CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG:
ARESST ACTION:
- INFORMATION FILTERING INFLUENCES - OBSERVE
- CRD REPLY CONFIRMS FORTHCOMING STORMWATER AND OUTFALL REPORTS
CRD-RELATED SEWAGE NEWS:
- CRD SEWAGE COMMITTEE OKS CONSULTING CONTRACT
- CRD SPURS ON SEWAGE CONTRACT
- PUGET SOUND-RELATED ACTIVITY IN WASHINGTON STATE
- NEARING BRICKS AND MORTAR (GEORGIA STRAIT ALLIANCE)
- CRD CALL FOR SEWAGE COMMISSION CHAIR, MEMBERS, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
LETTERS:
- MAJORITY IGNORED ON SEWAGE PROJECT
- SEWAGE QUESTIONS NEED ANSWERING
- GETTING RID OF TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE
- TWEETS FROM REPORTER ROB SHAW - TRAPPED IN THE ENDLESS SEWAGE STORY CYCLE!
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ARESST ACTION:
Opinions stated below are only my own (John Newcomb) and not of ARESST.
Sitting through several hours of presentations and committee process has confirmed to me that the control of information vested in the CRD sewage plan project manager (now Jack Hull, and previously Dwayne Kalynchuk) is critical to understanding how CALWMC has been making its decisions for the past 6 years. This information power of the manager is a key reason that may explain much of the pro-sewage plan decisions made by CALWMC and then ratified by the CRD Board.
The manager appears to be the only professional contact for CALWMC members on this sewage mega-project, and that makes the role a very powerful position to shape information content and flow to the committee.
Considering that many CALWMC members are mayors of their own communities and all the rest are councillors with community responsibilities, the amount of time that committee members can give to the sewage issue undoubtedly demands that they limit their information exposure to the barest essentials, including a rapid one-time read-through of their agenda reports file, watching the powerpoint and asking the manager for clarification. Then they vote on motions and move on.
So how can the manager be an expert on so many aspects of oceanography, marine chemistry, biology, sewage, financing, and governance? Its a huge task and seeing the manager juggle several of these themes in last few CALWMC meetings prompts me to say that I think while the manager is striving to inform the committee accurately, the manager's own paradigm does not consider a broad range of possible plan options.
Given that the manager is the last expert that the committee hears before they vote on their motions, what they hear from the manager is likely to be the most influential element of their decision. However, with the shortness of meeting presentation time and with a pro-plan paradigm, if the manager's misleading or inaccurate information is consistently and continually reflected in the committee's vote, the ultimate result is indeed a poor plan.
Example of misleading information might include the manager's presentation at the 27 November CALWMC, where his slide "confirmed" that the CRD's sewage effluent systEm is deemed High Risk because the CRD placed poorly on a single factor of TSS/TBOD. However, neither the manager nor any committee member noted that the CRD itself continues to state that the CRD effluent meets the provincial TSS/TBOD guidelines. With the a much-needed delay in the sewage plan hinging on meeting a Medium or Low risk classification, shouldn't this information form part of the presentation, as I have provided here?
Another Manager mention came later in response to a question from Councillor Brownoff where he briefly noted that the CRD had received a legal opinion about challenges to a CRD delay - but the public has never seen that legal opinion, perhaps because it may have been presented at an in-camera meeting?
When the Manager must deal with such a broad scope of the project, accuracy becomes a challenge. For example, at the 12 [ed note: corrected from 14] December CAWLMC meeting, In reply to a a committee member question about stormwater, the Manager's a response was that the concern for storm water might be overblown because of the nefarious influence of "first flush" phenomenon, wherein the first stormwater discharge after a long dry period has bigger load of contaminants than the normal discharge. The manager's response would certainly give the committee members the expert opinion that the CRD stormwater was much less of a problem than ARESST, the public health director or other members of the public might be telling the CALWMC.
However, the CRD's own 2007 storm water researchers noted that,
Care was taken to ensure that the weather on sampling days were representative of the sampling season(wet or dry). Conditions such as "first flush", major storms or any other effect that might tend to prejudice the results were avoided. (Appendix D, page 1)
If you haven't sat through the public part of a CALWMC meeting, check out the great four-part series of Pedro Mora's video series of the 27 November CALWMC meeting that focuses on the discussion of the CALWMC members and their interaction with Manager Jack Hull:
CRD Votes on Motion, Parts 1-4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxCNC_YCV_Y
How do we understand this issue of information filtering and privileging of the role of the Manager as an information conduit to CALWMC? If we believe that CALWMC isn't getting the information it needs to make better sewage plan decisions, what can we do to improve the situation?
