POWELL RIVER GROUP TO APPEAL 1.3 MILLION TON FLY-ASH DUMP PERMIT

An application by Catalyst Pulp and Paper of Powell River BC to expand a controversial landfill area led to more than a year of deliberations by the Ministry of the Environment, ( MoE ) and has recently resulted in the granting of a 40 year permit to dump up to 1.3 million tons of ash creating a 70' - 90' high fly-ash mountain.

The site is adjacent to the highway and in the residential / agricultural community of Wildwood. The application was strongly opposed by the Wildwood Ratepayers Association and led to the establishment of the Powell River Legacy group, (PRL) who fought this application to its bitter conclusion.

PRL opposition did lead to a number of conditions that had to be satisfied by Catalyst on behalf of our community’s safety: the testing of air quality, drinking water, ground water, and lake trout. Catalyst is also obligated to continue a search for alternate uses for this unwanted waste material.

PRL is concerned with the lack of regulations in city zoning obligating Catalyst--or future owners--to clean up the landfill in the event that it's condemned for contamination, or the mill closes or is sold.

PRL has retained the services or William Andrews, an environmental lawyer to launch an appeal so that a bond or letter of credit be attached to the permit so that any future closure or cleanup costs associated with the landfill will not be born by the citizens of British Columbia.

PRL will also appeal to have the permit and the dumping of fly ash conditional solely to the production of paper, and not transferable for any other purpose.