The Ministry of Environment is making it official they are launching a full investigation into tonnes of toxic ash produced by a Burnaby incinerator and shipped to the Cache Creek landfill after CKNW broke the story last week.
The Environmental protection division and the Conservation officers service will work in concernt on the investigation.
Environment Minister Terry Lake says the focus of the investigation won’t just be on whether the ash is toxic or not but also on compliance issues.
“Well first of all it is important to understand that there have been no threat to environmental health or public health but it is very serious and we take this very seriously when there are discrepancies in terms of reporting requirements and so the investigation will look at what was known and when it was known and if there were any violations of the reporting requirement.”
Lake also urged patience, as the Mayor of Cache Creek John Ranta and the Fraser Valley Regional District sound off over the toxic ash.
Lake says the ministry takes the investigation, and any potential violations, very seriously.
“But also important to note that the health of individuals and the environment has not been put at risk at all having said that we want to understand how things happened and why they happened that is what the investigation is all about but you know I think we do need to wait for the information to come forward before people jump to any kind of conclusion at all.”
Lake says there could be consequences for incinerator operator Covanta depending on the outcome of the investigation.
“The ramifications absolutely depend on what they find in their investigation so I don’t want to presuppose any outcome or result of the investigation but I am very confident in the ability of the department to get to the bottom of it and we will deal with it once the report is finalized.”
The Fraser Valley Regional District has raised concerns over mechanisms used to test the ash noting three different tests, with three different results.
When asked if the actual testing itself and any concerns is on his radar Environment Minister Terry Lake said.
“Well there is a screening test as I understand and then a more diffinitive test but the investigation will look at all of that and determine if the testing procedures are adequate you know they have certainly have proven to be in the past but I don’t want to presuppose the outcome of the investigation that is why we are doing it.”
FVRD chair Sharon Gaetz says the ash tested as high as six times over appropriate limits initially and then in excess by four and two times in follow up testing.
Emails obtained by CKNW show it was Wastech, the operator of the Cache Creek landfill, who sounded the alarm over the ash.
Incinerator operator Covanta has also admitted they did not submit tests on time as required in July and August, chalking it up to a communications lapse.
Ash produced by the facility in the two months in question failed hazardous material tests.
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