South Dundas port project refused Environmental Compliance Approval

MORRISBURG — A contentious port development project on Lakeshore Drive in South Dundas has received a setback from the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC).

In a ruling dated December 4, 2015, the MOECC refused the Ontario Grain Terminals Inc. application for Environmental Compliance Approval (Air) stating it had “not received a satisfactory response” when the applicant was asked for details on plans relating to the application.

An Environmental Compliance Approval certificate is required for any project in Ontario that will release emissions and/or discharges related to air, noise, waste and sewage. Ontario Grain Terminals applied for the certificate on March 3, 2014 as part of their plan to build a grain transfer and storage facility at the Universal Terminals site located between Morrisburg and Iroquois. The company has stated it plans to build two grain bins, expanding eventually the facility to four bins.

Part of the application process requires an Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) report, which is an assessment of air pollution emissions from a facility, and how they disperse once released.

In the MOECC refusal notice, director Ian Greason, P.Eng. stated the applicant’s ESDM report “was not prepared in accordance with the Procedure Document”. A corresponding request from the MOECC for further documentation was given, which the applicant had until November 12th to reply. Ontario Grain Terminals did file a response by the deadline given. In the MOECC refusal notice, Greason stated that Ontario Grain Terminals Inc. “failed to provide the required documentation.”

Under the province’s Environmental Bill of Rights, Ontario Grain Terminals can appeal the refusal within 15 days.

“Our team has been working closely with Ministry representatives over the last few days, and all parties expect to see a new application for this project posted before the end of January 2016,” said Ben Currelly, CEO of NorAg Resources Inc.. NorAg Resources Inc. is overseeing the port expansion project.