Collingwood Ethanol has appealed one of the director's orders issued by the Ministry of the Environment.

The Ministry of the Environment issued a pair of Director's Orders on Aug. 19, the first asking the company to complete an action plan by Aug. 27 and the second ordering the company to institute those policies by Aug. 31.

Bruce Chandler of Collingwood Ethanol said the company has prepared the plan to reduce odours and noise, but said they could not complete tasks in the plan by Aug. 31.

"There are lots of things that we can't get done by Aug. 31," Chandler said.

Under the order, if the plant didn't have the tasks completed by Aug. 31, they would be required to shut down the facility.  

"How does that help anybody?" he said.

Chandler said they are currently in the process of installing three silencers to help reduce noise.

He said they ordered the equipment and it takes three weeks to deliver.

"We have to have time to get the equipment in," he said.

Chandler said they have also installed a 50-metre stack that will allow for better dispersion of carbon dioxide.

Chandler expects that the appeal won't be heard until at least October but says the work the plant is doing will be completed long before that. He expects the work to be done in late September.

"It's not that we are standing back and doing nothing," he said. "

On Monday, officials from the Ministry of the Environment started source testing at the plant.

Chandler said the company has spent $2 million over the last several months on measures designed to reduce the odour and noise surrounding the plant. Chandler said the company has also hired an environmental consultant.

The company is still receiving complaints from residents in the surrounding area - including more than 20 in the last week.

Peter Case, chair of the East Environmental Action Committee, said there wasn't a strong smell around his area, but that is not the same for some of his neighbours.

In an e-mail from Dr. Robert and Joanne Clement, they said they are still experiencing terrible odours.

Collingwood Ethanol was so vile that I immediately had a face ache, ran too close the windows, lit our odour eater "lamp bergere", which purifies the air and called the MOE After Hours Noise and Odour Complaint line as well as the Ethanol Plant Complaint Line. We had to walk our dog with our noses plugged. Enough."

Chandler still questions whether it is his plant that is causing odours. He claims that in the preliminary report done by the MOE, where it stated that the plant was the only operation up and running on a certain day, was incorrect.

Chandler said he is encouraged that they are making progress after reading a letter from local resident Marg Martin.

"It has been truly wonderful over the past few days (especially the weekend) to be able to sit out on our deck and enjoy our home and our company without the horrible smell and noise. 

"This is what we thought we were moving to when we bought our home.  With the exception of a strange smell last night, it has been such a welcome change to be able to sleep with the windows open at night and to enjoy my gardens in the daytime.  As we sat at dinner on Friday evening, my husband said, 'listen', and guess what?  -  no noise from the plant either. 

"It's amazing how much calmer life seems without all the noise and odors.  We hope that if and when the ethanol plant does get going again that this type of living will remain.  Quiet and pleasant," she said.

Chandler said he appreciated the comments, but said the plant has been in full operation.

"Thank you for your email. I am gratified that the smell that was prevalent from our upset on August 15 has disappeared. I apologize for the terrible odour that was created when our microorganisms in the wastewater treatment plant died as a result of corn gluten entering this facility.

"While there were no adverse health effects as a result of this condition, we agree that the smell was offensive. The mechanical failure which caused the waste water treatment plant upset was repaired and while it did take more time for the plant to regenerate than we would have liked, we have installed devices that will ensure that this type of failure cannot occur again," Chandler said.

"The plant was shutdown for a four-day period but was started up on Wed., Aug. 20 and has continued to operate since then. All of our processes were fully operational on Friday and over this past weekend. We are currently undergoing our source testing with the Ministry of the Environment, which should be finished this week.

"We are pleased that you were able to enjoy the weekend and the noise abatement equipment we installed is working properly. It would appear that the steps we took on our wastewater treatment plant also were effective from your remarks. We have identified other appliances that we will be placing silencers on and this will improve the sound levels even more."