Monday December 19, 2011

FVRD News

Bales Lauds Lake's Gravel Stance

The first step is a big one acknowledging there is a problem in Lake Errock

Submitted by Wendy Bales, FVRD Area C Director

was so happy to get the above letter from the provincial Environment Minister Terry Lake, in which he states;

"I appreciate your concerns about the impact of gravel operations on the Region's watershed and agree that the cumulative impact of development poses a serious problem. I have committed to look into this issue and coordinate a comprehensive response with the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations."

Wendy Bales (L) prior to leaving for the Okanagan Valley last year to thank mayors for their stance against conflict gravel.

Minister Lake is the first Provincial MLA that has acknowledged the serious problem to my area's community watershed and the need for a cumulative impact study. There have been no studies that I know of that have taken into consideration the combined effect of all the gravel pits, logging and water diversions that have occurred in our watershed as well as future impact from proposals and amendments for permits in our area. Below is my response to the letter that Minister Lake wrote to me,

A major problem with the system under the B.C. Mines Act is that cumulative
impacts for gravel pits are often not considered in the permitting process.

Two thumbs up on this issue for Minister Lake!!

See the letter and poster below.

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