Subject Comment on the Environmental Assessment Study July To Steve

							Subject: Comment on the Environmental Assessment Study
July 9, 2008

To: Steve Taylor
   Vice President, NCE Ltd.

From: David Sacks
      President, New Edinburgh Community Alliance (NECA)

     Interprovincial Crossings Environmental Assessment Study

Dear Mr. Taylor,

Hello. As President of NECA, representing the Ottawa community of New Edinburgh, I
must object to your published study as being incomplete in its current form. The
invitation for public comment at this point seems naïve or insincere, insofar as the study
has neglected to provide complete measurements.

Secondarily, certain measurements provided in the study seem unreasonably angled in
favour of a Kettle Island verdict—which calls into question the study’s fairness. Could it
be that your study has been unduly influenced by City Council having named Kettle
Island as its preferred choice of site?

Specific to these two objections:

1) Study incomplete

a) The study oddly omits an entire category of measurement. The category “Social
Environment” should be included around Page 24, following current item 2 (“Natural
Environment”) and preceding current item 3 (“Cultural Environment”).

b) On page 19, “Traffic and Transportation”: How can the study include no “Truck
Traffic” measurement (1.0.1), when common sense says that that is one of the most
important criteria?

c) On page 25, “Cultural Environment”: How can the study include no “Noise Impacts”
measurement (3.2.1), when common sense suggests that it too is one of the most
important criteria?

2) Kettle Island unduly favoured
--On page 25: “Vibration Impacts” (3.2.2), the measurement 0 simply cannot be correct
for the Kettle Island alternative.

That route will send trucks and cars past the Aviation Museum and Montfort Hospital,
each of which contains sensitive material and equipment. How can your study be
believed when it includes such an obvious understating of a disadvantage?
Thank you for considering my objections, which I offer with all respect.

Sincerely,

David Sacks
President, New Edinburgh Community Alliance (NECA)