The Chilliwack
Progress Wednesday
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City adds new step in demolition process Asbestos concern Jessica Peters The Progress
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Greg Trainor, chief development officer with Windriver Power Corporation, answers questions during an open house Wednesday regarding its proposed Tamihi Creek run-of-the-river power project. The company is in the preliminary stages of seeking provincial approval for the $50-million project, which would divert a portion of the water in the creek to generate power, before returning further downstream. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS
Public hears of Tamihi Creek power plans Greg Knill Chilliwack Progress The public got its first detailed look at a proposal to build a hydro electric power station in a popular recreation area last week. WindRiver Power Corporation held an open house at Tzeachten Community Centre Wednesday to explain its plans for a run-of-theriver power project on the upper half of Tamihi Creek. The $50 million plant would generate 15 megawatts of electricity that would then be sold to BC Hydro. The plan, which has been in the works for more than seven years,
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still requires provincial approval, as well as a BC Hydro agreement to buy the power. Nonetheless, the proposal has drawn fire, particularly from the paddling community and environmental groups. Two years ago the application alone was enough for the Outdoor Recreation Council to declare Tamihi a “river to watch” as it released its list of Most Endangered Rivers in 2013. The plan calls for construction of a dam near the headwaters of the creek that would divert a portion of the water flow to a pipeline that would run adjacent down stream. The water would drive a hydro electric turbine at the base of the
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pipeline before being returned to the creek. Transmission lines would then carry the electricity to BC Hydro lines in the Chilliwack River Valley. Greg Trainor, Chief Development Officer with WindRiver, said the amount of water diverted would be tightly monitored by the company and regulated by the province, ensuring there was always adequate flow. One concern has been the impact the project would have on kayaking in the area. But Trainor said the upper reaches of the creek offers terrain too difficult for most paddlers.
In fact, recreational access to the area would actually be improved, the company says. The forest service road that is currently closed after repeated washouts will be reopened, providing better (although limited in some areas) access to the area. WindRiver offered detailed examples of how it says it would mitigate environmental impacts, while preserving the recreational potential of the area. It says it has worked closely with First Nations in the region as well. The company must still secure environmental approval from the Continued: TAMIHI/ p4
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Chilliwack has joined the short list of municipalities that support WorkSafeBC’s initiative to make demolition sites safer for workers. From now on, demolition permits will only be issued after the city receives written verification that a hazardous risk assessment has been completed by an occupational and health safety professional with experience in asbestos management. The hope is that asbestos will be always be removed, transported and disposed of safely, without exposing workers to its deadly, airborne fibres. Council unanimously passed the item, Policy G-26, at the evening meeting on Oct. 6, following staff recommendations. “Since demolishing buildings containing asbestos can cause serious health problems, the purpose of the new approved policy is to provide a guide to staff with respect to the issuance of demolition permits,” the staff report said. The new policy backs up Section 20.112 of the WorkSafeBC regulations, which describes the requirements that employers and owners are responsible for before beginning work on the demolition or salvage of buildings or structures. The policy will be in place for buildings constructed prior to 1990. In addition, a condition on each demolition permit will be provided reminding the applicant/owner that before beginning work on the demolition or salvage of a structure, all WorkSafeBC Regulations must be complied with. WorkSafeBC has been cracking down on demolition jobs that are