Shawnigan Lake, BC January 22, 2014:
As part of our public information campaign to stop South Island Aggregates (SIA) aka Cobble Hill Holdings (CHH) establishing a contaminated soil dump in the basin of the Shawnigan watershed, the SRA is using a billboard to raise awareness of the permit that will negatively impact the health, economy and well-being of the people of Shawnigan Lake by jeopardizing the drinking water used by over 12,000 people.
Through a generous donation from a local Shawnigan business the billboard is being utilized to help get the message out to the people of Capital Regional District. It is located facing southbound traffic into Victoria greeting residents, ferry and airport traffic.
“This is not merely a Shawnigan issue, the permit if not overturned is a landmark decision which will place other communities and their drinking water supplies at risk. If it can happen in Shawnigan Lake it can happen in your back yard too. The SIA soil dump is only 2.2km from the Capital Regional District’s watershed boundary. We need people to be aware that a contaminated soil dump that has the potential to leach toxins into our drinking water supply is unacceptable and must be stopped” stated Calvin Cook SRA Vice President.
Background
The SRA is engaged in legal proceedings which are before the BC Environmental Appeal Board against South Island Aggregates (SIA) aka Cobble Hill Holdings (CHH) who have been granted a permit by the BC Ministry of the Environment to dump 5 million tonnes of Contaminated Soil in a pit of the slopes of Shawnigan Lake. The soils will include dioxins, furans, heavy metals, BTEX, MTBE, VPHs, LEPHs/HEPHs, PAHs, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, Phenolic Substances, Chloride, Sodium and Glycol to name a few of the contaminates. The SRA believes any level of risk associated with the dumping of these types of chemicals is unacceptable because of the the irreversible effects.