— Wednesday, Apri! 30, 1997 — North Shore News

Dollarton foundation tig strikes 0 oll

Old lumber mill site believed to be source of contamination

By Jan Nobie

News Reporter ian@nsnews.com

A Dollarton resident struck oil recently while dig- ging a foundation for a new basement.

Unfortunately, the strike at the base of the excavation won't bring Sea Shell Lane homeowner Shayne Nyquvest any riches.

Instead, North Vancouver District is warning residents in an area bounded by Cates Park, Indian Arm, Dollar Road, and Roslyn Boulevard that there may also be oil contamination on their prop- erties, which sit on old lumber mill sites.

According to Douglas Pope, the head of the contaminated sites section for the B.C. Environment, the problem is more about the

environment than human health.

“North Shore Health h has looked at the situation and because it’s ’ primarily j just oil and it’s underground quite a ways, they have indicated they don’t see any reason for any health concerns,” he sai

“¥ could sce how some property owners would be worried not knowing what state their site’s in.”

He said the environment ministry does not have information on ~

whether nearby properties are also contaminated. But properties situated on the old rails sites have the potential for ‘contamination, ‘. He said Nyquvest has hired an environmental consultant that * will be doing further tests. * ~ "District environmental protection manager Mel Kotyk said the : homeowner i is doing remedial work on the property under the

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guidance of the ministry. The stop work order on Nyquvest’s devel- opment has been lifted because he has committed to work with the environment ministry and satisfy the ministry’s requirements prior to getting an occupancy permit.

Koryk said that a link berween the old mills and the oil has not

“been established, but the nvo seem coincidental.

There are no plans to test other properties.

Pope said oi! on the Indian Arm waterfront property presents concern for fish and aquatic life, but oil has not migrated to Indian Arm.

Pope said it’s rare to find resi- dential properties on the sites of previousiy industrial lands. He said the redevelopment of the land happened back in the 1930s. But now contaminat- ed site regulations require that such sites be tested and cleaned up prior to residential development.

“The Vancouver Cedar Lumber Miil closed in 1929,

continued to operate untl 194

Two mills were on the site, said Pope. The Vancouver Cedar .

Lumber Mill closed in 1929, while the Dollar mill continued to operate until 1942.

Because of past mill uses and the presence of contamination, the district is telling residents they may have reporting requirements under Waste Management Act amendments passed this year.

Those requirements may apply on any Prospective sale of the property and applications for various municipal approvals

District and environment ministry staff will meet with con- cerned residents on May 1 at district hall to answer questions.

: District*-------7 Official — | ~ Community;

“he District-of North Vancouver's Official ’ Community Plan (OCP) captures ~ the vision of our whole community -- from Capilano to Deep Cove.

Ox current plan was _ adopted by District Council in 1990 and has now been

_revised based on community input.

our views are important.

Come on out to an open house in your area to review a draft of the revised plan. With your continued help we can plan for the future of our community.

ON

~ "a Dollarton Highway i

NEWS orephie NORTH Vancouver District is warning some Dollartor residents that oll could be contaminating their proper- ty. The oil may be linked to closed lumber mills.

r Conimunity Open: Houses

‘Thursday, May | Norgate School, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

_ Thursday, Friday, May 1-2 District Halt, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 3 aren Magnussen recCentre, 2:00 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 10 _— Lynn Valley Library,10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, May 15 Seymour Elementary, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 24: : Capilano Library, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

‘Thursday, May 29 Brooksbank Elementary, 6:30.to9:30 p.m.

_ Saturday, May 31 . : Parkgate Library, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. —

Saturday, june 7 Deep Cove Cultural Centre,12:30 to 4 p. m

Monday, June 9 - | p.m.to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June (0 - 8:30 a.m.to i p.m. — District Hall. .