Stop work order filed on GFL compost site

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

A stop work order has been issued at the GFL composting site near Nightingale.
Wheatland County administration said upon further inspections of the GFL facility, the stop work order and remedial order were issued for the site.
“On the basis of those inspections and administration’s review of the information about the facility, I can report today that county officials have issued both a stop order and a remedial order for the site,” said Brian Henderson, Wheatland County interim chief administrative officer, on July 2.
The county served a stop work order under a breach of the nuisance bylaw. It prevents GFL from receiving any feedstock or organics and demands a stop to storing waste at the site.
Previous water tests showed toxins had entered the water table. The tests were requested two years ago, and the results are now available.
The stop order also allows an independent environmental consultant to do inspections and set steps to fix the problems. Any hazardous materials will be identified, and orders were given to safely dispose of the hazardous material and protect residents. There will be 24-hour monitoring at the site.
“That’s a positive step ahead, that is for sure,” said Colin Huxted, member and spokesperson with Neighbours Against Pollution (NAP). “We have been here way too many times, but that is positive news.”
Between 60 and 70 members of the group filled Wheatland County council chambers on July 2 to hear updates on the GFL site.
GFL had previously asked for 18 months to clean up the site, but NAP members questioned how that could reasonably be done in the 90 days stated in the order. They questioned what would happen if GFL did not clean things up. Wheatland County’s legal counsel stated it may be too expensive for the county to go in and remove the material if GFL doesn’t clean it up, and added they want GFL to foot that bill.
Huxted gave a passionate plea for action and presented a video that reviewed all the discussions with the county, delays on the issue and the impact it has had on residents.
He said NAP members had volunteered hundreds of hours to make their concerns known and they have gathered the information that would support their stance.
If GFL does not cease business at the site and remove all the material, NAP is poised to take legal action. If a suit is filed, the group will be asking for reparation of their decreased property values due to operations at GFL and money to compensate them for a loss of quality of life. The group stated the county would also be named in the suit because they are liable for not taking action for their ratepayers’ health and well- being.
NAP members appreciated the council retaining a professional investigator, but asked why most of the infractions listed from the previous report were not complete. NAP members vocally registered their disappointment with the council on their inaction since the report was done.
“Do the right thing. Stop it and take direct control. Start doing your responsibility,” said Huxted. “You have failed us.”
Reeve Amber Link said the administration of Wheatland County is the one taking the stop action. Council’s role was to ensure they were completing their responsibilities and they had to be careful to take the right steps, so if they went to court, their procedures would not be challenged.
NAP members indicated the company was not reputable and the benefit of the doubt should no longer be extended to them. Some of the NAP members had been threatened by company representatives, and they indicated the stakes are too high to back away from the problem.
Wheatland legal counsel wanted the opportunity to talk to the group and work together in the matter. They suggested a united front would present a stronger opposition against GFL because of the resources available to GFL.