Elected officials and a representative of the MRC met to respond to the many concerns of citizens about the mega-slag project on Tuesday at Saint-Adelphe town hall. Meanwhile, opponents are still waiting for a return of appeal from MP and Minister Sonia Lebel.
According to Mayor Paul Labranche, more than forty people have expressed their questions and concerns since the information meeting on December 14.
A committee made up of the mayor, two councilors, the deputy director general and a representative of the MRC met on Tuesday afternoon to take stock and make recommendations.
What emerges, according to him, is that social acceptability seems more difficult. The committee must therefore produce a report that it will submit to the entire municipal council on February 7. “We will ask for mitigation measures for sure. Especially for odor control and water consumption, ”said the mayor.
But Paul Labranche is categorical. Only the government can stop this project of 11,997 pigs divided into three buildings of 3,999 animals, built 150 meters apart. Remember that the minimum threshold for the Bureau of public hearings on the environment to look into this type of project is 4,000 animals.
On the side of the opponents, Nathalie Lefebvre and Véronique Bégin are still waiting for answers from MP Sonia Lebel and Minister of the Environment Benoit Charrette.
“We have not had any feedback despite letters sent. We would like to meet Ms. Lebel so that she gets more involved in the file. We have to get a deadline so that our questions can be answered, ”said Véronique Bégin.
A radio silence from the CAQ drew strong criticism from the official opposition spokesperson for the environment, Isabelle Melançon. “Minister Charrette could decide to launch a BAPE and he does not want to do so. Regarding Sonia Lebel, I relaunched Sonia Lebel, I challenged her on social media. It’s radio silence. ”
One of the promoters defends himself
Although the pigsty has been associated from the start with Patates Dolbec de Saint-Ubalde, the company wants to change things. It was not her, but Olymel who initiated the project. Patates Dolbec’s involvement in this project is, according to Managing Director Hugo D’Astous, more limited.
“Our involvement is to make one of our lands available to Olymel and its partner so that they can build their facilities.
“We are not going to operate the site and we are not investors in this project. We provide the land and in return, we will recover the slurry in order to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. ”
The impact on the environment would be minimal according to the general manager, who adds that the site is away from residential areas.
Asked about a potential involvement of the BAPE, Mr. D’Astous underlines that the project is completely legal.
“There are many projects being done like that in the pork and beef industry. They build a barn every 150 meters to meet the criteria. Is the law perfect? No, but those are the rules in place. ”