What can you do
to help to stop the annexation and/or help protect the aquifer?
1. You can write a letter.
Enclosed is a letter ready for you to sign and send to the Honourable Jim Doyle, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
As a courtesy, you should also send copies to the addresses listed below.
2. Become involved in a community organization.
Grand Forks Aquifer Protection Society
Contact: Lorraine Thompson 442 4330
Boundary Citizens for Responsible Land Use
Contact: George at 442 5653
Below is a ready for signing letter:
_________________________________________________________________
28-Sep-2000
Honourable Jim Doyle, Minister of Municipal Affairs
Government of British Columbia
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4
Dear Mr. Doyle:
The City of Grand Forks recently purchased land 4 km north of the city boundary to be used as an industrial park. This is a major recharge area for the Grand Forks Valley aquifer and I am concerned that the proposed industrial park will present a significant risk to the drinking water of all local residents.
The area in question has a very tight (clay/silt) soil over bedrock and has several drainage channels, which flow into the Granby River. The Granby River recharges portions of the aquifer and the contamination of this area with on-site septic systems or industrial chemicals could result in the deterioration of water quality in the aquifer, which is already one of the most threatened in the Province. In addition, the access road to the site is narrow and winding as it follows the course of the Granby River, and would be expensive to upgrade. The increased traffic and potential for spills of industrial chemicals along the road adds a further risk to the river and the aquifer.
I do not support the development of an industrial park in this area at this time. Further, I would request that before any approvals are given to annex this property to the City of Grand Forks, a thorough study of the hydrology and risks be undertaken, to ensure the continued safety of the Grand Forks Aquifer. In the recently approved OCP for Area D of the Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary it was recognized that the cost of remediating the aquifer would be significantly higher than any short term gains accrued as a result of development in high risk areas.
We need to work together as a community to develop an aquifer protection plan that will not hinder development, but will also not cause further deterioration of our drinking water. Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter.
Sincerely,
............................
_________________________________________________________________
Cc: The Honourable Mr Bill Barisoff, MLA (Okanagan-Boundary)
The Honourable Mr Ed Conroy, MLA (Rossland-Trail)
Mr Tony Lodder, Area D Representative, Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary
The Mayor and Council, City of Grand Forks
Grand Forks Gazette
Where to send the extra copies of your letters:
Ed Conroy
Constituency Office
619 Columbia Ave
Castlegar, BC
V1N 1G9
Phone: 365-7500
Fax: 365-8535
Legislative Office
Room 276N,
Parliament Buildings,
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4
Phone: 356-3052
Fax: 387-0827
Bill Barisoff
Constituency Office
P.O. Box 1768
Oliver, BC
V0H 1T0
Phone: 498-3001
Fax: 498-3638
Legislative Office
Room 201, Official Opposition Caucus
Parliament Buildings,
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4
Phone: 387-2814
Fax: 387-2759
Mr Tony Lodder, Area D Representative, Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary
202 - 843 Rossland Ave
Trail, BC
V1R 4S8
Phone: (250) 368 9148
Fax: (250) 368 3990
The Mayor and Council, City of Grand Forks
420 Market
Grand Forks, BC
V0H 1H0
Phone: 442 8266
Fax: 442 8000
Grand Forks Gazette
Box 700
Grand Forks, BC
V0H 1H0
Phone: 442 2191
Fax: 442 3336
*********************************************************************
The Reasons why the City's Development of the Passmore Property as an Industrial Park is not a good idea are:
* To do this development the City will have to annex the land to be part of the City, against the wishes of the Regional District and area property owners. This will establish a dangerous precedent, which could be used by ANY city in the province, in ANY area of the province. Any rural property in British Columbia could be fair game in this circumstance, regardless of zoning nor the wishes of the neighbours.
* If the planned industrial park goes ahead, it will cause a major increase of the heavy industrial traffic along the Granby Road. This will be dangerous for children and adults walking along the road, and compromise the safety of access for those living along the Granby Road. This will precipitate demand for a substantial upgrading of the intersection between Granby Road and Highway 3, as well as a major upgrading of the first 6 Km of Granby Road, at an estimated $1,000,000 per Km. Currently, school busses maintain constant radio contact with the logging truck traffic on Granby Road as a safety measure.
* The City may have broken the law in its haste to make a 'deal' with BC Gas to get natural gas to the property, and may be open to legal action as a result.
* The Grand Forks Valley aquifer is already seriously compromised, with some 30% of the aquifer contaminated with agricultural chemicals. The presence of a post and pole treatment plant on the proposed property on Granby Road represents a substantial risk to the groundwater, both from the treatment area itself, as well as runoff and leaching from the storage area. According to the 'Recommendations for the Design and Operation of Wood Preservation Facilities' (March 1999), prepared by Frido Consulting for Environment Canada, in Section 6.2.6 states "Sites located next to waterbodies or above aquifers used for drinking or irrigation supplies ... should be considered cautiously by the wood preservation industry. If such a site is selected, exceptional design approaches and operational and monitoring procedures will be required." These are hardly encouraging words.