April 10, 2002
Water Pollution and Protection
Question to Joyce Murray, Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection
R. Lee: My question is to the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection. Last year it was discovered that Chevron had polluted the groundwater under its refinery in Burnaby North. In order to deal with this contamination, Chevron has announced plans to collect, treat and discharge the groundwater into Burrard Inlet. Can the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection assure us that this will not have a negative impact on the marine life in Burrard Inlet?
Hon. J. Murray: I understand the concern of the member and the member's constituents about the Chevron spill. The ministry has carefully considered all of the environmental concerns in reviewing this request of Chevron to release the treated water into Burrard Inlet. The levels will be well within the ministry standards that were set for environment and human health protection. This plan actually allows Chevron to move forward to collect and treat this material.
In addition, there is a study, which the ministry required Chevron to commission, that has to do with the human health risk assessment tied to the MTBE issue, and this is nearing completion. The ministry will review it and take any additional actions that it may suggest.
Mr. Speaker: The member for Burnaby North has a supplementary question.
R. Lee: The quality of groundwater is of great concern to my constituents. Can the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection tell us what steps she has taken to prevent these types of accidents from occurring again in the future?
Hon. J. Murray: This government made a commitment in our New Era document to protect groundwater resources in British Columbia. The action was to appoint a panel to look at drinking water protection, including groundwater protection. I want to assure the member that we are reviewing the panel's report, and we will take the steps to protect groundwater.
Also, in February government amended the contaminated sites legislation to require owners of sites that are contaminated to notify their neighbours if any of the contamination moves across the boundary of the site. In this way, contamination will be caught early and will be reduced. MTBE is a classic case of a contaminant that moves through the soil and into groundwater.
