Construction on the controversial Site 41 landfill site in Tiny Township continues – despite Simcoe County not having yet received a Permit to Take Water and continued community opposition.

The Concession 2 site has strong, upward gradients, and as a precaution the county applied for a water-removal permit. This would allow them, if required, to reduce pressure on the site as construction shifts into high gear this summer.

“We’re working on things like our storm water management ponds and berns. We still do not have a PTTW from the province. That’s one thing we’re looking for prior to starting construction,” said Rob McCullough, the county’s environmental services manager.

“We don’t necessarily need it. We can’t tell until we go into construction. Engineers will calculate the pressure (from the upward groundwater gradient on the cell liner),” he said, adding that depending on the pressure, the county may or may not need to remove water.

Dump opponents are now arguing that groundwater pressure could reverse and become a downward gradient, if dewatering takes place, especially during periods of extreme drought.

“The landfill should not go ahead,” said opponent Anne Ritchie-Nahuis. “County of Simcoe hydrogeologist Doug Jagger in his County of Simcoe Landfill Site 41 Revised Supplemental Hydrogeological Investigations has indicated Site 41 has downward hydraulic gradients due to construction dewatering and also seasonal declines of up to six months of each year.”

McCullough, however, said the report included a lot of hypothetical questions – including what should occur if groundwater patterns were to change. He said there is no scientific indication of upward movements reversing.

“We looked at a worst-case scenario,” he said.

The county maintains dump opponents have taken comments out of context in order to misinform the general public, and Site 41 has been designed to operate at or above all provincial environmental standards.

“Circulating false information to the public or making statements that are completely out of context is nothing more than tactics by opponents who don’t want this site constructed,” said County Warden Tony Guergis.

The county added Site 41’s upward groundwater gradient provides added protection; the site’s natural clay also bolsters groundwater protection, as will a leachate collection system, a site-monitoring system, and a high-density plastic liner.

“Wasting time rallying people to say ‘No’ or ‘Wait’ is a totally irresponsible position and does nothing to address our waste and waste-management services. Working with us on county programs and diversion efforts is time better spent,” Guergis added.

The search for a site for North Simcoe’s garbage began in 1979; Environmental Assessment and Environmental Protection Act approvals were granted in 1995 and the province issued a Certificate of Approval in 1998. Design and operations approval was granted in October 2006, and the $4.2-million construction project began last year; the new landfill site could be ready to open as early as October.

Meanwhile, the county is sending North Simcoe’s garbage to dumps in Oro-Medonte and Springwater.

“The fact is the County of Simcoe inherited many landfills in the 199os and has steadily worked to rebuild these sites, maximizing capacity within them while working to make these sites safe. But the capacity of existing county landfills has been decreasing significantly faster than it should because of the lack of a local disposal solution for Tiny Township, Tay Township, Midland and Penetanguishene.

“This isn’t only a safe waste management option, it is a responsible way to lessen the impact on other communities and ask North Simcoe residents to take responsibility for their waste within their own community.”