Letter Response to Lois Johnson From MOE Febuary 12,2014

Lois replies back.

Ms. Garcia-Wright:

Re:  reply of February 12, 2014  (reply is attached)

Once again, you have managed to avoid my question.  I am not concerned about the proponent using the Noise Guidelines for Wind Farms.  I understand that NRWC is following the regulations by doing so.

My concern lies with NRWC saying they are noise compliant at distances less than 600 m while the Environmental Protection Act states that turbines with a sound power level of 106 and 107 dBA must be at least 950 m from a non-participating receptor.  In fact when there are more than 5 turbines clustered less than 3 km, the distance must be increased to 1200 m.

The EPA was written by the ministry.  I have to assume that it was written by staff with technical expertise.  How can the EPA be so different from the noise assessment that NRWC submitted?  This is my question.

This huge discrepancy in setback distances should raise a red flag for the MOE.  The difference is not just a matter of a few metres, it is several hundred metres.

Please reply to my concern.

Yours truly,

Lois Johnson