Residents of Union Bay and area are becoming increasingly incensed with the lack of action against Deep Water Recovery, a shipbreaking business that operates on the Baynes Sound shoreline.
The complaints have always been it is not a matter of if there is an incident that compromises the ecosystem, but a matter of when.
B次元官网网址榃henB次元官网网址� happened earlier this month.
A video showing what appears to be an oil slick B次元官网网址� and confirmed to be so by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - was posted to YouTube Thursday morning.
B次元官网网址淲e knew this was coming. There is no way you can break apart vessels like this, that have hazardous waste, without having an incident,B次元官网网址� said Courtenay Alberni Member of Parliament Gord Johns. B次元官网网址淲e have been very clear that these old vessels can contain hazardous materials like asbestos and Mercurian lead and PCBs and carcinogenicsB次元官网网址� and sure enough, weB次元官网网址檝e had this incident that has happened. We have received response from the DFO, but the fear is that without a strong response from the federal government, they are going to continue.B次元官网网址�
Johns saw the video Thursday morning and immediately started correspondence with the DFO, which acknowledged the incident in question.
According to correspondence received by Johns, the Emergency Management BC (EMBC) office advised an environmental emergency response officer (EERO) of B次元官网网址渁 reported rainbow sheen on the ocean around a shipbreaking operation on the foreshore of Union Bay.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Coast Guard was called in, and confirmed the leakage, saying that the B次元官网网址渟ource is land-based from a former vessel that is currently being pulled further up the shoreline to be deconstructed.B次元官网网址�
The EERO contacted Deep Water Recovery Inc., and Environment Canada Enforcement attended the site for inspection.
Upon inspection it was discovered that an airbag that was used to move the vessel ruptured and agitated the water which may have impacted the containment boom, possibly releasing contained oil.
DWR personnel continue to monitor the situation onsite, but were not available for comment.
B次元官网网址淭hey (Union Bay residents) are frustrated and I share their frustration,B次元官网网址� said Johns. B次元官网网址淲e have raised this in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, eight times now I have raised it either at committee or in the House of Commons during Question Period, and adjournment proceedingsB次元官网网址� about the lack of regulations that exist to protect our coastal communities when it comes to shipbreaking or ship dismantling. For a country that has the longest coastline in the world and touts its ocean protection plan, itB次元官网网址檚 failing miserably in this regard.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 need to be a scientist to know that eventually, things flow downstream in our coastal environment, and without adequate facilities for shipbreaking, that there is going to be an incident that takes place,B次元官网网址� said Johns. B次元官网网址淭he federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 position, and itB次元官网网址檚 totally irresponsible, is that they canB次元官网网址檛 act unless there is an incident, which is absolutely unbelievable. They need to put framework and guidelines in place so that an incident like this doesnB次元官网网址檛 take place.B次元官网网址�
On April 14, the CVRD filed a notice of civil claim with the Supreme Court of B.C. B次元官网网址渟eeking assistance from the court to stop shipbreaking operations at 5084 Island Highway.B次元官网网址�
In August, the CVRD issued a statement saying it B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址� is fully committed and significantly into the process of obtaining a permanent injunction to cease the use of this site for shipbreaking purposes.B次元官网网址�
The notice is still with the court.
The district said DWR responded to its notice and denies it is operating in contravention of Industrial Marine (IM) zoning. The CVRD does not have the ability to issue a stop work order for land use violations, but any continued use of the property for shipbreaking will be used as principal evidence in the case against DWR.
Deep Water Recovery CEO Mark Jurisich had not responded to requests for an interview by press time.
CVRD chair Jesse Ketler told the Record that she is unable to comment, due to the issue being before the courts.
The Record also reached out to Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne for comment, but had yet to hear back as of press time.
terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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