Letter to B. Penner, M.L.A. - 01/16/2009

Mr. B. Penner, M.L.A.
January 16, 2009
Minister of Environment
Unit 101-7388 Vedder Road
Chilliwack, B.C.
V2R 4E4


Dear Sir;


I have resided in the Township of Langley for 34 years within close proximity to Brown Road, (240th. Street & 68th. Ave) where the Provincial Government is proposing to open a new mine for gravel extraction. My home, our entire neighborhood and thousands of other private well owners wholly depend on the Hopington Aquifer for our most valuable resource: 'WATER'. I have many serious concerns regarding this proposal as it will undoubtely have a major negative impact on the area and serious environmental implications.

Last year, The Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure (MoT) submitted a soil removal permit application to the Township to mine and extract gravel from the provincial land for the Gateway Project. The MoT also had a hydro geological engineering company install 5 monitoring wells along the perimeter of the proposed site. The property in question is in pasture with a portion to the east an abandoned pit used during the construction of Highway #1 in the 1960's. The proposal is supposed to be subject to the Agricultural Land Commission and Township of Langley approvals.
There has been a Township 'MORATORIUM' in place for almost 20 years, rejecting all applications for new gravel extraction.

This upland area (Brown Pit) from William's Park is similar to a plateau; surrounded to the east and south by Coghlan Creek; west by the Salmon River and north by Highway 1. The area has been flagged by the director of the Salmon River Enhancemant Society, D. McPhee, as one of three areas with serious dropping water tables. The Langley Times-Nov 7/08; ' Water Issues are Serious, Ongoing'; quote; "Dropping water tables in the surrounding area (Milner, Aldergrove and the area around the freeway at 240th. Street) drain water from the Hopington Aquifer.

The dropping water table and water quality has become a provincial concern with the B.C. Government allowing Langley to act as a test case for new provincial groundwater measures. The Township of Langley, Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands prepared a Water Management Plan in draft last May, 2008. The mining of a pasture for gravel extraction does not appear to be a senior level of government working responsibly & cooperatively as a team with our Township for a common goal; to conserve, manage and save the Hopington Aquifer from further drainage.
The already 'OVERPUMPED & FRAGILE' Hopington Aquifer that supplies 80% of our water to the Township cannot continue to sustain further abuse and mismanagement. With the groundwater level dropping one (1) foot per year; the next 5 to 10 years looks increasingly grim for private well owners and the entire aquifer. The provincial government should be working together with our Township to solve the problems and enforce effective policy to protect groundwater. Opening a new pit for gravel extraction in a highly sensitive area of our aquifer makes absolutely no sense at all. This proposal is in the wrong place, at the wrong time and for all the wrong reasons.
The private wells near the proposed pit will inevitably be effected; both the quality and quantity of water available. The negative implications from this project will likely occur much sooner than later. This proposal is nothing than a convenience and a cost-cutting measure by the B.C. Government resulting in future expenses and stress to the taxpayer. We will be facing costs upwards of $25,000 to drill new wells and there is no doubt our property values will drop and may never recover. Many years of noise and air pollution will also be continuous by-products of this project in a suburban residential and farm area. Who will step forward to offer full compensation to residents when faced with financial loss due to this proposal? Water levels seasonally in Coghlan Creek are almost immeasurable & unable to sustain proper salmon and other species habitat.

Regardless of what the hydogeologists, geological engineers and development experts in the field may tell us; common sense points to an inevitable negative impact on our water supply and the entire neighborhood should you proceed with this major project. It may be all fine for the provincial government to state that the impact of this project will be minimal and that they will look after us should there be a problem. We have all heard this before and seldom does anything in the way of support or compensation occur. No one can guarantee that when the landscape is disrupted to this degree; with a massive excavation of this magnitude that there will not be both short term and long term problems in our immediate area. I am sure if a proper risk assessment was completed regarding this project; the negative implications to our entire neighborhood would certainly out-weigh the MoT's need for thousands of metric tons of gravel.

We strongly oppose the development of this gravel mine and ask that the MoT not proceed with this project. I would ask that the MoT seriously use another option as there are definitely many other existing sources of gravel for the Gateway and other projects. Mining gravel in our area to keep your costs minimal and transport time down is not acceptable considering the serious consequences. Do not incur further drainage to our aquifer, destroying our local private wells and damaging our neighborhood.

Enclosed with this letter is a petition signed by hundreds of concerned citizens who depend on the Hopington Aquifer as their only source of water.
I look forward to further dialogue with you and receiving a definitive reply regarding this very important matter.


Please help us manage, maintain and preserve our most valuable resource 'WATER'.


We need your support and understanding regarding this very serious issue. Please do not proceed with this project.



Respectfully,