July 11, 2018
Ontario

White Pines charged under Environmental Protection Act

Jason Parks, Staff Writer | Picton Gazette | July 9, 2018 | www.pictongazette.ca

While not yet operational, the White Pines Wind Project is drawing scrutiny from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

A lawyer representing the nine-turbine industrial wind project was in the provincial offences court on King Street in Picton on Friday as the project is facing three charges stemming from alleged contraventions discovered by Ministry officials in May.

Making its first court appearance in relation to the matter, wpd was answering three charges of failing to maintain a silt fence, a violation of the project’s Renewable Energy Approval.

These charges fall under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act Section 186.3 which deals with failure to comply with the terms and conditions of an environmental compliance approval, certificate of property use or renewable energy approval or of a licence or permit.

The fruition of charges was news to the Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County chair Gord Gibbins.

Gibbins was contacted by the Gazette Friday morning for a response and the chair believes the charges are a result of complaints made by the citizenry of the ward of South Marysburgh where site preparations are being made for turbine installation.

“I know through the construction of the collector and transmission lines there have been numerous complaints made to the Ministry of the Environment with respect to the silting operations breaking down,” Gibbins said.

Inquiries made by the Gazette to White Pines were not immediately returned.

The matter was put over to Oct. 5.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/07/11/white-pines-charged-under-environmental-protection-act/