Category Archives: Health

Environment, Green Energy, Health, legal challenges, UK Wind

Environmental Risk Assessment of Water Sources due to wind project

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sneddon-law-windWind development includes risk of contamination to water sources. In Scotland planning conditions are to be reviewed in a public hearing for the proposed Sneddon Law Community Wind. The project has appealed to discharge conditions meant to be protective of water sources for its wind power complex.

Sneddon Law Community Wind Project details can be reviewed here: http://www.communitywindpower.co.uk/projects/sneddon/16.htm

An environmental risk assessment hearing was prompted by information contained in the recently published Sneddon Law WF Private Water Supply Risk Assessment (PWS RA): https://app.box.com/s/61683trl1bryoq9sjlyp1wvffufpk945

Dr.Rachel Connor who is Chair Moscow and Waterside Community Council outlines concerns and background in a letter which can be read at the following link: https://scotlandagainstspin.org/2016/11/sneddon-law-windfarm-water-supplies-and-rights-of-representation-request-for-help-from-dr-rachel-connor/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

The public has until 21st December 2016 to submit comments.
Send to the Case Officer: Colin Bell   Colin.Bell@gov.scot

The full case can be viewed at www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk Case No PPA-190-2058 and at
https://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?ID=117448

PUBLIC NOTICE OF HEARING

 

 

 

Adverse Health Effects, Direct Effects, Green Energy, Health

Wind Turbine Investigation

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wind-turbine-investigation

Huron County Health Unit is hosting an information session about the Wind Turbine Investigation.  Please attend & RSVP.

WHEN:    December 6th, 2016

TIME:       7-8:30 pm

WHERE:  Huron County Health Unit- 77722B London Road,  N0M1L0 Clinton

Residents of Huron County are invited to an information session hosted by the Huron County Health Unit. The session is about the upcoming investigation related to reported human health concerns associated with residential proximity to industrial wind turbines. There will be information on the investigation survey, and time for residents’ questions. Please let us know if you plan to attend at 519.482.3416 (Dial 0 to speak to receptionist).

 

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Mayor asks Ombudsman to investigate Unifor Wind Turbine for Non-Compliance

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Unifor Wind Turbine- Saugeen Shores, Ontario

The Mayor of the Town of  Saugeen Shores calls upon the Ontario Ombudsman to investigate the non-compliance of the Unifor  industrial wind turbine that has generated hundreds of complaints due to its noise impacting adjacent residents.

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White Pines Wind Project Remedy Hearing Motions

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owl-apai“It is unfair to say the least that APPEC was given six months to prepare and make its case while wpd has been given an excessive amount of time to do this  at the remedy hearing, and that APPEC is in the position of having to foot the bill in order to protect Ontario’s at-risk species.”

appec's avatarAlliance to Protect Prince Edward County

On October 5 the Tribunal suspended the remedy hearing schedule in order to adjudicate a number of motions from APPEC.   The Tribunal’s rulings on the motions could be days, weeks or even a month-plus away.

1. Referral to the Director
This motion is for an Order of the Tribunal to remit the REA (Renewable Energy Approval) for the White Pines wind project back to the Director of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) for reconsideration in light of the amendments proposed by wpd.  A large number of significant amendments to the Project have been proposed.  As a result this Project can no longer be said to be the Project “as approved” by the Director.

2. Striking Respondents’ Evidence
Affidavits from witnesses for wpd and the MOECC raise issues that as a matter of law could only be properly raised at the main hearing.  In effect both wpd…

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Esther Wrightman: Get mad! Stay mad! Make history!

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stopthesethings's avatarSTOP THESE THINGS

A while back we covered Esther Wrightman, suggesting that this fine young Canadian gives “courage” a new name.

True to form, Esther’s at it again, telling Ontario’s farmers and families to “Get mad! Stay mad! Make history!”

Here’s an extract of her cracking little speech to the “Unwilling Hosts” Rally in Ontario on 19 October 2013.

“Unwilling Hosts” Rally Speech
Esther Wrightman

Let us be clear about why we are here today. This is a demonstration of “We, The People” versus “We, The Corporations”! I have, of course, borrowed the phrase from the American Declaration of Independence.

