By Roy L Hales
A numbered company called 1265209 B.C. Ltd. intends to a develop a wood waste landfill at Bliss Landing, just across from Cortes Island on the Malaspina Peninsula.
Adapted from Google Maps by Roy L Hales
Proposed development on the old mill site in Squamish – courtesy city of Squamish
Environmental application: Bliss Landing
The environmental protection application was filed by Strategic Management Consultant Jeff Levine on Nov. 17.
“The maximum rate of industrial wood waste residue discharged from this facility will be 375,000 m3 over a 15-month period. The operating period for this facility will be 8am to 5pm 5 days per week. The refuse discharged, will contain saw dust, wood chips, hog fuel, end cuts of wood less than 1 metre in length, dredging’s of wood waste, sand, gravel, rocks, inert waste and inert cover material. All material will be non-hazardous and covered through intermediate cover material until the landfill is completed (15 months) and a final low-permeability cover will be put on top and soils and vegetation will be replanted," the application states.
The matter was brought before the quathet Regional District Board on Dec. 8.
According to a report in the Powell River Peak, Powell River City Director George Doubt calculated the project works out to moving 81 dump truck loads of wood waste, with a pup trailer, per day, five days a week over a 15 month period.
In the article, it reported that qRD planner Julia Dykstra replied, “They are planning on barging it from the Squamish area to the actual location and they are not proposing any road use over the Sarah Point Road at all.”
Map showing the Waterfront Landing area – city of Squamish
Where the waste is coming from
Some opponents of the project are concerned about waste materials “coming from a site in Squamish that is notorious for contamination from industrial activity, including a nearby mine.”
The wood waste comes from an old Interfor sawmill site in Squamish, which was operational during the 1980s and 1990s. Waterfront Landing is on the eastern shore of Mamquam Blind Cannel, across from the downtown core. The city plans to use this former industrial site for mixed density housing, a marina and a park.
In their description of the proposed Waterfront Landing park, the City of Squamish states, “previous industrial use has led to some site contamination.”
According to a 2019 article in the Squamish Chief, Municipal environmental co-ordinator Caroline Ashekian informed the Squamish council that “the waste wouldn’t contaminate the area, but it could result in structural instability.”
Tla’amin approval
On Nov. 18, Levine notified the quathet Regional District that, “We have completed the required First Nation consultation and have received a letter of support for the project from the Tla’amin Nation.”
Links of Interest:
- (quathet Regional District) 1265209 BC LTD letter of notification
- (quathet Regional District) 1265209 B.C. Ltd’s Environmental Protection Notice
- (Powell River Peak) Wood waste landfill proposed north of Lund
- (District of Squamish) Waterfront Landing Sub Area Plan
- (District of Squamish) Waterfront Landing Park
- (The Squamish Chief) Squamish council makes wishlist for Waterfront Landing Park
- (The Squamish Chief) Converting wood waste to bioenergy