Site C dam may not even be safe

Dear Editor: The decision by the B.C. government to proceed with the Site C dam is not only the wrong decision, but the dam may be at risk due to safety concerns.

This adds to the ongoing concerns. Prime agricultural land is threatened. Despite its incredible fertility, its farmers are told to move to make way for the dam.

No wonder new farmers are holding off buying land. The area’s First Nations’ way of life is under threat. Large animals’ migration corridor would be blocked by the water and fish would be poisoned for generations by methyl mercury from dying vegetation.

Any power produced would be sold at a loss — as the power is not needed in B.C. — while the price of alternate sources steadily drops.

These concerns are expanded upon greatly in two new books — Wendy Holm’s Damming the Peace: The hidden costs of the Site C Dam, and Sarah Cox’s Breaching the Peace — the Site C Dam and a Valley’s Stand against Big Hydro.

To add to this list, we can now add safety. Arthur Hadland, a resident of the Peace, recently wrote a letter to B.C. Attorney General David Eby on this. Part of it follows: “... I am now iterating my request to you to have a public statement by an Independent Professional Engineer that the Site C Project is a safe site for future generations and the downstream citizens should not fear from a potential dam breach such as happened from the Teton Dam in Idaho in 1976. The written certification by an Independent Professional Engineer is paramount.

“This is now critical as in an August 22, 2018 CJDC Interview BCHPA (B.C. Hydro and Power Authority) spokesperson Dave Conway confirmed that there is no bedrock at Site C but that the Shaftesbury shale is an adequate anchor for the dam site…

“I would think that you and the rest of cabinet should be extremely concerned with this revelation at this late date. Due diligence would be to demand surety by a written professional statement that the shales are an adequate substitute for bedrock…

“Further in April 2018, BCHPA reportedly hired three foreign workers (rumoured to be experts from Italy) to find bedrock at all costs. Their findings remain a secret.”

Hadland continues: “it is imperative that you follow the Principles of Accountability, Transparency and Truth – Please answer the following questions:

“1.Why has BCHPA not provided audited financial statements for the past 3 years? This information needs to be provided immediately.

“2. Who were the 3 foreign experts hired in April 2018? What were their findings? How much did they charge the taxpayers of B.C.?”

Hadland awaits a reply. Peter Kerr, Kelowna