Press Releases

April 30, 2006         For immediate release:

Powell River Residents Battle Proposed Landfill Super Expansion

Powell River resident's ongoing battle for the wellbeing of their community entered a new phase on April 18 with an open house announcing (Catalyst's) bid for government approval to expand a previously capped pulp mill-waste landfill site.

The proposed expansion, which is immediately adjacent to the Wildwood subdivision's main street and the provincial highway, would tower 26-29 meters over the residential community, making the mountain of industrial waste the highest man made structure in Powell River.

Catalyst was obliged to vacate the old site to prevent flyash dust from blanketing homes and businesses. Ongoing arrangements were made to ship the ash to a secure disposal site in Washington state until perceived cost savings renewed Catalyst interest in the closed site.

Home and business owners are incensed by the permit bid, which pits the health and quality of life of the community over increased profits for the company.

A community website, www.prlegacy.org, has been birthed as a tool for community solidarity and as a means to quell the company's approval maneuver.  The website contains a user's forum, a letters section, links to Catalyst documents and provincial guidelines and an online petition where anyone with a concern about this project can register their opposition.  Residents are also launching a petition drive and media campaign to get the word out.

After Catalyst released an inch thick proposal and technical report, residents banded together online to dissect and rebut the document. Residents were given a thirty day deadline to digest the document and voice their opposition. The permit proposal is slated to be delivered to the Ministry of the Environment on May 18th.

Specifications:

• Footprint: 15 acres, or 6 hectares, or the size of 10 football fields, or the equivalent of three city blocks.
• Height: 9 stories high! This would be the highest man-made structure in the Powell River area.
• Location: The area has been assessed as “a relatively high seismic risk”, and is unstable.
• Weight: The proposal would see 1.3 million tons of industrial waste added to the pile before projected closure between 2028 and 2045. There is already infiltration of leachate into the groundwater.  The huge weight compounds the current problem.

Proximity:

• The only route to and through Wildwood and all locations north, Highway 101, passes within 100 meters of the landfill and for over ½ kilometre is within 300 meters of the landfill.
• The whole community of Wildwood is in close proximity to the landfill.
• Catalyst is seeking waiver of the provincial criteria which mandates a 300 meter buffer zone around a landfill.
• At least 7 houses are within 100 meters.
• 90 homes are within 300 meters.
• A business complex where food is prepared is located within approximately 150 meters.
• The community of Wildwood including the local elementary school, is directly down wind of the landfill.