Meeting Ministry of the Environment standards does not mean chemical-free emissions. Ethanol production is not an environmentally clean process. Northern Ethanol's application to the Ministry of the Environment identifies emissions of at least 30 regulated chemicals. The application identifies a "Limiting Effect" of 12 of these chemical emissions as Health. Six of them are classified as known or suspected carcinogens. The large quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the proposed refinery would combine with existing vehicular nitrogen oxide emissions to form smog, decrease our air quality and increase incidence of asthma and other respiratory problems. While projected emissions from the proposed refinery may fall within the Ministry of the Environment's "safe limits", accidents, human error and/or equipment failure could easily result in over-emissions. In addition, our knowledge of the health effects of various chemicals is not perfect. There was a time when Dioxin and DDT were considered to have "safe limits". No one knows the cumulative long-term effects of constant exposure to these emissions in combination. Ethanol May be the Right Fuel, but Barrie is the WRONG Location for a Fuel Refinery.

Ethanol itself is a highly flammable and explosive material. In addition, the refining of ethanol involves the use, transportation and storage of other toxic, corrosive, flammable and explosive materials, many of which require special handling. Special equipment, training and an emergency response plan would be required to deal with potential spills, leaks, fires or explosions. Emergency response plans in other communities have included 2.5 mile radius evacuation zones and further 2.5 mile radius "stay-indoors" areas with areas potentially affected as far as 17 miles from the refinery (http://www.c4aqe.com/Evacuation_Plan/evacuation_lancaster_newspaper_excerpt.pdf) An accident could affect all of the City of Barrie, Stroud and parts of Thornton, Essa, Springwater and Oro Townships and could involve the evacuation of more than 130,000 people. The old Molson brewery site used to be on Barrie's sparsely populated outskirts. Due to the rapid pace of development in Barrie, the site and the road and rail network servicing it, is now surrounded by residences, schools, old age communities and existing and planned businesses - all teeming with people. Traffic on the 400 Highway averages close to 100,000 cars per day. The potential consequences of a fire, explosion or other accident are far too serious. Ethanol May be the Right Fuel, but Barrie is the WRONG Location for a Fuel Refinery .

Northern Ethanol's proposed refinery calls for a staggering 2.39 billion litres of water per year (based on peak usage). This amount is equivalent to approximately 17% of all the water used in Barrie in 2006! According to Northern Ethanol's own documentation, 85% of the water it would take would be emitted in the form of contaminated vapour. The other 15% would be used for cooling and discharged as wastewater. This level of usage could deplete our precious air and water resources (see http://www.agobservatory.org/headlines.cfm?refID=88309 for an example of an ethanol refinery that caused serious depletion of the local aquifer less than a year after it opened). Emissions, accidents and spills have the potential to pollute the air, our drinking water and Lake Simcoe. Ethanol May be the Right Fuel, but Barrie is the WRONG Location for a Fuel Refinery.

Putting Northern Ethanol's Proposal in Perspective

Barrie is marketed as the hub of Simcoe County and the gateway to cottage living. People move to Barrie for a better lifestyle with fresh clean air and water. Odour and smog from an ethanol refinery could impair the quality of life in Barrie and damage Barrie's reputation as an attractive place to live, play, work and invest. Ontario Environment Ministry regulations are under review but may be inadequate to protect our community from stigma associated with odour and smog. The history of ethanol refineries is replete with broken promises that new technology and procedures will eliminate the foul odours associated with the process of refining ethanol. Stigmas last a lifetime. Other recent attempts to locate ethanol refineries in communities have met with opposition and have been rejected because of concerns about the negative impacts. On March 27, 2007, Cornwall (Ontario) City Council rejected the proposed Seaway Valley Farmers' Energy Cooperative ethanol refinery stating, "this type of development is no longer suitable in the municipality given the odours that can be generated from an ethanol plant." (http://www.agrinewsinteractive.com/fullstory.htm?ArticleID=8332&ShowSection=Front%20Page) In May, 2007 proposals in Fayetteville, North Carolina (http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=582452) and Dover, Wisconsin (http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=13023) were also turned down. Ethanol May be the Right Fuel, but Barrie is the WRONG Location for a Fuel Refinery.

Currently ranked the second best place to invest in Ontario by the Real Estate Investing Network, Barrie's desirability is based in large part on its natural bounty. Barrie offers a healthy, clean environment, a beautiful waterfront, ski hills, golf, fishing and a gateway to cottage living, all in close proximity to the GTA. Cornwall Council's press release concluded that in rejecting the Seaway Valley Farmer's Energy Cooperative proposed ethanol refinery Council "is committed towards the continued development of a local economy which would not be adversely affected by any operation that could have a negative effect on its reputation as a preferred location in which to invest." Shouldn't Barrie's Council demonstrate the same wisdom? Far from signaling "Barrie Means Business", approval of the proposed ethanol refinery could actually provide a deterrent to other, more desirable industrial investment in Barrie. The total value of existing property investment in Barrie currently exceeds $10 billion, an amount far in excess of any benefit an ethanol refinery could bring. Given substantial risks to public health, public safety, the environment and the City's reputation, the City of Barrie owes it to existing investors to take whatever steps are necessary to protect those already invested so substantially in Barrie by rejecting the proposed ethanol refinery. Ethanol May be the Right Fuel, but Barrie is the WRONG Location for a Fuel Refinery.

Ethanol refineries typically provide between 40 - 50 jobs (less than 1/10 the number of people that were previously employed at this location). This survey in Ethanol Producer Magazine provides an overview of potential employment opportunities and skills requirements. As well, other than the temporary jobs during site preparation, many of the construction jobs will likely go to national fabrication companies who specialize in building ethanol refineries & who have their own staffs.

Noxious odour, excessive lighting, and noise disturbances from 24/7 production operations at the refinery. "Meeting MOE standards" does not mean odor and noise-free emissions.

Substantial increase in truck and train traffic (24,090 railcars and 22,460 trucks per year) delivering raw materials (corn and hazardous chemicals) to the refinery and transporting finished fuel out. This volume of traffic could lead to increased noise, vibration, pollution, risk to pedestrian traffic at crosswalks, increased risk of accidental chemical spill, as well as other traffic hazards. If there is a delay in railroad improvements then the number of trucks per day would be 252 or 10.5 per hour. *Note: To reflect the true volume of traffic these numbers indicate truck and rail traffic coming and going (empty and full).