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Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 61 No. 42
Muddy river led to water advisory It proved an enticing sideshow for Kitimatians on their Thanksgiving long weekend, but an overflowing Kitimat River meant trouble for the town’s water treatment process. The town continued to treat the town’s drinking water as normal, but the river’s turbidity — basically its level of dirtiness due to the flooding — meant the town couldn’t guarantee the water’s safety as well as normal. The town worked with Northern Health to establish a boil water advisory which kicked in to effect October 10. The advisory lasted the entire week as “There is the District had to wait nothing for two water samples to be returned from to suggest testing showing it was contamination safe. is occurring.” Boil water advisories are not common in Kitimat. In 2009 the Service Centre was issued a brief one due to a water supply issue tied in to a firefighting effort. In 1990 a broken water intake and filter system resulted in a boil water advisory for the community in May that year. In February 1991, Cablecar underwent a boil water advisory, again due to issues with the water intake for the neighbourhood, an issue that was compounded that year too by a high river. The District of Kitimat said during this most recent advisory that they didn’t believe contamination was actually occurring. “There is nothing to suggest contamination is occurring; however, as a precautionary measure please continue to boil water prior to use,” the town said last week.
A trailer gets a watery rescue.
/page 3 Students take part in ShakeOut drill.
/page 8 PM477761
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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A rapid rise in the Kitimat River provided a dramatic scene, but also lead to a dirtier river which had the District of Kitimat issuing a boil water advisory. The town said the water’s turbidity led to their decision, even though they did continue to treat the water as normal. The river level peaked early last week and has been quickly lowering as the heavy, intense rains from a coastal storm subsided. Cameron Orr
Nations allowed suit against Rio Tinto The Saik’uz and Stellat’en First Nations have been allowed to proceed with a lawsuit against Rio Tinto. The Stellat’en First Nation released a media advisory last week saying the Supreme Court of Canada has denied the company’s leave to appeal relating to an earlier case from April. RT was appealing a decision by a lower court granted the First Nations ability to sue the company. The issue relates to the flow of water in the Nechako River, which is affected by the company’s Kenney dam. According to the Canadian Press, the nations say the dam breaches their
rights to the waterway and are seeking damages for property-rights violations. The Stellat’en news release states that “the case now confirms that, in British Columbia, First Nations may sue an industry or private company for damaging lands or interfering with their use and occupancy of lands and rivers.” Stellat’en Chief Archie Patrick is hailing the victory. “Rio Tinto Alcan had claimed immunity authorizing them to willfully continue to damage our lands until we proved aboriginal title,” he said. “We’re pleased that the court recognized that such rights are under Canada’s constitution...and that we have
rights to access the courts just as much as non-First Nation landowners.” Former Saik’uz Chief, and a named plaintiff in the case, Jackie Thomas, said the dam is one of the largest “environmentally damaging” projects in the province’s history. “First Nations’ interests were never considered nor were we ever consulted,” he said. “We’re pleased to finally have a victory in front of the Canadian courts.” Rio Tinto issued a statement that said they acknowledge the decision of the court, but will decline further comment as the matters involved are still before the courts.