Save Salt Springs

This is a formal complaint against the proposal of a natural gas plant development in Salt Springs, Pictou County, NS.

Phase out coal and promote diesel in your new natural gas plant? Trenton power plant could add a natural gas plant while slowly phasing out coal. Build a new gas pipeline. Residents of Trenton are already subjected to the noise, pollution, soot and ash on their homes, vehicles and properties. Trenton power plant already has the infrastructure (water source, electrical towers etc.).

Why disturb and possibly irreparably damage the wetlands, wildlife, and health of nearby residents on a much loved rural community?

We were not aware or notified of the open house information session which took place at the West River Fire Hall on November 12,2025. As a resident of Six Mile Brook Road and a family that will be directly impacted by this facility, I would like to stress that we have never received any personal contact from the IESO Board or any representative of the IESO.

In all probability, emissions will concentrate in the surrounding area of the plant. This will greatly affect our community. The nitrogen oxides will create smog, soot and ash . Not only will this be a health hazard of various medical conditions but an additional concern to our homes, our properties and habitat in our brooks, streams and woodlands.

As residents within a 1km range of this plant, are we to accept the obvious, to become collateral damage to your development?

One of the reasons we moved to Salt Springs was the "quiet" rural setting. As it is, a member of the family is noise sensitive and is limited to the sound of a basic house fan. We can't imagine a future listening to loud machinery, compressors, pumps or turbines or whatever noise this plant would produce to us locals.

No doubt the perpetual noise would not only affect the quiet of our daytime hours but intrude on nights by causing restless sleep, anxiety, stress and headaches for the next 30 years. More serious to sensitivities, this family member suffers from MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) and is already feeling anxiety if this gas plant is approved.

With this facility operating 24/7, I see no way around the control of light pollution. While electricity is used to power general outdoor lighting, this often contributes to overall skyglow. It is my understanding that flaring is the controlled burning of excess or byproduct natural gas, which produces a bright, intense light. Natural gas extraction and processing are often continuous, requiring significant artificial lighting at night to maintain safety for personnel and equipment which obviously increase our natural night sky to your artificial night lights.

By introducing night light to the home of nocturnal animals and migratory birds, they will become disoriented.

Is it fair to suggest you intend to expect all wildlife in this area to vacate their community?

Will you create sound barriers and have some form of silencers?

I feel I don't need to list all the key pollutants and how they will consistently become related to resident health issues, whether our health would be affected almost immediately and no doubt long-term. Its not only an issue of breathing in your pollutants, just seeing stacks and rolling smoke and flashing lights in our horizon would cause depression, anger, annoyance and frustration. For those of us who live on Six Mile Brook Road, this plant would be a monster in the open, glaring back at us, taking from us everything we value in living in this peaceful environment.

Can you guarantee, in writing, to every resident within a 5km radius of this facility that no property wells will be contaminated or experience decrease or loss of water levels in their wells?

How will residents be protected by the possibility of our water being contaminated from spills, leaks, and wastewater?

How do you propose to protect our groundwater, surface water and the surrounding wetlands?

Noise, traffic, industrialization and pollutants will decrease our local property values. Mainly factoring in the proximity of our property to this proposed site will substantially and negatively affect our property value. In all of Pictou County and over the years, few properties have become available for purchase in Salt Springs. Real Estate in this area is so valued and appreciated, not only for its landscape but for its privacy and quiet surroundings. In all areas of my concerns, why would anyone seek to live close to a natural gas plant?

This gas plant will destroy our rural community and over a thousand residents living in the proximity of this facility. To take away what we all value would be criminal. Every spring season, we put out feeders for the hundreds of hummingbirds. From mid May to mid October, I walk up the brook with my dogs on a daily basis. I live for and love these walks. Listening to the birds and watching the eagles, all the frogs, seeing the fish, the deer, the groundhogs and beavers makes it more exciting. Every summer, we swim in the brook that runs alongside our property. Every mid summer I watch the beavers begin to lay their foundation for their winter lodge. Every October I watch the salmon make their way up the brook. The pride and enjoyment we all have in our properties and the fulfillment every day from the beauty of nature, birds and wildlife is something I am willing to fight for.

Today, I can look out my window and see a very nice scenic view of some very old trees, high on the ridge. I can see the flow of the water in the brook changing from a roar to a calm lazy stream. I watch the deer feed in the field next door. I never want to look out my window and see stacks from a gas plant, including any pollution rolling into the picturesque horizon that I value so much.

Please find somewhere else to develop your gas plant. Not here, not in the close vicinity of so many humans!

Do you wish to destroy our habitat, our property value, our health, our lifestyle?

The Salt Springs area was settled by the 1770s by passengers from the Ship Hector and a property referred to as the "Salt Springs Lot" was settled by the early 19th century. To present day there are still descendants in Salt Springs who made this community home. I am aware of the full history of the land I own and I appreciate everything it offers to my family and how it must of been a slice of heaven to those who lived here before me. I can't fathom to think what our ancestors would think of the monstrosity of a gas plant rising up from the untamed wilderness.

We are strongly against your proposal to upset our life.