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Spreading a little Christmas cheer in Chilliwack.
Santa makes some early deliveries.
Peewee journey leads to Jamboree.
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 5
■ A C HRISTMAS I N C HILLIWACK
Christmas ornaments add a colourful touch to trees along the Vedder Trail. The decorations are part of a growing community effort to spread a little holiday cheer. From all of us at the Chilliwack Progress, have yourself a very merry Christmas. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS
Another asbestos dump in Chilliwack back country The Progress It’s the largest illegal dump of asbestos — but not the first — so far this year in the Chilliwack River Valley. About 70 sealed bags labelled as containing asbestos were unloaded in a pile near Chipmunk Creek Forest Service Road, said Orion Engar, FVRD director for Electoral Area E. “I just got word today of yet
another toxic asbestos dump in the Chilliwack River Valley,” he said. It’s the third similar dumping incident of 2015, and Local Conservation Officer Service is planning sending an officer to investigate. They are also calling for witnesses to call the RAPP line with any information. Engar said he took a drive out to the dump location, off the Bench Road, with federal Fisheries officers. “They estimated that this largest
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of three asbestos dumps in 2015 alone, was approximately 60 to 70 bags dumped from a tandem axle vehicle, likely a dump truck due to tracks seen in the snow,” said Engar. He reported it to Conservation Officers Service and the RAPP line, FLNRO and the local MLA. The markings on the yellow waste bags read: “Caution. Keep sealed. Avoid making dust. Breathing asbestos fibres may cause serious bodily harm.”
The matter is of provincial jurisdiction. Conservation Officer Sgt. Steve Jacobi confirmed there have been several similar dumping incidents this year alone in the CRV. “We think they have dumped there, or somewhere nearby before. The problem seems to keep repeating itself,” Jacobi said. The illegal dumping is likely the work of contractors refusing to transport it to the appropriate licensed facilities in order to avoid
the dumping costs. “We don’t have any suspects at this point,” said Jacobi. “All we know is it appears to be a commercial job since it’s in the proper bags and sealed.” What usually happens is someone hires what they believe to be a professional and scrupulous contractor to remediate a building constructed with asbestos laden materials. Continued: ASBESTOS/ p7
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