Council bounces back decision

Times Contributor  

 

The Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) contacted the County of Wheatland about dropping the requirement to test water wells for Confined Feeding Operations. The regulation was part of County policy, prior to 2002, where all Confined Feeding Operations would be administered by the NRCB.

Staff forwarded the issue to legal counsel for an opinion, who responded that many things were Wheatland Council’s problem, but this issue was not one of them.

The NRCB said that in one instance, they were having trouble getting access to neighbouring properties to do the testing.

Under discussion, most councillors indicated that few landowners would turn down a free well test. 

“They took over the contract, so they also took over the conditions,” said Reeve Glenn Koester, who was puzzled why they could not adjust the regulations under their jurisdiction.

Council directed staff to draft a letter to indicate the matter was no longer under their jurisdiction and the NRCB could reply to Council for further dialogue if necessary.

At the Agricultural Service Board Convention in 2011, Vulcan County put forth a motion that was passed, asking the NRCB to require annual testing of groundwater wells surrounding confined feeding operations by an independent qualified firm, to confirm there was no contamination. They indicated the risks of contamination well water over time, not caught by self-monitored methods, outweighed the minimal cost of required testing. It was in response to the NRCB making well testing a self-monitored process, as the NRCB felt the contamination risk was low.