Best wishes for the holiday season and stay tuned for
more ARESST Stop A Bad Plan actions in early 2013!
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CRD REPLY CONFIRMS FORTHCOMING STORMWATER AND OUTFALL REPORTS
The recent email query to CRD Board chair Alastair Bryson [Alastair.Bryson@csaanich.ca]:
Grateful you inform as to why no more-recent update to the last CRD Core Area 2007 Stormwater Quality Annual Report? Also why last CRD Macaulay and Clover Points Annual Reports is only 2010?
Response from CRD, Larisa Hutcheson [lhutcheson@crd.bc.
With regards to environmental reporting for marine assessment off Macaulay and Clover Points, the 2011 data will be reported in a Consolidated Annual Report for all environmental programs under the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan in January. This will include a 2011 stormwater quality report as well.
We have had a hiatus on annual reporting for stormwater for the past number of years. In consultation with the regulator, the program was rebalanced to allocate resources towards Integrated Watershed Management initiatives. Annual reporting will commence again as of the 2011 report.
If you have any follow-up questions, please let me know.
Larisa Hutcheson, PEng
General Manager, Environmental Sustainability
Capital Regional District
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CRD CALL FOR SEWAGE COMMISSION CHAIR, MEMBERS, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
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CRD-RELATED SEWAGE NEWS:
CRD SEWAGE COMMITTEE OKS CONSULTING CONTRACT
ROB SHAW
TIMES COLONIST
DECEMBER 20, 2012
CLICK HERE TO SEND LETTER TO TIMES COLONIST
Greater Victoria’s sewage committee has approved a $711,000 consulting contract with Partnerships B.C., despite some politicians warning that the government-owned agency is biased toward public-private partnerships.
A majority on the committee voted Wednesday to award the contract despite objections from the mayors of Esquimalt, View Royal and Colwood, as well a councillor from each of Saanich and Victoria.
Partnerships B.C., which reports directly to the finance minister, will now put together the tendering documents that the Capital Regional District will use to solicit bids from companies interested in building the McLoughlin Point secondary sewage treatment plant.
The work will likely run to May 2014, with overall completion of the treatment system set for 2018.
Several members of the 15-person sewage committee questioned why the contract was awarded without a public competition.
Others worried that the company, seen as the pro-P3 arm of a B.C. Liberal government that pushes privatization, wouldn’t give unbiased advice to CRD officials as they plan the $783-million sewage project.
Saanich Coun. Vic Derman asked if the province had insisted Partnerships B.C. receive the contract, as part of its $248-million funding commitment.
“The province is not going to use the word insist, but I think it’s clear … because there is over $50 million in provincial funding on this, that Partnerships B.C. would be involved in the procurement process,” said CRD interim sewage project director Jack Hull.
Nonetheless, Hull said, the CRD has made it clear to Partnerships B.C. that the company reports to the regional government, not the province, on this project.
The deal will give the CRD access to Partnership B.C.’s contracting documents, which are already tested and accepted in the marketplace, thereby saving the sewage project time and money, Hull said.
Partnerships B.C. has extensive experience with such projects, and CRD staff are satisfied that it is the best company for the job — even without a public competition, he said.
Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt said he doesn’t think it’s appropriate to get procurement advice from a company that promotes privatization.
The B.C. and federal governments have mandated that at least one part of the three-phase treatment project — the biosolids energy centre — be treated as a public-private partnership.
Sarah Clark, president and CEO of Partnerships B.C., said the agency has experience on more than 35 infrastructure projects and focuses on the needs of its clients.
rshaw@timescolonist.com
http://www.timescolonist.com/
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CRD SPURS ON SEWAGE CONTRACT
Daniel Palmer
Victoria News
December 20, 2012
The Capital Regional District's sewage committee approved a key $711,000 consulting contract to keep the McLoughlin wastewater treatment plant on schedule.
Partnerships B.C. will be responsible for procurement services in the run-up to construction on the $783-million secondary sewage treatment project.
The arms-length provincial organization champions private-public partnerships and has helped deliver 35 projects worth $12.5 billion across the province, according to documents submitted to the CRD's liquid waste management committee.
On Dec. 12, a motion by Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen for an environmental review of the upcoming sewage project fell on deaf ears at the CRD.
