HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-12-28, Page 4Wednesday, December 28, 2011 • Signal -Star 3
d turbine sound report writes off concerns
ince of Ontario is
eport as "confir-
hat there are no
cls from industrial
nes.
istry of Environ-
ounced Friday,
t its "expert report
there are no direct
cts from turbines
's regulated set-
ce• of 550 -metres.
ority is to develop
energy in a way
s Ontarians " said
ent minister Jim
This report finds
on the right track
g a cautious
whensetting
for wind turbine
d sound limits."
an of MOE media
- id Friday the "lit-
e• w" is not a study
Tidings regarding
of wind turbines
g projects like
ron-Bruce, but a
existing studies
from Europe and
States in compar-
he last 35 years,
io's current regu-
the opinions of
o`Chief Medical
ealth included.
why areas like
ice weren't con-
the
on-the report, since
tly dealing with
lt conflict .sur-
ind turbines and
s one of the rich -
r wind. resources,
Europe is "more
when it comes to
ne development
formation was
'able.
f work has been
nationally that's
ailable as they
experience there,"
in writing off the
of numerous
taxpayers complaining of
health impacts from indus-
trial wind turbines within
the Municipality of Kincar-
dine and Huron -Kinloss,
along with the potential
impacts of sound to resi-
dents
esi-dents near Port Elgin's now -
under -construction CAW
wind turbine, the govern-
ment has issued four recom-
mendations that Jordan said
will see the MOE. adapt as
more information comes
forward.
In summary, the first rec-
ommendation said that sen-
sitive "receptors" or resi-
dents living close to turbines,
should continue to be moni-
tored to insure the 40-deci-
ble sound level is in compli-
ance. Jordan said if this isn't
met, companies will be
asked to take "voluntary"
action to remedy the situa-
tion, from shutting down the
turbine when high winds
create noise that exceed the_.
guidelines, slowing the tur
bine, or installing indoor
noise monitoring devices, to
construction of physical bar-
riers to protect receptors
from sound. Jordan said if
problems persist and corn
panies don't take action
against concerns of neigh
bours, the province may take
legal action or issue fines
until companies are
compliant.
The second is a continued
monitoring of technical
developments and the adap-
tation of regulatory policies
worldwide.
"Ontario will continue to
monitor this evolving sci-
ence's technical develop-
ments, and any emerging
regulatory policies intro-
duced in other countries,"
the report reads.
The third recommenda-
tion refers to issues sur-
rounding low frequency
sound levels and its impact
indoors, as it changes in dif-
ferent environments and
differs from sound reception outdoors
and should be implemented in provin-
cial protocols dealing with complaints.
"It is recommended that the MOE
consider adopting or developing a pro-
tocol to provide guidance for address-
ing such complaints.... given the signif-
icant variation in sound impact from
house to house," the report reads.
The fourth and final recommenda-
tion refers to infrasound, which "is not
expected to be heard by humans or
pose an issue for human health." On
that note, the report recommends that
"routine measurement of infrasonic
soundlyessure levels" from operating
'is not -warranted to the same degree
that the measurement and monitoring
of overall... sound pressure levels."
"Nonetheless, there are aspects of
infrasound from wind turbines that are
not unanimouslyaccepted by all tech-
nical and medical practicioners and
there remains a degree of public appre-
hension associatedwith infrasound,"
the recommendation reads. "It is there-
fore recommended that the MOE con-
sider adopting or endorsing measure-
ment procedures described in the
literature that could be used to quainify
infrasonic levels in specific situations"
Jordan said the MOE will continue to
monitor complaints from existing wind
turbines in regards to noise issues. She
said in cases like the CAW turbine, the
MOE asked the proponent to down-
grade the turbine from 800kw to 500kw,
as well as reevaluating their noise mod-
elling and assessment data in regards
to their Certificate of Approval for
noise.
"We will continue to work with com-
munities and respond to noise com-
plaints," she said.
The study was a compilation of 100
reports conducted by noise, vibration
and acoustics "experts" Howe Gast-
meier Chapnik Limited (HGC Engi-
neering). The report was assembled by
Alberto Behar, a University of Toronto
Research Assistant, Colin Tickell, a sen-
ior consultant on acoustics and the
environment with HATCH and associ-
ates, and Dr. Gilles Daigle, principle
consultant with MG Acoustics.
"Ontario will continue to monitor
this evolving science's technical devel-
opments, and any emerging regulatory
policies introduced in other countries,"
the release said.
Wind Concerns Ontario said in an
e-mail Monday that the "one -year-old
report smacks of desperation as claims
of health effects from the environmen-
tal noise are on the rise around the
world," said president Jane Wilson.
Wilson said the literature review
can't address the current issues
surrounding wind turbines in the
Kincardine and surrounding areas, as
it was written beforehand; Because of
this, it does not refer to the finding so
the recent Environmental Review Tri-
bunal in Ontario, which found that
"there is no question" of harm to
human health from industrial wind
turbines, if they are placed too close
to people," she said.
"The judgement of that Tribunal was
that. Ontario needs to rely on better
science to create regulations to protect
citizens' health and safety," said Wil-
son. "This report is not that science."
Wilson said the World Health
Organization has documented the
reports of potential for ill health from
the Kincardine -area specifically, as
she recognizes those who "have
become ill from the exposure to the
the environmental noise and infra-
sound" from turbines.
"For Ontario to ignore people like
this and continue to promote indus-
trial development which is resulting in
what can only be called an environ-
mental illness at this point, is uncon-
scionable,". said Wilson.
The report is viewable on the MOE
website at http//news.ontario.ca/ene/
en/2011 / 12/export-report-conlrms-
no -direct -health -effects -from -wind-
turbines.html
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