Board reviews licence submissions Maria Canton
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Dec 04/00) - Three federal departments support the Town's request for a five-year water licence.
Representatives from Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada questioned the Town's two-person panel and made suggestions for the water dam, sewage treatment plant, sewage lagoon and recycling programs before concluding Iqaluit should be granted the multi-year water licence by the Nunavut Water Board.
But not all of the 10 intervenors at a two day-hearing that ended Nov. 24 felt the same.
Iqaluit resident Marcel Mason said the Town has not done enough to address environmental concerns during the past year to warrant a multi-year licence.
Mason said the town's open-burn landfill is a significant concern.
He said when garbage is burned, ash and debris from the landfill are often blown over Frobisher Bay, and added the thick dump smoke also wafts inland, potentially contaminating fresh water sources.
It was a concern last year, when the water board required the Town to study the impact air emissions from the dump on fresh water.
Although the Town contested the condition, representatives said during the hearings that an incinerator and new ash and metals landfills are in the works for 2001.
Matthew Hough, director of public works and engineering, and lawyer John Tidball said the current open-burn landfill will be full by October 2001.
They added, however, that if the new facilities aren't ready by then, the Town plans to extend the current site.
Furthermore, they said with Iqaluit's growing population the community will need new water sources within five years and a consultant will be hired in 2001 to determine water supply options.
Lake Geraldine is the current water supply.
As well, they expect the sewage treatment plant will be operating by the spring.
The water board will review the submissions before making its decision.
Iqaluit's current licence, which regulates the use of water and disposal of waste into water for municipal services, expires at year end.
