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Clinton News Record, 2016-03-09, Page 1818 News Record • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Board of Health hears delegation on wind turbine health issues Valerie Gillies Clinton News Record Area -wide Concerned Residents of Huron County were granted time to make a presentation to the Huron County Board of Health at their March 3 meeting in Clinton. There had been enough chairs set up to accommodate an audience of 45, but it was soon evident that this was insufficient as many more chairs were added and yet there was standing room only by the beginning of the meeting. The Concerned Residents estimated there were over 80 people in attendance. This is significant as the public does not often attend Board meet- ings. The Board voted to allow the group an extended time to present, granting them 20 minutes instead of the usual 10 minutes allotted to delegations. Jeanne Melady and Gerry Ryan gave the presentation. The Concerned Residents group cited that they were speaking on behalf of those affected by wind turbine developments in St. Columban, Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh and Grand Bend. Melady stressed that they were not speaking out as victims, but rather to protect the health of those who are affected by these developments. The goal is to share the experi- ences of those living here in the form of impact state- ments. She indicated that, "The residents who have been affected are no longer holding back from express- ing the pain that they feel. They live with it daily." Melady informed the Board that Huron County has the third highest number of wind turbines in Ontario, following Bruce County which has the most and Chatham/Kent is second. These turbines are at a higher wattage than previous developments have been which is believed to be the issue which causes the health effects that are pre- sent. They faster spinning turbines cause a higher noise level, both in audible noise and in infrasound. The presentation was put together to inform and to increase awareness of the health issues that residents close to these developments are living with. Melady pointed out that within the 26 impact statements pro- vided by the Concerned Res- idents group to the Board of Health use the same descrip- tors. This indicates that the experiences are shared across many households exposed to the infrasound created by the high wattage turbines. The effects are widespread as there are six wind projects in Huron County with 270 turbines currently in operation with the total poised to reach 317 when the development at Grand Bend comes on line next month. Melady drew attention to two of the impact statements as containing the most com- mon complaints. Some of the descriptors which appear repeatedly in impact statements include: sleep- less nights, ear aches, head- aches, foggy brains and the inability to think clearly, short term memory loss and confusion, agitation, irrita- ble, high blood pressure, nM'ff=!MaRM7 Valerie Gillies Clinton News Record The Huron County Board of Health voted to grant Area -wide Concerned Residents of Huron County extra time to give their presentation at their meeting on March 3. All but one Board member was present. nosebleeds, vibration on the chest and nausea. The sounds heard when the tur- bines are turning are described as whomping and whooshing sounds. In many cases it is cited that it is loud enough to not be able to get back to sleep if wakened in the night. It is reported that susceptible family members do not like to visit as they get headaches after a brief visit that go away shortly after they leave. Melady revealed that and Environmental Review Tri- bunal and a Ministry of Envi- ronment tribunal were required to be held before the wind projects were allowed to be built. These tri- bunals were to determine if there would be harm to human health or the environment. Melady explained that the answer to this would depend upon the degree of harm. Most of the data given were based on lower wattage turbines. Another troubling fact is that the wind companies asked that studies be made only on the audible noise, not the full spectrum which includes infrasound. Melady gave examples of how it was evi- dent in reports and state- ments that the wind compa- nies were aware that infrasound did have the potential to negatively affect the health of people with sensitivities to it. It came to be apparent that these same effects are happening in every community that the wind projects are in. With this prior knowledge, Melady is concerned that in Huron County, there are fairly dense populations in the communities into which these turbines are dropped. The Concerned Residents are asking that the Health Unit conduct a health haz- ard investigation. The impact statements submitted are not the only people who are affected. More are being gathered. The health impacts are severe and previous studies have not included children in the investigations even though children are in the households