DRIC Wants You to Know the Facts

News Release

Windsor — The Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) study team wants the public in Windsor and Essex County to know the facts about the technical reports that were submitted as part of the Environmental Assessment to the Minister of the Environment on December 31, in particular the reports on air quality and human health, as many questions have recently arisen on these topics.

Air quality was one of the seven evaluation factors taken into consideration as part of the Environmental Assessment study. In response to community input, the DRIC study team placed a high priority on this factor and conducted all air quality analysis based on a work plan that was reviewed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Health Canada (HC) and Environment Canada (EC).

The air quality assessment completed for the DRIC study found that all options for the access road would have a similar impact on air quality and that, “the existing air quality is greatly influenced by local, regional, and long range (cross border) contaminants generated in upwind urban and industrial areas.” (DRIC Environmental Assessment Report, page 10-2) . In fact, a transboundary pollution study by the MOE indicates air quality episodes in Windsor are driven by transboundary pollution rather than by local sources. Moreover, predicted PM_2.5 levels associated with The Windsor-Essex Parkway are not expected to exceed criteria levels in residential areas. Other sources of particulate include industry, agriculture, and construction sites. The air quality assessment also found that building The Windsor-Essex Parkway will improve overall air quality in comparison to building nothing at all. The greatest air quality benefit of The Windsor-Essex Parkway will be from the reduction in truck idling along the traffic corridor.

A Human Health Risk Assessment was also undertaken using results from the air quality studies to determine the potential health effects for people living in the immediate area of the Recommended Plan, including The Windsor-Essex Parkway. The results of this analysis concluded:

• The Recommended Plan does not increase the risk of cancer for local residents exposed to vehicular emissions.
• The Recommended Plan does not result in an increased health risk in comparison to either the existing conditions or the future conditions that could be expected if the access road is not built. In fact the reduction of truck idling along the traffic corridor results in health benefits.

This information can be found in the DRIC Environmental Assessment Report, page 10-5.

The Detroit River International Crossing study team is confident that the Recommended Plan, as submitted to the Minister of the Environment does not increase health risks and results in some health benefits for residents of communities along The Windsor-Essex Parkway.

We are proud of the work we have undertaken to date and are confident in the Environmental Assessment submitted to the Ministry of the Environment. The review process is coordinated by the MOE and the Minister of the Environment has the power to approve the project, approve it with conditions or to refuse to approve it. The Minister’s decision requires the concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Cabinet).

We encourage interested stakeholders and the public to review the reports cited above and the full body of work undertaken by leading experts. For more information on the Environmental Assessment Report visit www.partnershipborderstudy.com. For more information of The Windsor-Essex parkway visit www.weparkway.ca.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

Media Contacts

Pat Smith
Windsor Border Initiatives Implementation Group
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Windsor
519-973-7359

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