Sandra Cooper, Deputy Mayor
Collingwood, ON
Dear Ms. Cooper, 
As you know Dump Site 41 has become a growing concern.  Many people are depending on County Councillors to support a one year moratorium, at the
August 25th Council meeting, to stop any further work on the dump until all evidence and issues can be addressed.
The following letter, in today’s Packet and Times, shares important points about why we need to look at the big picture.
I hope you will support a one year moratorium on Dump Site 41. 
Thank you for taking the time to consider this information.
Sincerely,
Kelly Clune
Geology 101 offered for dump Site 41 decision makers (Packet and Times Newspaper – August 17/09)
The area surrounding dump Site 41 is flat, productive farmland with several prosperous farming operations in close proximity to Site 41. There is an abundance of water throughout the area. Cattails grew in the field where the cells are being constructed. Two significant wetlands are located very close to where the landfill is being constructed. Tiny Marsh, 2,000 acres of marshes, open water and bog is located four kilometres, two concessions to the southwest and Wye Marsh, a 3,000-acre marshy wildlife area is 20 kilometres to the north. Orr Lake is five kilometres to the west. Dump Site 41 is being constructed on top of the Alliston aquifer, which is 3.6 to 12 metres (12-40 feet) below the soil surface, stretching out in a radius of approximately 60-plus kilometres.
Farmland and wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate. Clean drinking water is becoming a scarce commodity worldwide. Simcoe County, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen to construct dump Site 41 on 300 acres of prime farmland, in a marshy area, on top a massive aquifer. Not only is the aquifer being put at risk of becoming contaminated, but the construction of the landfill can and will affect water levels (the water table) of the marshland’s, lakes, ponds, streams and wells for kilometres around.
In order to facilitate construction of the landfill, the area must be dewatered. What is dewatering? This is the removal of large quantities of fresh clean water to lower the water table in the area they are working in. They must remove the water at a faster rate than it can be recharged. This will result in what is known as the cone of depression. What problems does this create?
The water table in the immediate area of the pump will drop. Wells in the draw-down area will have their water levels drop or the wells can go dry. Nature likes to remain in balance. To keep the water level in equilibrium, ground water will be drawn from every direction, for a large radius, to replace the water removed. The direction of the ground-water flow will be altered; all water will be drawn toward the area being dewatered. This can result in lowering water levels in the surrounding marshlands. Marshlands are storage areas of water recharge. Toxins in the ground can be drawn toward the dewatered area.
In Perkinsfield, a short distance from dump Site 41, there is a toxic plume from an old landfill (Pauze Landfill), which is migrating westward. This plume will be pulled toward the area being dewatered. When enough water has been removed, another problem will result called land subsidence.
Land subsidence happens when an aquifer is over-pumped, such as in the dewatering operation taking place at dump Site 41. Water between the soil particles is replaced with air space; the soil is no longer buoyed up by the water, the soil surface collapses. The results are soil compaction and sink holes. The soil’s structure is destroyed; it will no longer ever be able to store water. These changes are permanent and irreversible.
This is the science being ignored — geology 101, great damage is being done to a valuable natural resource.
Judge Peter Lauwers said on July 29 no irreparable damage would be done by the county returning to work. Someone needs to seek advice from a source that has some knowledge of geology and is unbiased.  How dare Judge Lauwers lecture the protesters when it is obvious he does not have all the facts? How can he say that no damage will be done? Damage was done the moment they started dewatering.
The blockade /protest is the only recourse the people have to protect the water/ land. I hope the blockade remains in place. The people are the ones who pay the salary of judges and politicians. We hired/elected you to do what is in our best interest and to do as we wish. You are ignoring both obligations.
Joyce Chambers,
Environmental technician, Barrie

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