and are being affected. The residents who are experiencing the effects are concerned that there is no way to resolve the situation as they have no place to go to be heard. This is why they are asking the Health Unit to become involved. The Board acknowledged that there had already been a meeting between staff and the Concerned Residents group prior to the March 3 meeting. In their comments, the Board asked for a report of that meeting be brought back to the Board and must also become available to the public for transparency. A motion was passed that the staff will submit a report of the prior meeting. Since the meeting, the Area -wide Concerned Resi- dents of Huron County released information on the prior meeting that was held on March 1. CONTINUED > PAGE 19 OFFICE HOURS The Office Hours for The Clinton News Record are as follows Mondays - 9am - 5pm Tuesdays - CLOSED Wednesdays - 9am - 5pm Thursdays - 9am - 5pm Fridays - 9am - 5pm News Reoor 53 Albert St., Clinton, ON PH: 519-482-3443 • www.clintonnewsrecord.com pr] PO STNIED14 33 Main St., ; Seaforth , . " . ' . REAL =KIM 519.600.1577 ' T Lrcc Agi THE SIGN THAT SAYS SOLD AMY MAUREEN McCLURE WILDFONG I Sales Rep. Sales Rep. 19-525-3988 519-525-9954 Howard Culligan 519.272.5413 www. - - com To View All Our Listings Broker of Record g THE SIGN THAT SAYS SOLD 4 PLEX FQ `, ry0 34 ANN ST., ., "" :i . i� . ' �1 hag� 44 HURON ST., CLINTON SEAFORTH MLS # 914678 $319,900 1 ' ; _J RV 1 l 11,f MLS # EXCLUSIVE OPEN CONCEPT FAMILY HOME 4 - "" M1 62 CROMBIE ST., SEAFORTH. MLS # 376265 $275,000 IIA' 1 R 51 JARVIS ST., SEAFORTH MLS # 222157 $179,900 HARDWOOD FLOORING AFFORDABLE , • _ .. - s°' 93 HURON ST., CLINTON MLS # 754242 $299,900 •� --fir. ", _. - 1. .�. 15 RAILWAY ST., SEAFORTH MLS # 526199 $111,900 RANCH STYLE HOME CUSTOM BUILT .i,„1.,„„,„,„1..,. __ #'' 82, CHALK ST., SEAFORTH � MLS # 607372 16 FAIRWAY DR., EGMONDVILLE MLS # 372285 Imior $329,000 $409,900 SERVING HURON & PERTH COUNTY SINCE 1977 nM'ff=!MaRM7 Valerie Gillies Clinton News Record The Huron County Board of Health voted to grant Area -wide Concerned Residents of Huron County extra time to give their presentation at their meeting on March 3. All but one Board member was present. nosebleeds, vibration on the chest and nausea. The sounds heard when the tur- bines are turning are described as whomping and whooshing sounds. In many cases it is cited that it is loud enough to not be able to get back to sleep if wakened in the night. It is reported that susceptible family members do not like to visit as they get headaches after a brief visit that go away shortly after they leave. Melady revealed that and Environmental Review Tri- bunal and a Ministry of Envi- ronment tribunal were required to be held before the wind projects were allowed to be built. These tri- bunals were to determine if there would be harm to human health or the environment. Melady explained that the answer to this would depend upon the degree of harm. Most of the data given were based on lower wattage turbines. Another troubling fact is that the wind companies asked that studies be made only on the audible noise, not the full spectrum which includes infrasound. Melady gave examples of how it was evi- dent in reports and state- ments that the wind compa- nies were aware that infrasound did have the potential to negatively affect the health of people with sensitivities to it. It came to be apparent that these same effects are happening in every community that the wind projects are in. With this prior knowledge, Melady is concerned that in Huron County, there are fairly dense populations in the communities into which these turbines are dropped. The Concerned Residents are asking that the Health Unit conduct a health haz- ard investigation. The impact statements submitted are not the only people who are affected. More are being gathered. The health impacts are severe and previous studies have not included children in the investigations even though children are in the households and are being affected. The residents who are experiencing the effects are concerned that there is no way to resolve the situation as they have no place to go to be heard. This is why they are asking the Health Unit to become involved. The Board acknowledged that there had already been a meeting between staff and the Concerned Residents group prior to the March 3 meeting. In their comments, the Board asked for a report of that meeting be brought back to the Board and must also become available to the public for transparency. A motion was passed that the staff will submit a report of the prior meeting. Since the meeting, the Area -wide Concerned Resi- dents of Huron County released information on the prior meeting that was held on March 1. CONTINUED > PAGE 19 OFFICE HOURS The Office Hours for The Clinton News Record are as follows Mondays - 9am - 5pm Tuesdays - CLOSED Wednesdays - 9am - 5pm Thursdays - 9am - 5pm Fridays - 9am - 5pm News Reoor 53 Albert St., Clinton, ON PH: 519-482-3443 • www.clintonnewsrecord.com pr] PO STNIED14