March 11, 2012

LAST CALL TO JOIN CRD'S PUBLIC & TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
LETTER: NORTH VANCOUVER:  ASSESS SEWAGE PLANT'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 
JOB: WASTE MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTOR, CAMOSUN COLLEGE

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LAST CALL TO JOIN CRD'S PUBLIC & TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Public and Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)

The Ministry of Environment has requested that the CRD appoint a Public and Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) to help facilitate the development of a new Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan.

To form the committee, we are seeking representation from a wide range of stakeholder groups, including private sector waste management service providers, non-profit organizations, businesses focused on the waste diversion, the environmental community and the general public.

Participation is voluntary and members will be asked to commit to meet for up to three years. Please find below an online application form, which must be completed by March 15, 2012.

Report to the Environmental Sustainability Committee: http://www.crd.bc.ca/waste/documents/2012jan25item06erm12.pdf

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LETTER: NORTH VANCOUVER: ASSESS SEWAGE PLANT'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 
  
JOHN NEWCOMB
NORTH SHORE NEWS 
MARCH 9, 2012
  
Dear Editor:

I write regarding your Feb. 29 website story Metro to North Shore residents: What should we do with your sewage?

North Vancouver residents should be aware that under the B.C. municipal sewage regulations, there is no requirement for Metro Vancouver to provide any public consultation at all. Neither do they need to provide any evidence that an expensive additional sewage treatment will actually provide any net environmental benefit.

Residents should demand that Metro Vancouver officials and the B.C. government bring this massive project under the oversight of the B.C. Environmental Assessment Act so that there is proper public consultation, cost-benefit analyses, and most importantly, a comparison of environmental attributes of the current system with the proposed system.

Bigger and more costly sewage plants do not necessarily improve the actual net environmental impact of sewage effluent, especially when there is additional production of thousands of tons of greenhouse gases and sewage sludge, together with higher consumption of electricity.

New federal sewage effluent standards are created without any reference to the unique receiving environments of sewage plants - its a "one size fits all" legal strategy that must be challenged. Otherwise, an expensive sewage plant will be nothing more than a tax-guzzling white elephant that our children won't thank us for.

John Newcomb
Victoria

Editor's note: The story referenced in this letter appears on page 11 of this issue, headlined Metro Plans Sewage Plant.


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JOB: WASTE MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTOR, CAMOSUN COLLEGE

The Environmental Technology Program at Camosun College is seeking a term instructor for a Waste Management course to be offered this Spring.  The course runs Mondays and Tuesdays in May and most of June.  The course description  is: This course covers pollution control, waste management principles and techniques and the concept of industrial ecology. 

Particular emphasis is given to hazardous secondary materials management, hazardous spill prevention and clean up, contaminated site remediation and associated legislation.  

Subject material covered includes air, water and solid waste management and field trips are made to local facilities.  The ideal candidate will have worked in the waste management area and have previous teaching experience.

If you are interested, or know of someone who may be, please contact Steve Gormican, Chair of Environmental Technology for more details.

 
Stephen Gormican, M.Sc., R.P.Bio
 
Chair Environmental Technology Program
Camosun College
3100 Foul Bay Road,
Victoria, B.C. V8P 5J2
( Direct Line: 250.370.3423
 
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