in seeking the Ministry of Environment’s permission to exceed SO2 and NOX maximums?  If the community objects, what must the community do and what is the timetable for that?

4.     Is this facility seeking approval to be able to exceed new provincial maximum emissions of SO2 and NOX or is it failing to meet existing standards?

5.     Why should this company be permitted to emit more SO2 and NOX than other companies in Ontario?

6.     What are the health consequences of excessive emissions of SO2 and NOX?

7.     Has it aggregated its proposed excessive emissions of SO2 and NOX with the emissions of other companies in the Clarkson AirShed to determine the health and safety consequences for residents? (Is Ash Grove aware that its neighbour the Petro-Canada plant was taken successfully to the Environmental Appeal Board because that plant was exceeding SO2 standards in place at the time?)

8.     How have the results of the Balsillie report been factored into AshGrove’s request to be permitted to exceed SO2 and NOX emissions?

9.     Has it prepared a study of the impact of the proposed excessive emissions to the Clarkson AirShed?  May we see it?

10. Is it true that coal is the primary fuel used in the process at this facility?  What efforts are underway to reduce the use of coal? What would the alternative fuel be?

11. According to the company website (see https://ashgrovenorth.com/mississauga-cement-plant/community-advisory-panels/), there is no reporting of any meetings of the community advisory panels since 2019. Why is that?

12. Your website notes that your Mississauga facility has been operating for 60 years. How many major rebuilds have been done since its inception? Why and when were the rebuilds done?

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