The resolution called for an independent, comparative environmental impact study and was supported by View Royal, Esquimalt, Colwood and Oak Bay councils.
It went before the sewage committee two weeks ago, but failed to gain majority support.
“We just couldn’t get it through,” Jensen said. “That’s how democracy works in our federated region.”
The resolution called for the CRD and federal government to fund and perform the study prior to proceeding with the treatment project.
The vote was 10 to 5 against the review, with Langford, Saanich and Victoria leading the no vote.
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PUGET SOUND-RELATED ACTIVITY IN WASHINGTON STATE
Anthony Wright
Executive Director Update,
Puget Sound Partnership email
December 19, 2012
Excerpts:
Governor announces actions to protect shellfish from ocean acidification
On Nov. 27 Gov. Chris Gregoire signed an executive order supporting the recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification. The science is clear that human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide are dramatically altering the ocean’s chemistry at an alarming rate.
On Nov. 27 Gov. Chris Gregoire signed an executive order supporting the recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification. The science is clear that human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide are dramatically altering the ocean’s chemistry at an alarming rate.
The acidification of our waters increases the risk to our shellfish, the health of our oceans, and the wealth of benefits they provide. Washington state is the first to develop a plan of action to tackle ocean acidification and the Partnership will support our partners in implementing the findings and actions of the Blue Ribbon Panel’s scientific findings.
You can read the Governor’s Executive Order at:http://1.usa.gov/UUu5yV
You can read the Governor’s Executive Order at:http://1.usa.gov/UUu5yV
King County enforces waterfront septic inspections, repairs with fines
Shellfish areas open to recreational, tribal and commercial harvesters are threatened because of contamination originating from septic systems. King County recently took the final step in the enforcement process, issuing a $25-a-day fines to a handful of Vashon Island residents who the County says have not had their septic systems inspected or repaired. Protecting public health and Puget Sound go hand in hand.
We must continue working to provide low-interest loans to help residents upgrade and repair septic systems, while enforcing standards to prevent water pollution.Read more at: http://1.usa.gov/12lPqDJ
http://us1.campaign-archive1.
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ARESST: GSA's gloating below over Victoria sewage plan bricks-and-mortar really means a huge pile of concrete-and-steel, electricity consumption, sludge production, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. GSA happy with one-size-fits-all standards, but ignores lack of environmental impact assessment of our current marine-based sewage treatment versus the mega-sewage plant complex.
Shellfish areas open to recreational, tribal and commercial harvesters are threatened because of contamination originating from septic systems. King County recently took the final step in the enforcement process, issuing a $25-a-day fines to a handful of Vashon Island residents who the County says have not had their septic systems inspected or repaired. Protecting public health and Puget Sound go hand in hand.
We must continue working to provide low-interest loans to help residents upgrade and repair septic systems, while enforcing standards to prevent water pollution.Read more at: http://1.usa.gov/12lPqDJ
http://us1.campaign-archive1.
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ARESST: GSA's gloating below over Victoria sewage plan bricks-and-mortar really means a huge pile of concrete-and-steel, electricity consumption, sludge production, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. GSA happy with one-size-fits-all standards, but ignores lack of environmental impact assessment of our current marine-based sewage treatment versus the mega-sewage plant complex.
NEARING BRICKS AND MORTAR (GEORGIA STRAIT ALLIANCE)
Christianne Wilhelmson
Strait Talk
Fall 2012, page 1 and page 5
Over the years this newsletter has often included updates on GSA’s ongoing—and frequently frustrating—battle to get local, provincial and federal governments to stop the pollution of our waters by sewage.
By contrast, the latest developments on this front provide a breath of fresh air. Instead of focusing on whether to treat sewage or upgrade treatment plants, governments are taking some big steps forward to bring secondary treatment to all major centres across our region, and in fact, all across the country.
Funding for Victoria treatment
With the Province and Capital Regional District (CRD) having finally agreed on a plan for secondary sewage treatment, and each having put their money on the table, the only thing that was missing to start the long overdue construction was the federal government’s portion of that funding.
In mid-July the federal government finally made that long awaited announcement, committing $253 million—1/3 of the estimated cost of construction. With the funds now in place, the CRD is moving forward, with construction expected to begin later this year.
For the latest details, visit http://www.
Federal regulations
It was a week of good news on wastewater treatment! Just as we heard about the federal funds for the CRD plans, the federal government also announced it was implementing long Bricks continued from page 1 awaited national regulations that will bring secondary treatment (the minimum standard accepted by the US and the European Union) to over 800 Canadian communities that currently don’t meet that standard.