This is an in-your-face demonstration of “We, The People” versus the wind energy companies that are strangling rural Ontario — strangling us with the approval and encouragement of our government!

I want to say “Thank you, rural Ontario — you good people who are the backbone of this distinguished province that just…

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Adverse Health Effects, Green Energy, Health

Niagara Wind Who are you going to Call?

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Why, Where and How to Report Health & Wellness Issues or Observations

Niagara Wind Contact Number: 1-884-363-6491

Call 911 for emergencies

MOECC Niagara District Office  (Mon. – Friday 08:30 – 5 p.m.) 905-704-3900 or 1-800-263-1035 x 43906

 Any Time: call MOECC – Spills Action Centre

1-800-268-6060

Parts of the NRWF industrial scale wind facility have become operational -that is -not only spinning, but also under load (Generating power).  Now it gets interesting…

The best things we can do to protect ourselves:

  1. Maintain a logical frame of mind:
    1. Do not focus on any noise or vibration they might create in your home – only observe if they are present or not, then focus away.
  1. If noise and/or vibration is present:
    1. Keep a log of what you observed and when you observed it.
    2. Include what you did about it
    3. Complete the log as soon as you can after the event occurs – improves accuracy.
    4. Please see the linked “Wellness Log” template below you may wish to use. I prefer to use Google Drive because I can access the log from anywhere on any device. (Requires a free Google Gmail account)
  1. Report any issues through official channels:
    1. This is the primary method by which we can effect change!
    2. The Wind Power Corporation is bound by law to report conditions to the MOE(Ministry of the Environment), when you issue an incident report to them.
    3. Even if you don’t get any reply – continue doing this. The reports of issues can be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and used.

Please circulate these materials to your friends and neighbours. We hope that no one feels any negative reaction, but if we do, we must not suffer in silence.

Here is a link to a Wellness Log Template. Ways to use this file:

  1. Sign up for a Gmail account, open the spreadsheet and click “File > Make a Copy”
  2. If you don’t have or want a Gmail account, click “File > Download As > Microsoft Excel”
  3. Print

Wishing everyone good health and happiness.

Adverse Health Effects, Green Energy, Health

Sound of turbines is an ethical issue

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sound-1

Assessing the need for industrial wind farms and their siting requires ethical values. The wind industry repeatedly dismisses the adverse health effects of living close to industrial wind farms. The claims are made on the fact that there have been few “peer-reviewed” articles directly connecting adverse health outcomes to the proximity to wind farms. However there is a plethora of published complaints worldwide linking health complaints to living near wind farms.

As a physician I was intrigued by this discordance. My experience with human disease told me that we all were missing something. I began to research the health impact of industrial wind farms on those individuals living in close proximity. I wish to share my conclusions.

Wind turbines produce audible and inaudible sound waves. Not all individuals living close to wind turbines are adversely affected. Nevertheless a significant number are intolerant in the long term. High levels of audible wind noise are clearly associated with degradation of health, which is improved as the decibel level is decreased. Inaudible infrasound and its effect on human and animal health has not been adequately studied. The lack of scientific information linking infrasound to adverse health outcomes may be because we are just beginning to understand the alterations in human physiology confronted with infrasound. There is a growing body of evidence that infrasound matters and may be the cause of negative health outcomes.

Recent research suggests that the inner ear is capable of sensing infrasound and affecting the way we sleep, learn, problem solve and interpret the environment around us. Some communities have recognized the existence of adverse health impacts and have begun to legislate to protect individuals.

Back to ethics. Why then are we in such a hurry to place wind farms so close to living organisms when there is a potential for an adverse outcome? Corporate and ethical responsibility no longer is a matter of how much money is donated to a person or a cause. Rather, ethical corporations should not adversely affect the environment and degrade human life. Instead of siting industrial wind close to populations, why not look to conservation and other renewables that don’t have associated health complaints? Is it ethical to ask that some suffer while others prosper? I would argue no. I would argue my peers would agree when they review the emerging data.

DAVID A. CHERRY, M.D.

