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Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012
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FUNERAL HOME REBRANDING Family-owned Martin Brothers take over Mountainside
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HONOURED WITH JUBILEE MEDALS Two Hope area residents receive special recognition
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KERRIE-ANN SCHOENIT / THE STANDARD
Environmental concerns with the Hope landfill site are lending urgency to a council decision on the facility.
Hope landfill’s days are numbered
CITIZENSHIP AWARD A FIRST Dr. Ernie Murakami recognized for medical work, community support
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Jessica Peters
Report recommends closure of site this year
Black Press
The end of the Hope landfill is looming. With only 10 years left in its lifespan, and years of controversy due to environmental concerns, the District of Hope is now faced with a decision. The landfill operation can be extended through to 2022, or closed immediately. Last week, council was given a report outlining a plan to close the site, written by CAO John Fortoloczky with the help of Earl Rowe, former town manager and Couns. Peter Robb and Scott Medlock. While it outlines three ways the district could keep operating the site, the report does recommend its closure. Council needed to make a decision at last night’s meeting, after press dead-
line. There is an urgency for action, as it dovetails with a construction project taking place in Burnaby. If council voted in favour of immediate closure, JJM Construction Ltd. would start hauling waste to the site on March 1 in order to fill the site to capacity. That waste would come from Norampac Mill in Burnaby. It is expected that the transfer of waste from the mill to the landfill would take until the end of July, at a rate of 50 trucks and transfers per day. There would also be a period of rock blasting, throughout March and April, as JJM prepares a quarry area and lining of an expansion area to enlarge the landfill capacity. The landfill would be fully closed by Sept. 30 this year. JJM would bear the costs of the costs of the closure, and would provide rental income on the property.
First Class Waste would build and operate a transfer station, and Hope’s solid waste would be sent by rail to the Roosevelt Regional Landfill in Washington State. One of the options to extend use of the facility to 2022 involves building an $8-million leachate treatment facility. The landfill is located “in an unfortunate location on land” with a steep slope toward the Fraser River, and adjacent to First Nations land. The site began as a “crude dump site” similar to those found in many small towns across the province. The district has run the site since 1974. The current leachate treatment pond encroaches on Union Bar land, and last year Chief Andy Alex told media he has been trying for decades to have the landfill shut down. In 2009, the Ministry of Environ-
ment sent the district a non-compliance notice. It cited issues such as lack of cover, lack of cells, excessive litter, poor surface water and ineffective leachate treatment. The cost of maintaining the site, which serves 6,690 residents in 2,662 homes was $1,722,100 in 2011. The cost of continuing to maintain the site until 2022 would total $8.4 million, plus closure costs of $25 million. However, closing the site won’t stop the leaching, the report acknowledges. There would be a need for treatment and monitoring, at a cost of $56,000 annually for 25 years. However, the district will save $400,000 a year by not operating a transfer station. In addition, the funds the District sets aside each year for permanent closure ($175,000) can be diverted to other infrastructure needs.
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