The regulations were created through a multi-year, cross-sectoral process run by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and based on the best available science.
GSA was heavily involved in the consultation process leading up to the new regulations. Although we still have concerns about the timelines and some of the criteria for assessing risk from sewage discharge (outlined in our earlier submission, which you can see at www.GeorgiaStrait.org/
Details of the new regulations are at: http://laws-lois.justice.
Lions Gate
In accordance with the new regulations, Metro Vancouver must upgrade its two primary wastewater treatment plants: the Lions Gate plant on the North Shore by 2020, and the Iona plant in Richmond, which serves most of Vancouver, by 2030.
Metro Vancouver has now taken the first steps on upgrading the Lions Gate plant. Various advisory groups have been created to help in this process, and GSA has been appointed, as an environmental representative, to the Public Advisory Committee. You can keep up to date on our meetings, and learn about opportunities for your involvement, at www.metrovancouver.org/
This process provides a great opportunity for the region: not only can we improve our wastewater management, but we can also take advantage of the latest technologies to use sewage as an energy resource for the community. If done right, this could mean a big win for both our oceans and our region’s efforts to lower our greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.georgiastrait.org/
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LETTERS:
MAJORITY IGNORED ON SEWAGE PROJECT
Saanich News
December 18, 2012 9:46 AM
CLICK HERE TO SEND LETTER TO SAANICH NEWS
After hearing 25 people speak out against the viability of Capital Regional District’s proposed sewage treatment project on Nov. 14, speaking time at board room meetings is now officially limited to three minutes.
CRD directors referred to the overwhelming voices of opposition as “the vocal minority.” At the next board meeting on Nov. 27, the board voted against all motions to delay or analyze the project.
Directors decline invitations from the community to discuss its impacts. The fact is that board members are afraid to speak in public because there really is no justification for this. They are hiding behind a smoke screen created by the perception that this is the right thing to do.
The CRD board might be a democracy within itself, but the sentiment of the majority outside the boardroom is being ignored.
Lingxia Li
Saanich
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SEWAGE QUESTIONS NEED ANSWERING
Saanich News
December 18, 2012 9:46 AM
CLICK HERE TO SEND LETTER TO SAANICH NEWS
When the proposed secondary sewage treatment plant is completed, a large volume of sludge carrying toxic metals and chemicals will end up at Hartland.
There appears to have been little discussion about what will happen to that poisonous brew except that it will be treated. The following questions needed to be addressed with specific and detailed answers.
1. Has a method of treatment been selected?
2. If so, what method is contemplated and has it performed as planned in many sewage treatment facilities?
3. Will the treatment method guarantee that absolutely no contaminants find their way into the ground, water and atmospheric environments?
Until these questions are answered in a positive manner, there is absolutely no justification for proceeding with the Mclaughlin Point facility and its related pipelines.
Donald Rutherford
Saanich
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GETTING RID OF TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE
Saanich News
December 21, 2012
It’s time to give the sewage treatment plan and Capital Regional District the royal flush.
Rickie Boothman
Saanich
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TWEETS FROM REPORTER ROB SHAW - TRAPPED IN THE ENDLESS SEWAGE STORY CYCLE!
Recent sewage-orientated tweets from Rob Shaw, Legislature reporter for the Victoria Times Colonist:
Rob Shaw @tc_shaw
sandra mcculloch @TCSandramcc
@tc_shaw Lois thinks all you write about is sewage. It will be interesting at school when she has to explain your job.
Rob Shaw @tc_shaw
@TCSandramcc Thankfully, you can use a lot of the same words to describe covering both sewage and BC politics.
Rob Shaw @tc_shaw
This TC story on #yyj (Victoria) sewage treatment was my 171st sewage story. Many more likely in 2013. #journalismdreamjobhttp://bit.
C.Wilhelmson @cwilhelmson
@tc_shaw so sorry to hear that.;) May there be less of these stories for you at some point soon!
Rob Shaw @tc_shaw
@cwilhelmson I think when I hit 200 sewage stories I get a commemorative gold toilet seat.
C.Wilhelmson @cwilhelmson
@tc_shaw ah, the glory! Perhaps Mr Floatie will sign it for you.
Lise Broadley @lisebillingsley
@tc_shaw Something to look forward to in the New Year.
Stephanie Sherlock @CTVNewsSteph
@tc_shaw Your dedication to all things sewage is admirable!
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