In May, I wrote concerning a proposal by South Island Aggregates to collect five million tonnes of contaminated soil, mainly from Victoria, and dump it into a pit in the Shawnigan Lake drinking watershed.
The firm has made its proposal in accord with existing Ministry of Environment regulations. This ministry controls all aspects of contaminated soil movement and storage in our province.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District sent a resolution to the minister of environment seeking a delay in the evaluation of the proposal while other options are explored. This action was in response to the minister's earlier promise of consultation with the CVRD, which hopefully will occur. Meanwhile, the ministry is obligated by existing regulations to continue evaluating the South Island Aggregate proposal.
Every day thousands of Shawnigan Lake residents draw their drinking water from either Shawnigan Lake or its watershed. Many find it inconceivable that the Ministry of Environment would even consider approval to dump contaminated soil in a drinking watershed. This proposal, if approved, has the potential to put the drinking water source for thousands at risk.
Unlike the tragedy of Walkerton, Ont., in which seven people died and which was caused largely by incompetence, this Shawnigan Lake proposal, should it proceed, will be the result of a deliberate ministry action.
Joseph Gollner
Shawnigan Lake
