Editor,
The geotechnical program currently underway in Georgian Bay is important to us, and we recognize how much the community cares about protecting the Bay. This program was shaped directly by feedback from Indigenous Nations and local residents to move proposed project infrastructure into deeper water and reduce near-shore impacts. It has been designed with multiple layers of environmental protection and with safeguards built into how the work is carried out. Drilling uses a dual-casing system that fully isolates activity from the water—capturing all fluids and sediment on-site, with zero discharge into the lake. Once complete, boreholes are sealed and all materials are removed for proper disposal.
All work is conducted under strict regulatory oversight, with permits or approvals secured from provincial and federal authorities, including the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, and the Department of National Defence.
We recognize how important it is to keep the community informed about the work taking place. Beginning in mid-May, we shared information through hand-delivered notices, local newspaper ads, radio, social media, and updates on our project website, along with direct outreach to the Municipality. We understand that timely, clear communication matters, and we remain committed to providing ongoing updates and opportunities—like weekly coffee chats—for residents to ask questions and share feedback.
Additional details on the program are available on our project website – www.ontariopumpedstorage.com.
Sincerely,
Clark Little on behalf of the Ontario Pumped Storage Project Team
TC Energy
