TOXIC WASTE DUMPED INTO BAYNES SOUND – WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT ACTION?

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Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound 

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TOXIC WASTE DUMPED INTO BAYNES SOUND – WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT ACTION?

Baynes Sound is critical fish habitat, home to herring spawning grounds, shellfish farms, and salmon migration routes. Yet massive amounts of toxic pollutants are being discharged into these waters, far exceeding safe levels!

CONFIRMED TOXIC DISCHARGES from Deep Water Recovery Ltd. between September 2023 and February 2024

Copper – “Exceeded BC Water Quality Guidelines (BC WQG) by up to 23,950%”​

Lead – “Exceeded BC WQG by up to 3,520%”​

Zinc – “Exceeded BC WQG by up to 2,570%”​

Direct Discharges into the Marine Environment:

“Ministry staff have observed effluent discharging from the sumps and gravel areas at the Facility into the marine environment. For example, Ministry staff have observed effluent discharging from the gravel surface around the Miller Freeman vessel and specifically underneath its hull into the marine environment. This effluent was sampled and significantly exceeded BC WQGs.”​

These heavy metals are DEADLY to marine life!

Copper can cause “lethal effects as well as disruptions to development, growth, egg production, feeding, respiration, and longevity.”

Lead can result in “reduced growth and photosynthetic and respiration disruption in marine algae and can also lead to acute toxicity in marine invertebrates.”

Zinc can “affect embryo development, shell development, and growth.”​

THIS IS NOT HISTORICAL CONTAMINATION

Ministry officials took samples directly from the Deep Water Recovery Ltd. site, NOT just from Baynes Sound waters.

Samples from the site had significantly higher contamination levels than background water samples, proving that CURRENT operations are responsible.

Toxic runoff was observed flowing directly into the marine environment.

Baynes Sound has been designated as an “Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area,” yet this pollution continues.​

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE LAW?

Under an Order from the Federal Government (P.C. 2014-196, Fisheries Act, Sections 36(3)-(6)), the Minister of the Environment is responsible for enforcing toxic discharge violations:

The law is clear:

Fisheries Act Section 36(3): “No person shall deposit or permit the deposit of a deleterious substance of any type in water frequented by fish.”

Since 2014, the Minister of the Environment has been designated to administer and enforce this law.

So why isn’t the Ministry of Environment taking action?

Why is this illegal toxic pollution still happening?

Why isn’t the Ministry of Environment enforcing the Fisheries Act?

Why are shellfish farmers, fishers, and coastal communities paying the price for government inaction?

This is an environmental disaster! The government must act NOW to stop toxic discharges into Baynes Sound!

SHARE THIS POST & TAG YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY!

Read about the Fisheries Act:

https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library…/272733.pdf

#StopToxicDischarge#ProtectBaynesSound#FisheriesAct#MinistryOfEnvironment#PollutionCrisis#FederalNeglect

#StopToxicDischarge#ProtectBaynesSound#FisheriesAct#MinistryOfEnvironment#PollutionCrisis#FederalNeglect#FishHabitat#comoxvalley#BaynesSound#strongcoasts

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