Fisheries department investigates how soil ended up on Surrey beach

The federal government is investigating how soil from landslides in south Surrey is making its way from BNSF railway tracks onto an adjacent beach, where it poses risks to marine life.

Janine Malikian, a spokeswoman for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said her department has received complaints related to the issue.

She confirmed the railway has no permit or authorization under the Fisheries Act or Species at Risk Act to move slide debris onto the beach. Any debris should be contained in the immediate work area, collected and “appropriately disposed of,” according to applica- ble legislation, guidelines and best management practices, she said.

The concern about soil on the beach includes the potential impact on sand lance and surf smelt breeding habitat, she said.

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said Wednesday that the railway does not place slide material “off of our property.”

“We placed the debris on BNSF property, on top of our rip-rap (loose stone),” he said.

“Weather conditions can wash the material from the rock where placed.”

He added: “One of the two slides this season was caused by saturated landscape material that someone placed above our property. The weight created the slide which came onto and over our tracks and onto the beach. BNSF has geotech engineers on site to inspect these situations.”

Erik Seiz, past president of the Crescent Beach Property Owners Association, said slides are common on the bluffs next to the railway tracks between Crescent Beach and Ocean Park.

He agreed that a slide could flow right across the tracks and onto the beach, but also believes the narrow band of loose stone along the tracks cannot effectively contain soil from sliding onto the beach.

“All I see is that the stuff from the slope side is now on the water side,” he said.

“How it got over there, I don’t know. Either way, there is an issue.”