 Rational
For Not Sinking The Bridge
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these point in your email to the province
Re: Sinking Old Okanagan Lake Bride into Okanagan Lake
Plans to sink the old Okanagan Lake Bridge into Okanagan Lake should not proceed
for a number of important technical reasons.
1. Approving the sinking of the old bridge provides a significant cost savings
benefit and a quick and easy disposal option for the contractor, SNC Lavalin,
without providing the necessary public due diligence required to protect the
human uses of lake water.
2. In March 2005, the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) completed
the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s initial project screening
review of the new bridge project. The scope of the DFO review was limited to
issues involving fish and wildlife values. It did not consider the direct and
indirect impacts on human health resulting from disturbing sediments on the
lake bottom caused by sinking the old bridge pontoons and piers.
3. The old pontoons and piers will have a sizeable impact footprint on the
lake bottom. This footprint was increased by 60% to 11,000 m2 in the March
9, 2008 reclamation plan update prepared by Talisman Land Resource Consultants
Inc. and presented to DFO and BCMOE. No technical reports have been posted
on the Canadian Environmental Assessment (CEA) Registry to estimate the amount
and extent of sediment redistribution that will occur when the pontoons and
piers sink to the bottom of the lake.
4. Okanagan Lake water is used for drinking water supplies, agricultural irrigation
and fish habitat in both Canada and the United States. No technical reports
have been posted on the CEA Registry to address the potential for local and
international impacts resulting from redistributing sediments from the lake
bottom.
5. The March 2005 DFO screening review did not solicit public input on plans
to sink old bridge pontoons and piers in the lake. This oversight limited public
involvement in the review and failed to address potential impacts disturbed
sediments could have on water quality and water users.
6. There have been no technical reports posted on the CEA Registry that specifically
estimate the public costs to mitigate social, economic and environmental impacts
to Okanagan residents that could result from the sinking the old bridge.
7. There have been no technical reports posted on the CEA Registry that compare
the sinking of the old bridge into Okanagan Lake with other decommissioning
options. The sinking of the pontoons and piers has not been justified and cannot
be supported as a matter of public convenience and necessity.
8. DFO has approved the sinking of the bridge for its own self-interest to
gain compensation and to provide 1,100m2 of new or upgraded fish habitat in
the Okanagan Lake basin.
9. DFO’s mandate and expertise to address public health issues is limited.
The involvement of other local, provincial and federal agencies is required
in a new screening review to demonstrate that the sinking of the bridge is
a matter of public convenience and necessity; that it does not pose public
health risks; and that it is in the long-term interests of the Canadian public.
For these reasons, the DFO approval and authorization to sink the old bridge
in Okanagan Lake should be rescinded and plans to sink the old bridge delayed
until it can be objectively demonstrated to be in the best interests of all
water users in the Okanagan Basin.
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