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Response Letter to CVRD from Ministry of EnvironmentJune 26, 2012 File: PR-105809 Mr. Warren Jones Dear Mr. Jones: Re: South Island Aggregates Application for an Authorization to Discharge Waste We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 18, 2012 sent on behalf of the Board of the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) requesting an extension of the Public Consultation period until November 30, 2012. Even though the Public Consultation process was initiated on May 10, 2012, South Island Aggregate (SIA) application is still under consideration as of today, June 26, 2012. Additionally, the request made by Dr. Bruce Fraser, Director of electoral Area B of the CVRD, to hold a public meeting on the SIA application following the proponent's Open House of May 31, 2012 has effectively extended the Public Consultation period as the outcomes of that meeting will have to be included in the Consultation Report. Considering the above information and the fact that the latest draft Technical Assessment Report is not yet available for review, it is very likely that the consultation period will remain open for some time yet. In regards to the CVRD Board request for a moratorium on the SIA application, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) has no legal authority to place a moratorium on applications and has a legal obligation to consider the application from SIA.
MoE will continue to consider requests received from stakeholders, and seek further clarification as needed to ensure the concerns can be addressed through the application process that is currently underway. Please do not hesitate to contact me as needed at 250 751-7245. Yours truly, Luc Lachance, P. Eng cc: Mr. Jim Hofweber, Executive Director, Environmental Management Branch, Ministry of Environment (Jim.Hofweber@gov.bc.ca ) |
NEWS RELEASE
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Date: June 25, 2012
For Immediate Release
The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) will host a public meeting on the South Islands Aggregates (SIA) Waste Discharge Permit application from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at the Kerry Park arena, the Regional District announced in a news statement today.
“The Board has clearly heard from the community that more opportunities for engagement in the permit application process are necessary,” said CVRD chair Rob Hutchins in the statement.
“In general, people feel that they have not been heard and their questions and concerns have not been adequately addressed.”
The Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Energy and Mines and SIA have agreed to participate in the public forum, with representatives attending who can answer questions about the application and the process that the Province follows in these applications.
The scheduling of the public meeting came after the CVRD Board backed a recommendation from a special CVRD Sub-Committee on Soils Relocation. The Sub-Committee members, after a recent public information meeting hosted by SIA, decided there was a need to provide an additional opportunity for members of the public to clearly air their views on the permit application.
The CVRD will also be running advertisements in local newspapers to alert the public about this opportunity to air their views and ask questions.
The CVRD will be recording the entire meeting and will collect materials filed by the public at the meeting. Comment forms will also be available for those who would rather express themselves in writing rather than speaking to the meeting.
The CVRD will turn over all of this information to the Ministry of Environment to be used as part of the public input gathered in making a decision on the application.
For Further Information Contact:
Warren Jones
250-746-2503
Chief Administrative Officer