REGINA – A waste dump and treatment centre proposed for the Bienfait area will be safe and good for the community, according to an environmental impact statement.
But that doesn’t mean much to some local people opposed to the project, said Garry Lafrentz, the reeve of the rural municipality of Coalfields.
“It’s fine and healthy by whose standards?” asked Lafrentz about the environmental study.
The study was commissioned by Plains Environmental Inc., the company that wants to build the treatment centre. The facility would treat waste left by local oilfield and mining activity, as well as other waste from elsewhere in Saskatchewan.
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The report says health risks are minimal, even from constant exposure over many years, and are within acceptable standards. The health risk assessment was provided by the University of Saskatchewan Toxicology Research Centre.
The plant is also not expected to cause serious risks to local agriculture, the study says.
“No compounds to which particular species of farm animals are known to be particularly sensitive were identified among the numerous expected chemicals …. The effects of the plant on agriculture produce and livestock was not considered significant.”
Facility sealed
The proposed plant includes a high temperature incinerator for hazardous waste and a dump for permanent storage of materials that can’t be treated. The dump would be sealed and the report says there is little chance of it ever leaking and polluting surrounding territory.
Under government review
The study has been given to the government. Various ministries will examine the document and provide comments and criticisms by March 1.
Then, a revised study will be sent out for a public review. This is normally a 30-day period, but it can be extended.
After the public review, the environment department will make a recommendation to minister Berny Wiens on whether to approve the project.
Lafrentz, who spearheaded a campaign against the proposed plant before becoming reeve, said the RM is studying legal options.
The municipality is using interim development control, which allows it to control local development. Eventually, it will create a zoning bylaw that provides ground rules for local development.
A zoning bylaw gives municipalities control of what projects are constructed in their community. But Coalfields’ interim control was brought in only after Plains Environmental began working on its proposal and Lafrentz said he does not know how well the development control would stand up to a court challenge.
But he said Coalfields is ready for a fight.
“It depends how far they want to push local people,” he said. “If they’re bent on steamrollering on top of local residents’ wishes, I guess that’s their intent.”
Lafrentz said he has not yet seen the environmental impact statement and the RM can’t afford the hundreds of dollars it would cost to get a copy made.
