Salt Spring's Waste Transfer Controversy

 

by tanya lester

Lee Road area residents are embroiled in one of those Salt Spring controversies that involves three levels of government and has as many twists, turns and bumps as the roads they live on.

Key to the position of both sides is signed affidavits.

First, Laurie Hedger, who owns Laurie's Recycling and Waste Service, signed one for Islands Trust. It stated that he has been operating an extensive waste transfer business for several years. By doing so, he sidestepped applying for rezoning to establish the waste transfer station. If he did apply for rezoning, islanders would have been given the opportunity to make presentations in opposition as well as in support of Hedger operating the waste transfer station.

Having no other way to prevent the operation, Hedger's Lee Road area neighbours have now signed affidavits refuting his claim of operating such an extensive business since 1998. Six affidavits have been forwarded to Islands Trust planner Linda Adams. The neighbours hope the Trust will reverse its decision that has allowed Hedger to receive a Capital Regional District (CRD) class one license.

"We're afraid of some kind of toxic material," said Bill Harkley, who runs a vineyard 300 metres from Hedger's property. Several Lee Road residents say drinking water pollution is feared, as well as damage to salmon in Fulford Creek, due to contaminated run-off coming down Lee Hill from Hedger's property. Soil pollution could harm surrounding farms including an organic vineyard and a sheep farm where organic walnuts are grown.

These fears are echoed by Robert and Birgit Bateman. The renowned artists and environmentalists are quoted in an e-mail being circulated by Lee Road residents, Tom Pickett and Harry Warner. "We are amazed and horrified by the idea of this kind of industrial operation in a residential area and so close to natural features such as an important watershed and two public parks," the Batemans' statement reads. "The environmental impact from water pollution to air pollution to noise pollution will be entirely negative. It does matter that the natural and rural character of Salt Spring Island is not significantly violated." They point out, as do Lee Road residents, that the existing Blackburn Road waste transfer station is adequate for island use.

Anxiety over Hedger's operation is based on his receipt of a license from the Capital Regional District (CRD) that will allow him to expand into a "full-blown" waste transfer station similar to the one on Blackburn Road. Waste will be stored in vats for a 72-hour maximum period. According to Harkley, Island Garbage Express and Ron's Disposal are two of Hedger's clients.

Although Harkley and his neighbours are pleased the Islands Trust will not be allowing the general public to disperse garbage on the Lee Road site, they are still concerned about leakage from the waste that will be unloaded. They also are concerned that the storage vats could leak.

Already, Lee Road residents have witnessed a diesel fuel leak that occurred when Hedger was cleaning out a truck about a month ago. Photographs show soap was mixed with the fuel in an attempt to clean it up. It ended up in a stream that runs into Fulford Creek. Harkley concedes tests conducted by the CRD indicated 700 parts per million counts of chloroform. Counts of 1000 are considered environmentally unacceptable by the CRD.

Prior to the diesel fuel leak, a break in a truck's hydraulic line created an oil spill. The fire department was called in.

CRD director Gary Holman points out that either of these minor oil spills could have happened even if Hedger was not operating a waste transfer station - this is something that can happen to anyone who drives a truck. On the other hand, Holman said, he understands the neighbours' anxiety as he, too, would be concerned about his drinking water and other pollution in such a situation.

Although Hedger does have certified leak-free vats, the CRD issued him a license before he had conformed to other waste bylaw terms. Holman explained Hedger did not want to go to the expense involved in conforming to the terms if he was not assured he would get the license.

Holman said, in addition to the vats, Hedger must construct a drainage encasement that will prevent waste from leaking into the ground and contaminating area properties. He has to pour a concrete pad on which vehicles must be parked when they are unloaded. The deadline was March 31 but Holman believes pouring the concrete pad will be delayed due to wet weather.

The other complication is Hedger's gravel pit (Hedgehog Bulldozing & Excavating Ltd.) on the same Lee Road property.

Provincial Ministry of Energy and Mines does not allow the waste disposal and mine operations in close proximity of each other. Holman said the gravel pit is some distance from the waste transfer station site on the eight-acre property. Neighbours also have complaints around the noise involved in both operations.

The CRD director said the site has been inspected and will continue to be inspected four times a year. An inspector does this without notifying the operator in advance.

According to Harkley, "The majority of the neighbours here would like Laurie (Hedger) to keep his operation as it was in 1998."

In 1998, Hedger started to park his loaded garbage truck from his waste and recycling business overnight on his property.

Hedger told neighbours this was necessary as he could not make the last ferry to Hartland Land Fill on Vancouver Island. Instead, he took the morning ferry. At that time, Hedger was operating two days a week. Since then he has expanded to six.

"We believed him that he wasn't transferring garbage," said neighbour Steve Grayson who raises sheep and grows organic walnuts as well as produce on Lee Road.

Then, it would seem Hedger reversed what he was telling people about his business. Claiming that he had operated a waste transfer station for several years appears to have aided him in skirting the land re-zoning issue. Several neighbours - including Harkley, Grayson and Warner - agree that this appears to be what happened. Grayson feels that it has come down to an issue of trust between neighbours.

Harkley alluded to the fact that Hedger can trace his ancestors on the island to before the turn of the 20th century. This could mean he is just used to doing things differently than the more recent Salt Spring islanders among his neighbours. Hedger was not available for comment.

At press time, Harkley and four of his neighbours had met with Adams in Victoria. Harkley said she indicated that lawyers advised Islands Trust to refrain from reopening the case with Hedger. "We're determined to put Hedger out of business," Harkley said. Lee Road area residents were to discuss the possibility of taking Hedger to court this week.