Employer threatens town
The only blight on the pristine horizon is a pulp and paper mill operated by the Catalyst Paper Corporation. First opened in 1912, the mill was once touted as the largest in the world, though it has cut back significantly on production in recent years.
When Aldworth moved to Powell River two years ago from Victoria, she was intent on enjoying a relaxing retirement after a hectic life as a lawyer. Instead, thanks to that same paper mill, it’s been anything but. Aldworth, a member of the Powell River Legacy, is one of many residents fighting the Catalyst Paper mill as it seeks to re-open and expand a sealed off industrial waste dump. At one time the mill employed many of the residents but has now become the active threat on the quality of life.
Toxic mountains
Those opposed to the dump say there are a number of problems with the company’s plan. The landfill began as an illegal dumping ground for toxic waste in the 1950s, earning legitimate status in the 1970s before being capped in the 1990s. The capping was done to prevent water from moving toxins and materials from the unlined dump into nearby Powell Lake—though ironically, some people indicate that it was closed due to ground water contamination. Now, although the company insists the site is safe, opponents say it’s still leaking.
The bigger problem, says Aldworth, is that Catalyst now wants to expand a ‘mini-landfill’ which was opened on an adjacent site to the original dump. The mill’s waste (mostly a material called ‘fly-ash’, a powdery by-product of coal combustion) is currently being trucked to the landfill site, but it’s nearing capacity. It has applied to implement a vertical expansion of the site – a proposal that would see the dump extend upwards, nine and a half stories into the air. Adding insult to injury, the mini-landfill site is only 300 meters away from the residential community of Wildwood.
Company beliefs
The company insists that the plans for expansion are safe. Sarah Barkowski, manager of environment and quality systems for Catalyst, says there has been a tremendous amount of misinformation around the mill. “If I believed what other people believe, I’d be embarrassed to say I wasn’t at the protest rally,” she says, “but all the data says that there’s going to be very little impact to air quality and ground water.” Barkowski says that the site will be subject to thorough tests from the Ministry of the Environment, and will ultimately lead to the mill reducing their greenhouse emissions because they won’t need to truck their waste out of town by truck.
But Aldworth says she is suspicious about why the mill even feels it needs to expand the landfill. “Here’s the bottom line: there’s no way that this company needs the landfill they’re asking for with the minimal production that they’re doing at this mill. What’s really happening is that they’re planning to convert the mill into some sort of energy producing plant. Nobody is telling us this, but if you just put two and two together…”
Waiting for results
Those opposed to the mill’s landfill expansion are anxiously waiting for the result of the mill’s formal application. In the meantime, Aldworth says they’ll keep fighting. “I’d like to see the mill close,” she says, rattling off a list of other possible uses for the mill’s waterfront site that include arts centre, school and museum. “We should be cutting edge because we’re so isolated,” says Aldworth, “we should be a testing ground for communities functioning independently. We can’t be depending on the mill anymore,” she says, “because it’s clear they’re not going to provide for us.”
Meredith Dault is a freelance journalist and broadcaster based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Green Living Network
there aren't many places like Powell River, British Columbia on Earth.