The comments below are from one person who sent the article which follows;
We, the citizens of Vancouver Island should launch a rebellion against the BC Government for allowing South Island Aggregates to dump
contaminated soil in the Shawnigan Lake watershed because this is a precedent setting case that will now permit the same thing
happening in every public watershed throughout BC, that isn't owned by the municipality. This decision has launched an assault on our
Vancouver Island watersheds. We need legislation to protect our watersheds now!!! We are talking about protecting our health…
clean water, clean air, clean soil should be a basic human right in Canada. Everyone on Vancouver Island should be very angry about this decision because our health is dependent on the health of our watersheds. P.H.
Contaminated soil headed to Shawnigan
APPEAL BOARD: Go ahead given despite stay
South Island Aggregates's application to dump tens of thousands of tonnes of dirty dirt in the Shawnigan watershed immediately, despite a stay being in place, has been approved by the Environmental Appeal Board.
"The main issue is the stay was varied to allow four allotments of material to come in. SIA is arguing that these are relatively benign," Shawnigan Lake Electoral Area Director Bruce Fraser said, noting the Environmental Appeal Board has accepted that there is enough security on site that if the material does prove to be problematic, it could be dug up without major impact on the surrounding areas.
The Shawnigan Residents Association was both disappointed and concerned after learning the news on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
"As an organization and as a community we are stunned that the Environmental Appeal Board would allow the proponents to dump contaminated soils on their property before this matter is heard next month," said Calvin Cook, the SRA's vice president.
SIA has asked the Environmental Appeal Board to allow them to receive 40,000 tonnes of contaminated soil at their Stebbings Road property ahead of the March hearing of their soil treatment permit, which, if allowed to continue, would allow about five million more tonnes over the next 50 years.
Now permitted are barge loads of dredgate from Esquimalt and Prince Rupert laced with heavy toxic contents including fuel, lead and arsenic.
"Although we have no choice but to respect the board's decision we are in complete opposition and will continue to fight the contaminated soil permit," Cook said.
Fraser noted that the main hearing is only about three weeks away and that the Environmental Appeal Board has stated it will not let the stay variation influence the hearing.
"The ultimate significance of this remains to be seen," he said. "The 25-page decision is again very thorough and clearly differentiates the stay issues from the validity of arguments that must be decided in the main hearing on the permit itself."
? Cowichan Valley Citizen
– See more at: http://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/contaminated-soil-headed-to-shawnigan-1.853673#sthash.qmknBeCG.dpuf
"This week, the Environmental Appeal Board allowed soil dumping to begin on a limited basis. "
read news article here…
http://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/company-defends-soil-dumping-in-shawnigan-1.854674
