Al0O - Sunday News, January 24, 1982 inquiring reporter by Ellsworth = D IC Ks on a L ‘ It has been suggested that an alternate route to Squamish be found through the North Shore mountains due to the continuing landslides and tragedies on the Squamish highway. A suggested route through the Capilano watershed might cost as much as $150 million. The two other proposals are through the Seymour watershed and up Indian Arm. Today's question is: “‘Would you like to see an alternate route to Squamish?” B. Forsyth North Vancouver Yes, l sure would. The Squamish Highway ts a death trap. I think the water purity problem in the watershed area can be solved. John Blake Deep Cove Yes, the Squamish Highway ts far too dangerous. And _ this winter things seem to be getting worse A new highway through the watershed 1s the only real answer. John Marmaduke Deep Cove ] think we do need an alternate route to Squamish | would pot mind paying more tades to help with the cost ‘1 think the possible problems with the dnnking water can be overcome C,aht Nelson North Vancouver | think a new highway ts certainty worth con sidering Some how the water polbution problem would have to be solved Doug Leaper North V am ouves No anced oa Io dont think we now highway te. Squamish we strevuha spood thre Crone N an preoviung ttre Cm Istriy highway [othonk prolate of us abi wate would be a problem A PROBLEM THAT WON'T BRITISH COLUMBIA generates an estimated 60,000 tones of hazardous waste each year — and about 50,000 tonnes of it comes from the Greater Vancouver area. What happens to the bulk of these wastes is largely a mystery but it is generally assumed it is disposed of illegally — in sewer systems, gravel pits and municipal garbage dumps, such as North Vancouver's Premier Street Landfill. A detailed report on the landfill over the years is now problem prepared by the no longer in question — only Hazardous ‘Waste the volumes. Management Advisory The HWMAC report Committee (HWMAC), acknowledges that operators appointed by Environment Minister Stephen Rogers, estimates that only between one and two per cent of hazardous wastes are shipped to out-of-province facilities. Additional quantities are treated on site by industries generating the waste. But the HWMAC report, which calls for a major shake-up in hazardous waste disposal, with commercial sized facilities to be set up in B.C. under the management of a Crown corporation, states: “It is assumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that most of the wastes which would go to these facilities if they existed are presently discharged to sewer systems, sanitary landfills, or directly into the environment.” Nobody has any idea of what) volumes may have ended up at the Premier Street landfill over the years. For one thing, the provincial Waste Management Branch, the environmental overseer of landfills, is so hopelessly understaffed for inspections that it has found it im- possible to adequately monitor what goes in there. The pollution’ control permit authorizing the operation of the landfill specifically excludes the dumping of hazardous wastes. The fact that such wastes have been dumped at the of some landfills have had difficulty in meeting Pollution Control Permit conditions for discharges and leachate quality and states: “The blame for this is placed upon the disposal of certain hazafdous wastes in these facilities.” At the North Van landfill there has never been any check made on what is entering the landfill other than a verbal inquiry to users as they enter the site. But public suspicions that hazardous wastes have been illegally dumped there were confirmed last May when local resident Penny Mc- Donald photographed a tanker truck dumping sludge there after it pulled up in front of her while she was taking pictures of eagles. She found that the hquid burned her hands and samples she collected for laboratory analysis showed the sludge contained elevated levels of chromium, arsenic, cadmium, lead and other heavy metals. Later the sludge was found to have originated from the ERCO pump and paper chemical plant at Maplewood. Until that me. nobody had checked what the plant might be dumping there. Even the waste management group program officer of the local office of the federal Environmenta! Protection Service, Gordon Thompson, who 1s opposed to the alll Sale! 25% off all items eo naartip be: “Buffalo Wallhanging’’ Hoste Tesattien sony hie al mre $67 °° wedi ymotter ) ctyepe rametee Svea yon perwestlerty Lmohs. (saokets. et 285 17th Street. West Van 922-8311 By CHRIS LLOYD presence of a landfill so close to the creek, says: “Il knew ERCO was dumping but not that it was laden with heavy metals. I guess nobody looked at it because it was thought to be relatively safe.” Though North Vancouver District Engineer John Bremner confirmed last June, “We do not accept any hazardous waste,” tests conducted by the federal Environmental Protection Service as long ago as September 1979 showed the dump contained “significant levels” of heavy metals. Samples of leachate killed fish within 100 minutes and District officials were notified of the EPS findings. The HWMAC report comments on occurrences of hazardous materials being illegally dumped at landfills: “Such incidents may be expected to imcrease as disposal conditions become more restricted if suitable alternatives are Dot available.” Problems of leachate entering Lynn Creek from the Premier Street Landfill were responsible for the polluton charges to which North Van District pleaded guilty in provincial court January 11. Sentence will be handed down this coming Tuesday. Fishenes Officer Floyd McKee has previously told the News he proceeded to’ have the charges laid out of exasperation from inaction over his repeated requests to District for leachate protection to be ‘upgraded there. for sludge dumping at Premier Street, the Waste Management Branch, introduced 4 logging system for industrial wastes to be recorded as they enter landfills. The responsiblility of keeping such logs is placed on the operators of landfills — im the case of Premier Street, municipal employees — and is done on a “cooperative and voluntary basis,” according to Waste Management's Municipal Section Head, Ernie Lawson. Details recorded are those given by the person delivering the waste and though Lawson concedes the relies on trust, he adds: “It is a start.” Follow-up tests by Waste Management are made according to the information given at the landfill, ai the plant where the waste is generated and Lawson comments: “We may not catch the particular ship ment as it is going in (to the landfill) .” In its report, the HWMAC calls for government legislanon and regulations for the management of hazardous wastes to be given urgent attention and to be * finish a whole room nicely & economically with Burn products * Custom fit upholstery available to go with it * Lacquer finish & rope binding for strength and Gurability Peacock Chan Settee Char (_oftee table Side table or foot stool Rookshecif 869 & ap 879 B39 4 sizes with or w/o back S60 & up OPEN SUNDAY THE GINGER JAR 982 Martine Dr... North Vancouver Across trom the Avaton 888-4108 man