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November
28, 2007 I am writing on behalf of the Board of A2A, the Algonquin to Adirondacks Conservation Association, with reference to the exploration for uranium going on in Frontenac County. Our organization wishes to register our profoundest concern about the toll such exploration and subsequent development will take on habitat and wildlife within the Frontenac Arch area. We understand that 30 000 acres have already been staked. Clearly, whatever choices taken on a parcel so large will have profound effects on the natural environment, and of course for the Ontarians living there, as well as those living downstream and downwind. We know that this issue is of great concern to the rural community in which A2A is so deeply rooted. The purpose of A2A is to achieve healthy, connected plant and animal habitat between Eastern North America's two largest parks: Algonquin Park in Ontario and Adirondack State Park in New York. The vision of the organization is to save forever the unique natural heritage of the Algonquin to Adirondack region; its mission is to encourage the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of ecological connectivity, ecosystem function and native biodiversity, while respecting sustainable human land uses, in the distinctive region of Ontario and New York State that lies between and embraces Algonquin and Adirondack Parks. The Frontenac Arch, an area underlain by granite and the surrounding sandstone and limestone formations is the area A2A is working to protect on both sides of the international border. The highest biodiversity of wild plants in all of Canada is in the A2A region along with a vast variety of animals. Frontenac County is one of the key habitat areas in the Frontenac Arch. Many conservation groups concentrate their efforts in this area because of its importance for the myriad species that live here. During the development of mines, natural plant cover will be cut down , particularly as roads are built, which in turn, provides vectors for invasive species to take root in the affected areas, displacing native species. The Mining Act allows the surface stripping of 10 000 cubic meters of overburden, without any requirement for restoration. Thus habitat is fragmented and destroyed. Since Frontenac County is home to a high number of endangered species, many of which are on the Provincial Species at Risk list, special care must be taken not to decrease their habitat even further. As well, noise and particularly light pollution from mines and processing facilities can interrupt breeding cycles for wildlife, further reducing already fragile populations for some species. Mining is, by its nature, an activity that disrupts connectivity on the landscape, which in turn negatively affects populations of wild animals and native plants. There are several aspects of the mining of uranium that concern us in addition to stripping the overburden. The drilling process proposed here involves drilling holes to a planned depth of up to 400 meters. These holes can fill up with water, leaching out dangerous substances which can then contaminate aquifers with radiation and heavy metals which are often found in the same deposits as uranium, affecting wildlife and people alike. The British Columbia Medical Association reported the following as part of its presentation Health Dangers of Uranium Mining and Jurisdictional Questions before the British Columbia Royal Commission of Inquiry: “Radon contamination of ground water may be a health risk in pincushion drilling typical of advanced exploration, yet under present AECB regulations, a couple of hundred drill holes can be made without obtaining a license. AECB admitted to having no scientific data to show this is safe; the regulation was based on an arbitrary administrative decision.” Radioactive contamination cannot be contained within exploration sites and mines, and thus will inevitably affect water, wildlife and humans far from these areas. As discussed on the website of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (www.ccnr.org): "Radionuclide content in aquatic biota (fish, insects, clams, plants) has been shown to increase downstream of uranium mine tailings; this increase is especially pronounced near older mines.”. . .and. . . “Radioactive materials in the tailings can also be carried very far away in the bodies of animals, fish, birds, and insects. Anybody eating the meat from contaminated animals will get the radioactive material inside his or her own body.”. . and . “During routine mine and milling operations, radioactive substances and other chemical contaminants (including sulphuric acid) will escape into the water.” Since it is Ontario’s policy to protect source water, preventing this kind of damage is essential. Uranium mining is of particular concern because of radiation it can produce in various stages extending from drilling to processing. The problem is that even miniscule amounts of radiation can affect the genetics of all species, including humans. We must always keep in mind that what we do to nature, we ultimately do to ourselves. “There is no convincing scientific evidence that there is a safe dose of atomic radiation. The evidence points strongly to the opposite conclusion -- that every dose of atomic radiation administered to a large population, no matter how small it may be, will cause a corresponding increase in the numbers of cancers, genetic defects in offspring and other diseases.”-C.C.N.R. website Keeping
the uranium in the ground prevents the contamination of water, air and
soil, on which all life depends. Ontario’s wildlife is being destroyed
in a “death by a thousand cuts” manner. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Respectfully yours,
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