Windham

Published October 19 , 2016  Rutland Herald:

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20161019/OPINION02/161019623

Adverse Health Effects, Green Energy, Health

Knowledge Partner in Wind Turbine Health Study

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huron-county-wind-turbines

By October 19, 2016 4:39am

The municipality of Bluewater is now officially a “knowledgeable partner” in the study being conducted by the Huron County Health Unit, the University of Waterloo and Wind Concerns Ontario into the relationship between health problems and wind turbines.

Council approved the motion this week and will issue a letter of support acknowledging that position.

Mayor Tyler Hessel explains the role of the municipality and the Health Unit at this point is collecting complaints from residents who live close to turbines and are experiencing health issues.

He’s adds he’s looking forward to hearing back from the people at the Health Unit working on that, and their analysis of the complaints.  Hessel says that analysis might form future actions of the municipality.

READ AT: http://blackburnnews.com/midwestern-ontario/midwestern-ontario-news/2016/10/19/municipality-bluewater-knowledgeable-partner-turbine-study/

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Unravelling of Species at Risk Protections

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More bad news for our species at risk as the Court upholds changes to endangered species leaving vulnerable populations and habitats without legal protections.  Note most industrial development such as wind generation facilities is now allowed by exemptions via the Species at Risk Act.

blandings-on-forest-floor

Court upholds changes to endangered species rules

Ottawa Community News,
Liam Casey,
Canadian Press,
October 12 2016TORONTO — Ontario’s highest court has dismissed a challenge to the province’s endangered species regulations, a decision environmental groups say will leave many species without legal protection.The Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld a lower court decision that found the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry was within its rights to grant exemptions to industries such as forestry, oil and gas and mining under changes made in 2013 to the Endangered Species Act.The regulations provide 19 exemptions from the act. One exemption, for example, allows someone to kill or hurt caribou or damage or destroy the animal’s habitat if that person is conducting forest operations, provided the person has an approved management plan.”It’s a terrible day for endangered species in Ontario,” said Caroline Schultz, the executive director of Ontario Nature, one of two environmental advocacy groups behind the appeal.

“It means that the Endangered Species Act doesn’t do what it professes to do.”

 Ontario Nature and Wildlands League argued that in granting the exemptions, the Natural Resources Minister “failed to consider the potential impact of the regulation on each individual species.”

The not-for-profit environmental groups also argued the lower court erred in finding that the exemptions were consistent with the purpose of the act, which they said was “to protect and enhance the recovery” of species at risk and not “to balance such interests with economic interests.”

The appellate court disagreed with both arguments, saying the minister had properly considered the effects of the regulation on each species and that the law was meant to protect biological diversity while also considering social, economic and cultural concerns.

It agreed with the government that “the effect of the proposed regulation is not likely to jeopardize the survival of the affected endangered or threatened species in Ontario or to have any other significant adverse effects on these species at risk.”

A Wildlands League spokeswoman said she was “gutted” by the decision. “No endangered or threatened species in Ontario right now has legal protections not to have their habitat destroyed or the legal right to not be killed,” said Anna Baggio, director of conservation planning with Wildlands League.

The ministry, meanwhile, said it was pleased with the decision and would be assessing its next steps in light of the ruling.

A ministry spokesperson said the regulatory changes “simplified the rules for landowners, municipalities and businesses while continuing to protect endangered and threatened species.”

READ AT: https://www.ontarionature.org/media/media_template.php?n_code=943
barn-owl-ontario-govt-e1415311482334
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Impact of Wind Turbines on Well Water

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golder-report

The Golder report has been released but fails to provide any insight into why there are reports of water wells adversely impacted after wind turbines were installed for other projects. The paper insists ground vibrations will have insignificant impacts to water wells. Real life experience demonstrates a different and negative outcome with water being contaminated by excessive sedimentation. Desk top study vs actual reported changes to wells on the same aquifer of the proposed project. It would be fantastic if harm is not proven. Don’t bet the farm on that one.

READ ARTICLE HERE:  http://sydenhamcurrent.ca/2016/10/13/full-golder-report-obtained/

Golder Report: