Help Protect Langely's Drinking Water

On this coming Saturday, April 18th from 9AM to 1PM, please attend an OPEN FORUM at Murrayville Hall, located at 21667 48th Avenue in Langley

Environmental experts will be on hand to help everyone bettter understand the impact mining at Brown Road Pit would have on the Hopington Aquifer and our drinking water.

Political representitves will be on hand to listen to your concerns and answer your questions.

Please attend and make your voice heard, and help protect the Hopington Aquifer and Langley's drinking water.

If you would like more information, please call (604) 530-6106

Letter to Editor - April 7, 2009

'GRAVEL' OR 'DRINKING WATER'
Provincial Government Decision Looms For Opening Brown Road Pit

Dear Editor;

Our Langley neighborhood awaits the decision by the Provincial Government on plans to re-open and expand Brown Road Pit for 1,000,000 plus cubic metres of gravel for the Gateway Project, right in our own backyards. There are approximately 55 private water wells within 450 meters of the planned gravel mine. This plan has probably been in the works for years, but our neighborhood only became aware of the proposal early last summer through activity on the property and an article in our local newspaper. Our neighborhood has been working diligently for many months to stop the proposed gravel mine and save our drinking water.

In the Provincial Legislature on March 24 & 25, 2009; MLA & Opposition Environmental Critic, Shane Simpson asked the Minister of Environment, Barry Penner; "Will he commit today that he will not approve of gravel extraction from Brown's Pit and will protect the integrity of the community's drinking water". Minister Penner's reply was:"I'll be pleased to investigate this matter and take the question of notice". Upon further pursuing this environmental issue regarding the sensitive Hopington aquifer and that we do not have a Plan B for drinking water; Mr. Simpson then directed questioning to the Minister of Transport who is behind this proposal, asking him to do the right thing & withdraw this proposal around the Brown's Pit gravel and say to our community that he will find his gravel somewhere else, not jeopardize our water source and back off his proposal. Again, Minister Penner's reply was:"As I've already indicated, I'll look into this matter. Since the member has not seen fit to bring it to my attention before today, I will endeavour to investigate this matter".

Obviously, Minister Penner does not acknowledge receiving the following regarding Brown Road Pit & our Hopington aquifer:

1) January 16,2009
Bill & Elizabeth Mozell delivered in person to Minister Penner's constituency office in Chilliwack, a 27 page petition with cover letter. (The same item also delivered to Minister Falcon & Minister Coleman)

2) January 30,2009
Karren Winther & her husband, Nick Constantino e-mailed Mr.Penner on this matter.

3) February 10,2009
Dr. B. Moats sent a letter to Mr. Penner on this issue.

4) March 12,2009
Karren Winther & Nick Constantino, again mailed an extensive information package to Mr. Penner on this issue.

What did we all receive from our Minister of Environment? "NO REPLY".

To the Minister of Environment, the Honourable Barry Penner and his government's plans for expansion and re-opening of Brown's Road Pit; the matter is plain & simple; this is an 'ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE'. For the minister to deny (and that is stating it mildly) any knowledge or refuse to respond in the legislature to this serious environmental matter is an insult to the people of our community and the Province of B.C.

We have not heard a whisper from Mr. Penner to this day and I find his lack of interest, input or comments to be unacceptable for a Minister of Environment. Perhaps, he is restricted by an internal government 'gag order' or his ministry is under the direction & control of the Minister of Transportation.

Members of our neighborhood delegation met with our MLA, R.Coleman on Dec 10, 2008; NO REPLY.

The petition and cover letter delivered Jan 19,2009;NO REPLY.

Finally, on Feb 16, 2009 an ambiguous letter & local newspaper announcement that no gravel will be extracted if there is risk to the aquifer.

Our neighborhood delegation met with MoT, Minister Falcon, Deputy Minister K. Blasetti & G.Dawson (Project Director-Gateway Project) on March 6,2009.

We were all made aware that Mr. Falcon's decision on gravel mining from Brown Road Pit will be based on "FACTS" from a hydrogeological assessment by EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.; the governments firm of choice. Mr. Falcon also made it very clear that the residents of West

Vancouver went to Provincial Court over a project that affected trees and wildlife. He stated that the provincial government won that case.

Minister Falcon; we are not dealing with trees or wildlife. We are trying to protect our drinking water, private wells and the fragile Hopington Aquifer.

Last year, September 22, 2008, EBA Consulting sent a report to the MoT with the results of a desk-top study and a site visit to document potential surface and groundwater issues associated with the property on Brown Road. From this report; quote: "The above-referenced 'Map of Groundwater Vulnerability' identifies that the Hopington Aquifer underlies the Property area. The Hopington Aquifer is considerd by B.C. Ministry of Environment (MoE) to have "very high" rating with respect to its vulnerability for being contaminated from surface sources.

Without having started the project and removing 1 shovel full of gravel; Mr.Falcon's facts will be based on the data from 5 (MoT) monitoring wells:
a) present level of water table
b) present quality of water
c) present direction of water flow

It is difficult to imagine that Mr. Falcon will base his decision on these facts before a hole approximately 800'x500'x(50'-100'deep) is even started.
Minister Falcon, you will inevitably contaminate our drinking water, ruin our private wells, damage the sensitive Hopington aquifer and destroy the neighborhood we cherish & enjoy so much.

To Premier Campbell, Minister Falcon, Minister Coleman and Minister Penner;
Your decision should be based on only 2 of the 4 choices:

YOUR GRAVEL OR OUR WATER

DOLLARS & CENTS OR COMMON SENSE

Proposed site for Gravel Mine at Brown Road Pit

THE PLANS FOR REOPENING & EXPANSION OF BROWN ROAD PIT BY OUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
MUST STOP NOW!
240th Street & 68th Avenue-Langley

· The proposed gravel mine sits over the most sensitive & fragile areas of the over-pumped Hopington aquifer. The water table of our aquifer is dropping at an alarming one foot per year.
· Approximately one-third (1/3) of the land was mined previous to 1963 & then permanently closed. Residential development began in the early 1970's with private wells drilled and homes being built on various acreages. We have 50 to 60 residences in the immediate area today wholly dependent on our aquifer for water as are thousands of other local residents.
· The Provincial government plans to expand beyond the abandoned pit and also develop an adjacent pasture approximately 750' x 450’, digging 50' to 100' down for their estimated 1,000,000 + cubic metres of gravel. If this plan proceeds, it will result in the largest gravel pit that Langley has ever witnessed and right in our own backyards.
· We have no other options for drinking water as the township of Langley has assured us that there are no plans of bringing city/municipal water to this area for at least 10 to 15 years.
· It is common knowledge that open pit mining for gravel near private drilled wells will inevitably affect the quality and quantity of drinking water.
· Gravel pits leave a long-lasting negative impact on the environment.
· Case studies have proven that open pit mining for gravel (ground vibrations) & later pit filing results in unacceptably high increased levels of arsenic & phosphorous in drinking water & fish bearing habitat. (Coghlan Creek & Salmon River run along three perimeters of Brown Road Pit).
· There are other sources of gravel to facilitate the provincial governments’ needs. Companies like Heidelberg and Lehigh under the umbrella of Lafarge have many sources of gravel throughout the Fraser Valley East. There is also Valley Gravel, Mainland Gravel & Rempel Bros.
· Gravel can be barged down the Fraser River for a fraction (1/20) of the cost of trucking. The Provincial government wants to further develop Brown Road Pit due to its proximity to the Gateway Project.
· The Provincial Government’s only goal: Save money today at the expense of our incredibly valuable and fragile Hopington aquifer, our drinking water, our property values and our community.

We are concerned & care about our drinking water.

We ask for your support to protect our drinking water

Letter to Editor - Mining Brown Pit

The BC Liberal government proposes to “Rape Mother Langley” but promises to study it first.

The proposed mining of Brown Pit in Langley Township for provincial Port Mann and freeway construction gravel is an unconscionable act which cannot occur without every aspect of community, water safety and environmental integrity being devastated. This is in spite of a long standing moratorium on gravel extraction in the Township of Langley.

Our community group has just learned that “the plan” calls for 1 million cubic yards of gravel removal. This makes their claim of no damage to the aquifer, water quality and community and leaving this ALR land in improved agricultural shape when finished an untrue statement. Let me explain:

Let’s put size in context:

My home is a 6.4 acre lot bordering the south 700 feet of Brown Pit (the area that still has gravel). The foot print of 1 million cubic yards is 1/3rd the volume of the Gizza Pyramid whose base covers 13 acres (exactly double my lot) and attains a height of 450 ft. So the ground footprint of the excavation of my north border would be 700 feet long and 400 feet wide (the pit itself isn’t that wide so it would have to go deeper than the 50 – 100 ft deep to round out to 1 million cubic yards. This is a frightful image.

The damage to the Hopington aquifer would be stunning. All the oil and other toxic material dripping from machinery would travel for miles in the gravel (any one remember Walkerton). The gravel is God’s water filter and with the extraction the gravel would be gone. The natural filtering process destroyed – the damage incalculable.

I have questions and so should you all.

If the provincial government is so incredibly comfortable turning their back on fair play on the Cambie Street corridor and in Delta – would we expect to be treated differently? Should we be comforted by “we’ll do a study” (surveying for the freeway ramp is done as are 4 test wells). Is surveying part of the pre-study process? Do they as we suspect consider this a “done deal”.
With a gargantuan hole 700x400x50-100 feet deep does anyone believe that they will “restore it for agricultural use”? That is being economical with the truth – more precisely a lie. Such a fill project would be virtually impossible – whose quality soil would they steal to fulfill this pipedream?
We recently (last 2 years) were subjected to the filling of part of the old pit. They hauled for weeks making our roads unsafe and dumping illegal material (hog fuel) into the old pit. They contaminated adjacent wells (hog fuel) and when finished it didn’t make a dent in the old gravel evacuation space. Restore to agricultural use indeed!
Is the ALR protecting our bread basket or are they a thinly veiled Liberal rubber stamp? We’re told that this project has preliminary ALR approval – how can that be possible if anybody is doing their job or had a functional conscience.
Our group is methodically gathering facts and information and the more we gather (1 million cubic yards) the more frightened and outraged we become.

Many people are concerned about this issue. Many more facts are still hidden from us but we will find them. Meanwhile I will not stand quietly and idly by while unprincipled people in government without a conscience commit a premeditated Rape of Mother Langley.

Letter to Editor - Is the ALR Asleep?

There must be some unexplained backroom shenanigans going on with the Provincial Government ALR relationship.

Both the Glover Road overpass and gravel mining of Brown Pit have received preliminary approval. Is this bullying? Is this bribery? Is this political payoff? It certainly is neither valid nor legitimate.

Brown Pit mining would not only endanger but damage the overstressed and large fragile Hopington aquifer. An easy preview of what will inevitably happen is the Stokes Pit history. The government had their way, contaminated the water supply, and devastated the community.

Glover Road overpass design seems to purposely and maliciously impose a large S curve in BC’s historic and fertile Hudson Bay Farm. This will finish it off as useful agricultural land. It is obviously designed to pave the way for real estate and industrial development.

How is it possible for this august body, the ALR, who usually turns down every proposal often protecting useless non-arable land just as a matter of principle, and here they roll over for Kevin Falcon and his cohort of bullies.

Interestingly the commission decisions are also unappealable. I assume that also means that they aren’t required to answer to me or other citizens regarding their unconscionable conduct outlined above.

We are a first world country. We are theoretically a democracy. Could anybody in a position of authority in the ALR give a credible, honest explanation for this complete miscarriage of justice and fairness?

Letter to Editor - Coleman, Falcon and Campbell Want to Give Us a Third World Water Supply

Our neighbourhood just received a personal letter from Rich Coleman telling us, “If there is any risk identified to wells and drinking water, no gravel will be extracted from Brown Pit.” This is a thinly veiled attempt to stop our concern during the election run up. They go on to say that “a full and complete public process including extensive neighbourhood consultation will take place.”

There is no way to mine Brown Pit without damaging the very sensitive Hopington aquifer. As an aside, the aquifer has a much larger footprint than the government admits to.(It’s politically wise that Langley citizens don’t know how many of them are dependent on it). The percolation rate is so fast that anything spilled travels forever. The steep downgrade to the nearby Coglan Creek and Salmon River dictates that everything will end up in these waterways.

Well drillers tell us gravel mining will change pH and mineral content of the water. The drilling and mining process increases mineral concentration like arsenic.

The project will last 10 years or more. The likely plan is to dump refuse from Willoughby development in the hole and thereby contaminate whatever of it they haven’t ruined by that time.

Look at Stokes Pit if you want to foretell the future here. Contaminated fill, dead horses, dry wall, manure, and animal waste was used. A large area there now has unusable wells. Real estate is affected, farming operations are compromised.

If Rich Coleman’s letter is sincere he would publicly cancel any government plan to mine Brown Pit because every aspect of the mining will not endanger but damage our wells and drinking water.

As it stands it appears that Coleman and bully boy Falcon want to re-establish Langley as the “Brazil of the North”.