By Roy L Hales

Jeff Levine said that when he purchased the 155 acre property on Sarah Point Rd. in Bliss Landing, he planned to use a tiny portion of it for a business venture. He claimed that Ministry of the Environment staff helped him develop the proposal. They told him that the ideal sit for a wood waste landfill was land that had previously been clearcut or was a forest industry site.

There is a four acre parcel within Levine's new property that fit both categories. It had been clear-cut three years ago. A sawmill had once stood there. In addition, the site was close to the ocean, which would make it easy to barge wood waste in. Ministry staff said he needed to submit the name of a proposed waste wood site, so they could see how his operation would work. So, Levine said, he used the old Interfor mill site in Squamish as a model.

Adapted from Google Maps by Roy L Hales

Levine said he does not have a contract with the Squamish site. In fact, he does not have a contract with any wood waste site anywhere. If his proposal had been approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Levine said he plans to seek customers from old mill sites throughout BC.

In wake of the resulting public protest, he has aborted the idea. As Levine told Cortes Currents last night, “I have to live in this community.”

There has been considerable opposition to the project on Social media.

The old mill site in Squamish

9,543 people signed a Bliss Landing resident's petition on Change.org that stated, “We’ve been able to access reports on the waste materials that indicate high levels (up to 100X higher than legal limit) of a chemical called Toluene, which is highly toxic. Exposure during pregnancy can result in birth defects."

This post lists a number of other “hazardous contaminants,” along with the claim “These contaminants were found in waste samples at levels ranging from 100% to 3,000% of the safety limits listed above.”

The District of Squamish does not appear to be aware of any corresponding test results. They hope to see mixed density housing, a marina and a park put onto the old mill site site. In their description of the proposed development at Waterfront Landing park, the District states, “previous industrial use has led to some site contamination.”

Last year, Municipal Environmental Co-ordinator Caroline Ashekian informed the Squamish council that the waste from the old mill “wouldn’t contaminate the area, but it could result in structural instability.”

Local Opposition

A number of people have expressed opposition to moving the wood waste to Bliss Landing.

Ashley Zarbatany posted a public letter to Levine on Facebook, “As a resident of nearby Cortes Island, I am concerned about the impact this disposal will have on the marine ecosystems in our region. Specifically, I am concerned that water drainage from the disposal site will lead to contamination of our local aquaculture and sensitive marine habitats throughout Desolation Sound and surrounding areas in the Discovery Islands. It is for this reason that I am urging the company to consider a better way to dispose of the waste at the site where it was originally created, in Squamish, B.C., instead of exporting it to an area where our local economy relies on healthy marine ecosystems.”

(As was previously stated, Levine claims he does not yet have a contract with Squamish or any other site.)

The MLA responds

The MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast, Nicholas Simmons, looked into the matter for his constituents.

Simmons emailed Zarbatany, “The draft Technical Assessment submitted to the ministry and prepared by qualified professionals indicates that environmental risks to surface water and groundwater will be effectively mitigated through landfill design, operation, closure planning and post closure monitoring.  However, it is important to mention the technical review by the ministry is pending.”

Mr Levine claims that Ministry staff helped develop his proposal to pass that review.

Landfill proposal withdrawn

When he withdrew his proposal last night, Levine wrote, “It is unfortunate that false information was intentionally distributed stating that the wood material was toxic waste. This is simply not true. This was an application for disposal of non-hazardous wood material, in accordance with Provincial guidelines and by Qualified Environmental Professionals.”

“The constructive feedback and ideas of the local community are appreciated. Although all Provincial requirements for this type of facility have been met, it is the concerns of the local community that has prompted the decision to withdraw the application with the Ministry of Environment, effective immediately.”