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Vol. 13, No. 18, Wednesday February 28, 2018 www.LamontLeader.com
Unwanted sand angers farmers
TOBAGGANING AT EINP
Maureen Sullivan Looking over the white snowfields you see something else on the properties adjacent to the SIL plant located in Lamont County - you see sand. A complaint was made to the company by residents who have been suffering from blowing sand off the stockpiles located around the property. Concerned about the health of their families and livestock, the residents around the plant want something to be done. Brenda Broder was repeatedly taking her infant and toddler to the hospital with respiratory complaints. Three months ago she replaced her older trailer with a new one. She currently has sand in her furnace and her ducts, she says. Her children continue to cough and now her goats and miniature horses have begun to cough. She is also concerned that the sand will ruin her crops and get into the hay and straw her livestock need. The Hossacks (neighbours) have similar conSand cerns. They have 3-4 horses with coughs and dust on their windowsills. When taking the dog for a walk they come back with dust on their lips, they report. Peter Lysyk, another property owner in the area, melted one square metre of snow and was left with an entire sandwich bag of fine sand. Residents alerted SIL to the problem and after taking a look the company called Alberta Environment Ministry. There is currently an investigation
underway. Sean Mudge, the company’s legal counsel, said “We’re not looking to be a bad neighbour.” They have been working with the Ministry to figure out what caused the problem and how to clean it up. “If we caused it, we want to make sure it doesn’t happen again and we want to clean up the mess that’s there.” Lamont County’s Chief Adminstration Officer Robyn Singleton said the county does not have jurisdiction over environmental and health concerns, it only gives oper-
farmers have complained about. ating permits. SIL has applied for an expansion to the plant site, and it is currently being considered. The county may look at restricting the height of the sand stock piles by creating new bylaws. The farmers say that they are not lookng for the sand plant to close, they just hope their concerns will be addressed. At SIL it is currently business as usual while examining the problem.