New studies on BCR property show dangers, Brink says

Alocal lumber manufacturer is claiming that a site he purchased from BCR Properties Ltd. may be causing contamination to the city’s water supply and may be susceptible to “spontaneous ignition.”

John Brink, CEO of Brink Forest Products Ltd., entered into a lease agreement with BCR Properties in 2005 in relation to a 100-acre site at 1077 Boundary Road, the former site of the Netherlands sawmill. He released reports this week by two engineering firms that raise health and safety concerns about the site. One report, prepared by the engineering firm Amec Foster Wheeler, stated that contaminated water from the landfill “likely flows to the west towards the Fraser River,” which the document noted was a “major fish bearing waterway.”

The other report, prepared by Case Forensics, an engineering consulting firm, stated that the site was “susceptible to spontaneous heating and ignition.”

“The landfill materials at the subject property are undergoing decomposition and are producing combustible gas that could accumulate in ignitable mixtures that could produce an explosion and/ or deflagration,” the report said.

“I would find it hard to believe that BCR properties, as an owner of the land, is not already aware of the danger to human health and fire hazard that exists due to the landfill and its toxic nature,” said Brink in a statement delivered to The Citizen.

“What’s more alarming is that if they did know, why have they not come forward and warned the public,” he said.

When he purchased the property, Brink had intended to build a sawmill on the location, as well as several other businesses. He claimed on Tuesday that the site would have created 200 jobs in Prince George. Brink had claimed to The Citizen in the past that it would have produced 150 jobs. During early construction of the sawmill, Brink discovered that the site contained a 22-acre landfill. The landfill had been operating for 40 years up until 1999.

Brink is in the midst of a lawsuit with BCR Properties Ltd., and is seeking at least $10 million, as well as 15 years of foregone profits. He has claimed that BCR committed civil fraud by not disclosing the state of the landfill on the property.

Previous legal action by Brink regarding the sale have so far been dismissed.