Editor:
Re: Tyson IPP running clean, with conditions, Coast Reporter, Aug. 13).
Your article correctly states that we don't think regulators are getting the job done. Just to clarify, people working in regulatory agencies, in our experience, are competent and committed public servants.
The problem is that the province has slashed staffing and budgets of regulatory agencies and weakened their mandates.
The province also gutted the BC Environmental Assessment Act. The result is that environmental assessment tends to be superficial while monitoring and enforcement activity is insufficient or unavailable. In our experience and opinion, it is complaints from the public that motivates regulatory activity.
The Tyson project was approved without professional assessment of the potential for sediment mobilization in Tyson Lake. There was very little monitoring from authorities during the construction phase. A complaint from the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) last December triggered a visit to the Tyson project three months later.
On Feb. 17, officials found the facility running at or near capacity and pouring sediment-laden water into the Tzoonie River. Operations ceased on Feb. 19. Apparently, the company was unaware of this problem, as no automatic water sampling was installed.
On March 20 the company restarted the facility and this produced the now famous plume of dirty water that extended out into Narrows Inlet that triggered public outrage and brought regulators into the picture. Emails from regulators (and the Minister of the Environment's office) stated that the release of silty water was not authorized.
What if no one had been there to notice the damage? What would have happened to the Tzoonie's magnificent salmon runs? The same company is proposing another lake-bottom drilling project at nearby Ramona Lake. A provincial environmental assessment will take place. We better all pay attention. See www.thescca.ca for more details.
Daniel Bouman
executive director, SCCA
