Alberta Environment approves Lakes of Muirfield pipeline

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

A year-long headache ended on Dec. 1 for Lakes of Muirfield residents as Alberta Environment and Parks finally signed off on the application to begin a pipeline from Lakes of Muirfield to Cattlelands.
The decision came after wastewater was being transported by truck out of Lakes of Muirfield to a nearby waste transfer site; however, the residents had to pay for the transportation up to $500 per month in wastewater fees.
An application was sent in on Dec. 4, 2014 for a pipeline to be built but Alberta Environment deemed it incomplete. It took a year to get more information to complete the application and get the approval.
On Dec. 1, 2015 the papers were signed with the registration being followed under the code of practice for Wastewater Systems using a Wastewater Lagoon.
“The proponent was required to follow the process legislated under the Environmental Protection Act and Enhancement Act,” said Jamie Hanlon, communication specialist for AB Environment and Parks.
“Construction could not begin until the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act registration was issued, and the project was required to be constructed as identified in the application. As well, excavated soils were to be separated and backfilled in their soil appropriate horizons.”
Hanlon said any pipeline crossings of the watercourses, which is an artificial water channel, needed to be considered under a Water Act Code of Practice. Also, all wetlands crossings are to be directionally drilled beneath the wetlands and must meet the code of practice for pipeline and telecommunication lines crossing a body of water.
At the Dec. 8 Wheatland County council meeting, a public hearing was held for Lakes of Muirfield residents to speak to council about changes to the Bylaw 2015-39.
The bylaw has to do with the wastewater issue that Lakes of Muirfield is dealing with and states that development, including single family homes, would require a developing permit and in turn need a wastewater solution.
“This bylaw is in place to stop development until there is a wastewater solution,” said Hugh Ham, who was representing the Lakes of Muirfield residents from Municipal Counsellors.
Lakes of Muirfield resident Scott Kolewaski, who was an original owner in the area made his opinion well known that the county could not veto development.
“We can not allow the county to stop development, you can not paralyze us as residents,” he said.
“We need your help, don’t stop, it’ll kill us.”
Councillor Ben Armstrong said that the county wanted to see the developments done properly and as a result Wheatland County has put the bylaw’s public hearing into recess until another meeting is scheduled.