West Kootenay EcoSociety, along with Wildsight and Jumbo Creek Conservation Society, are planning a rally at the Jumbo Wild monitoring camp on Saturday at 8 a.m. Mountain Time.
The ecosociety is also demanding that the Minister of Environment intervene in the controversial Jumbo Resort Project. The group claims that the resort developer is out of compliance with several parts of its 2004 environmental approval. Meanwhile, construction may begin in earnest on Saturday as rumours swirl about concrete trucks headed for the Jumbo Valley.
Volunteers at the Jumbo Wild Monitoring Camp have observed road work this week, which may be preparation for concrete trucks.
“This is a critical time for this 24-year campaign,” said David Reid, executive director of the society. “The environmental certificate expires in 11 days, and it is clear that the developer has not met the conditions of the environmental certificate. That’s why we’re asking the minister to exercise her powers to halt work until the Glacier Resorts lives up to its commitments to the people of BC.”
At issue are the 195 commitments that make up the environmental certificate awarded in 2004. Certain provisions are required to be completed before construction, which must “substantially commence” before October 12 of this year. If construction doesn’t begin, according to Reid, Glacier Resorts Limited would have to complete a costly new environmental assessment.
The society has sent a letter to Mary Polak, Minister of Environment pointing out areas where they feel Glacier Resorts Limited has not complied with its commitments. According to the group, the environmental assessment office has approved the developer’s plan to use data from the 1990s to meet requirements for pre-construction monitoring of streams and grizzly bears.