Melancthon resident Dennis Scace joined the debate over Highland Companies' proposed quarry when he asked Melancthon Council last Thursday, to require a "covenant of $500 million liability" from any belowgroundwater mining operation in the Township.

He said the policy should extend to the land, the shareholders and the directors and include an inflation clause, plus an additional $10-million fund with a $5,000 deductible.

He suggested residents of surrounding communities could draw on this fund for lawyer fees if there was ever a major problem with the mine or drinking water.

"This prevents a large corporation from dragging cases through the courts for years only to bankrupt the plaintiffs," said Mr. Scace, who works as a financial advisor.

Mr. Scace's delegation was greatly anticipated by residents in attendance who respected his knowledge of water as a retired mechanical engineer. His family has lived in Melancthon for generations and he began by stating, "I would like to live in this community for the rest of my life".

He had gone to council with the intent of "offering help" on the subject of below-groundwater mining.

Mr. Scace said that while he was "not an expert", his research was based on the opinions of those who were. "After reading these reports", he said, "it has become very clear to me that the next steps taken by the council of Melancthon must be very important actions to protect the clean water supply now and for countless generations after us. Almost every report stressed the need for longer and more detailed research when aggregates are proposed to be extracted under the water table."

Melancthon's Official Plan states, under "Ground Water and Watershed Management": "[T]he protection of groundwater resources will be a primary consideration in the evaluation of any development proposal". Under "Water Taking", the Plan states that water taking shall not be approved unless Council is satisfied that "the quality of ground and surface water in the area will be maintained and, where possible, improved."

Mr. Scace shared what he emphasized were "just a few of the hazards" that the residents "will have to deal with" if a deep quarry were allowed in Melancthon. The hazards would include:

• The fact that explosive used in the mining process would presumably make it difficult for a mining company to comply with Melancthon's Official Plan:

• Putting the Pine River, Noisy River and the Grand River ferns and springs at risk;

• Lowering of the water table

• Rising water temperatures in nearby rivers;

• Major environmental damage and loss of water flow;

• Contamination of ground water from deep contaminated pools;

• Contamination from air, wind, road salt, petroleum, hydraulic hoses;

• Disruption of underground rivers, and

• Community wells drying up in nearby towns and villages

In response, Michael Daniher, representing the Highland Companies stated: "We know that water is important. That's why the Company spent 18 months researching it in the area. Quarries in Ontario operate below the water table. Surface and groundwater conditions are maintained by proven solutions that return water to the ground. The application, including as it relates to water, will be subject to a thorough review process."

The public will have an opportunity to question Highland Companies on these "proven solutions" at an open house at the Horning's Mills' Community Hall this Friday, July 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mr. Scace's advice was to "put our best foot forward as a united township ... and ask for the proper studies to be done before the pit application is approved; follow the Region of Waterloo and place a moratorium on all extraction from under the water table until studies are done to satisfaction; save as much farmland as possible, maybe all of it. ..."

If a mine were to receive approval, he emphasized the importance of independent pit monitoring and yearly water and depth tests being done on all wells within a 20-mile radius, paid for by the mining company. "I believe that this is the least we can ask for, considering the million people who may depend on this water source."

Mr. Scace did offer one other option: "Do nothing and blame any problem now and in the future on someone else."