Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Interior Health and an additional statement from the Ministry of Environment.
The breach of a manure storage lagoon on a Spallumcheen farm has become a political issue.
During question period on Tuesday, the NDP raised questions about the provincial government’s handling of the spill and whether more could have been done to prevent it.
The breach is creating new worries for area residents who have long struggled with water quality issues.
Residents have expressed concerns that last Thursday’s manure lagoon breach could contaminate local water sources.
They are particularly concerned about the Hullcar Aquifer, where many in the area, including some on the nearby Splatsin First Nation, draw their water.
However, the Interior Health Authority said from the information available to them it doesn’t appear any contamination has occurred.
That is raising questions about whether provincial officials should have done more to prevent the spill that happened on Thursday.
“Why didn’t the premier make sure her Environment Ministry followed up their orders with inspection and enforcement before this sewage lagoon spill could further threaten the safety of Hullcar and Splatsin water supplies?” asked NDP MLA George Heyman during Tuesday’s question period.
In response, Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick said that was a question for the Minister of Environment and that he would take it on notice.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Environment said no one was available for an on-camera interview.
In a written statement the ministry does not directly respond to criticisms the province didn’t do enough to prevent the spill. Instead the statement describes interactions the province has had with the farm since last year.
The ministry said to address the province’s concerns the farm did not have enough manure storage capacity, the farm downsized its herd.
The Environment Ministry also pointed out in its statement that it issued the farm a pollution abatement order last year. That order required the farm, among other things, to come up with an action plan describing how it would ensure sufficient manure storage. The province said the required plan was submitted.
There have also been questions raised about whether the province did enough to notify other local stakeholders following the spill. The Environment Ministry said it was notified about the breach on Friday, the day after the lagoon overflowed. In a statement the ministry said its priority is to address the situation.
“Staff on site need to ensure the spill is contained and appropriate response is undertaken by the responsible party. Government always wants to be as open as possible and so the Ministry will review all aspects of the response to this incident,” wrote a ministry spokesperson.
The Environment Ministry said the spill has “no bearing” on a long standing Water Quality Advisory in the area which remains in place. Those who draw their water from the Hullcar Aquifer have been living with a Water Quality Advisory since 2014.
Farm Apologizes
On Wednesday, an owner of the farm where the manure lagoon breach occurred sent a statement to Global News apologizing for the spill.
“I would like to personally apologize to the community of Spallumcheen that this took place. We are extremely sorry this even transpired, all the more so in light to concern around contamination issues involving the local aquifer,” wrote Grace-Mar Farms owner John Kampman.
“Heavy rainfall and winter snows filled the lagoon more quickly than expected, while the snow hid the actual level in the lagoon and it breached and overflowed.”
Kampman said the breach was rapidly contained and “intensive clean-up efforts are underway to prevent groundwater contamination.”
Kampman also promised to review the way the farm operates to make sure a similar breach does not occur again.
“We thank the community for their patience and understand the heightened level of concern in this region, but again wish to stress our quick action and detailed clean-up efforts, which have significantly limited the potential for any run-off that would affect the local aquifer,” wrote Kampman.
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