Port Metro Vancouver - The Editor, Re: "Toxic silt eats into dredging fund," News, Feb. 19.A few points from the story require some clarification.On Dec. 17, 2012, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the B.C.
Port Metro Vancouver - The Editor, Re: "Toxic silt eats into dredging fund," News, Feb. 19.A few points from the story require some clarification.On Dec. 17, 2012, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Port Metro Vancouver, the Corporation of Delta, and the City of Richmond announced a $10 million joint commitment to fund dredging of vital channels in the Ladner and Steveston areas of the Fraser River.Currently, two of the channels contemplated under this program are being dredged (Deas Slough and Ladner Harbour) and the dredging of a third channel was recently completed (Cannery Channel).Dredging is also proposed for Sea Reach and Canoe Pass under this program.After dredging had commenced, your story noted the silt encountered at some sites contained unexpectedly high levels of contaminants.In reality, and as part of the application process, more than 50 samples were taken by Port Metro Vancouver and analyzed by a third-party laboratory, then submitted to Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to determine disposal options.The lab analysis showed that only thematerial in Ladner Harbour and Canoe Pass - both within the Corporation of Delta boundary - were above the prescribed levels and therefore must be disposed of at the Pt. Grey disposal site rather than through in-river dispersal or disposal near the dredge sites as directed by Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.This material represents approximately 250,000 cubic metres of the overall 950,000 cubic meters of material to be removed in the five designated channels.As project managers for the project, Port Metro Vancouver is responsible to ensure all dredging is conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner according to regulatory requirements.The extra cost incurred for this disposal at Pt. Grey, along with the extra volumes encountered, have resulted in significant additional costs - more than $1 million - to the program and have substantially reduced the funding available to address the inevitable future accumulation of material in these channels and other dredging projects.Port Metro Vancouver is committed to working with all stakeholders to secure other sources of funding to ensure future dredging projects can move forward.Tom CorsieVP Real EstatePort Metro Vancouver
