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Fate delayed Council defers decision on Nanaimo Centre Stage theatre. PAGE 12 Mind games Doing the right thing for the planet can be a costly venture. PAGE 22 Big finish VIU volleyball star goes out swinging after five-year career. PAGE 3
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013
VOL. 24, NO. 127
NANAIMO
Oil sheen triggers investigation A neighbour’s concern for pollution in Linley Valley leads to monitoring by city, environment ministry BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
A
walk on New Year’s Eve has turned into a two-month environmental investigation for a Nanaimo resident. Sally Ramsay was walking her dog, Reggie, on the shore of a wetland near a new housing development in Linley Valley when she noticed a thick, black sludge gushing from a submerged storm sewer pipe after a heavy rainfall. Concerned about the potential consequence the mysterious substance would have on the beavers, ducks, geese, deer, eagles and other creatures that live in the wetland, Ramsay jarred some samples and made a few phone calls to determine the origin of the pollution.
“It wasn’t just a sheen, it was thick black ribbons of oil that were clearly coming from the pipe, which I learned later is the storm run-off system from the nearby development,” said Ramsay. “After some digging, I became aware that it’s standard practice across the province to allow unfiltered runoff pipes to drain directly into what are considered environmentally sensitive areas. I’m appalled to think what’s allowed to flow into a wildlife pond.” She contacted city officials in early January, who visited the site. The oil persists now, having embedded itself in the mud along the shoreline and amongst the vegetation. As recently as Feb. 4, heavy rainfall flushed more oil out into the wetland. ◆ See ‘SOURCE’ /5
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