a tug that will not come because the wood waste landfill proposal withdrawn

Wood waste landfill proposal withdrawn

Jeff Levine said that when he purchased the 155 acre property on Sarah Point Rd. in Bliss Landing, he planned to use a tiny portion of it for a business venture. He claimed that Ministry of the Environment staff helped him develop the proposal. They told him that the ideal site for a wood waste landfill was land that had previously been clearcut or was a forest industry site.

There is a four acre parcel within Levine’s new property that fits both categories. It had been clear-cut three years ago. A sawmill had once stood there. In addition, the site was close to the ocean, which would make it easy to barge wood waste in. Ministry staff said he needed to submit the name of a proposed waste wood site, so they could see how his operation would work. So, Levine said, he used the old Interfor mill site in Squamish as a model.

Photo credit: A sawmill by R Berndt via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

He does not have a contract

Levine said he does not have a contract with the Squamish site. In fact, he does not have a contract with any wood waste site anywhere. If his proposal had been approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Levine said he plans to seek customers from old mill sites.

In wake of the resulting public protest, he has aborted the idea. As Levine told Cortes Currents last night, “I have to live in this community.” 

Screenshot of Change.org petition, before it was taken down on Dec 16, 2020.

Opposition on social media    

There has been considerable opposition to the project on Social media.

9,543 people signed a Bliss Landing resident’s petition on Change.org that stated, “We’ve been able to access reports on the waste materials that indicate high levels (up to 100X higher than legal limit) of a chemical called Toluene, which is highly toxic. Exposure during pregnancy can result in birth defects.”

The post lists a number of other “hazardous contaminants” and states “These contaminants were found in waste samples at levels ranging from 100% to 3,000% of the safety limits listed above.”  

The petition was supposedly started by Save Desolation Sound – which denies any connection, adding “It was initiated without any consultation with the SDS.”

According to CBC News, “on Dec. 16, a Change.Org spokesperson told CBC in an email: ‘The petition was started by a small group of local residents and I’ve just learned that they are no longer comfortable speaking to the media.’ The petition was taken down the same day “at the request of the petition starter …’”

Information from Squamish

The District of Squamish does not appear to be aware of any corresponding test results. They hope to see mixed density housing, a marina and a park put onto the old mill site site. In their description of the proposed development at Waterfront Landing park, the District states, “previous industrial use has led to some site contamination.”  

Last year, Municipal Environmental Co-ordinator Caroline Ashekian informed the Squamish council that the waste from the old mill “wouldn’t contaminate the area, but it could result in structural instability.”

Bliss Landing wood waste landfill proposal withdrawn
Relationship of Bliss Landing to Cortes Island, Lund and other locations – Roy L Hales

Local Opposition

A number of people have expressed opposition to moving Squamish’s wood waste to Bliss Landing.

Ashley Zarbatany posted a public letter to Levine on Facebook, “As a resident of nearby Cortes Island, I am concerned about the impact this disposal will have on the marine ecosystems in our region. Specifically, I am concerned that water drainage from the disposal site will lead to contamination of our local aquaculture and sensitive marine habitats throughout Desolation Sound and surrounding areas in the Discovery Islands. It is for this reason that I am urging the company to consider a better way to dispose of the waste at the site where it was originally created, in Squamish, B.C., instead of exporting it to an area where our local economy relies on healthy marine ecosystems. ”

(As was previously stated, Levine said he does not have a contract to receive wood waste from Squamish or any other location.)

The MLA responds

The MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast, Nicholas Simmons, looked into the matter for his constituents.

Simmons emailed, “The draft Technical Assessment submitted to the ministry and prepared by qualified professionals indicates that environmental risks to surface water and groundwater will be effectively mitigated through landfill design, operation, closure planning and post closure monitoring.  However, it is important to mention the technical review by the ministry is pending.”

Mr Levine claims that Ministry staff helped develop his proposal to pass that review.

Landfill proposal withdrawn

When he withdrew his proposal, last night, Levine wrote “It is unfortunate that false information was intentionally distributed stating that the wood material was toxic waste.  This is simply not true.  This was an application for disposal of non-hazardous wood material, in accordance with Provincial guidelines and by Qualified Environmental Professionals.”

“The constructive feedback and ideas of the local community are appreciated.  Although all Provincial requirements for this type of facility have been met, it is the concerns of the local community that has prompted the decision to withdraw the application with the Ministry of Environment, effective immediately.”

Links of interest – Bliss Landing Project

Links – Squamish Timeline 2018 -20

Links – Squamish Timeline 2016 -17

Links – Squamish Timeline 2009-2014

Links – Squamish Timeline 2004 -07

This story was originally posted Dec 15th, additional material added Dec 16, and more links added (to help establish a timeline) on Dec 20/21, 2020.

Top photo credit: A lone tug by Steven Pisano via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative

One thought on “Wood waste landfill proposal withdrawn”

Comments are closed.