Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors this morning unanimously approved entering a Licence of Occupation for .95 hectares of Crown land, over a 30-year period, with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for the operation of septage ponds for the Elko and Baynes Lakes areas.

The property is located “in the corner adjacent to the Caven Creek Haul Rd. and Baynes Lake Dump Rd. on Crown land with the legal description East of SL 1 DL319 Kootenay District,” notes a RDEK Environmental Services staff report.

Electoral Area B Director Stan Doehle told fellow directors it had been a lengthy process finding a suitable site. “We’re getting close now,” he said.

District of Elkford Mayor and board member Dean McKerracher asked if there had been any “blow back” from the surrounding area concerning the facility.

Environmental Services Manager Kevin Paterson replied the regional government has received “no negative feedback.”

The RDEK had to find a replacement for site for exfiltration basins after the Elko Transfer Station was deemed no longer suitable to do so in 2013.

Hired to find a suitable site, SNC Lavalin ranked 10 potential sites in the South Country and ended up selecting a property adjacent to the TransCanada pipeline right-of-way and pumping station, but that application was denied. The second most preferred site is the one noted above.

The RDEK budgeted $175,000 for the investigation and construction of this site, which will require two 35,000m3 basins; one a primary basin and the other a secondary basin to separate the solids from the liquids. The area will be fenced and gated and signed accordingly.

– Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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