Re: “Hazardous waste collection needed prior to the fire season,” May 30
While we do not disagree that hazardous waste pick up is incredibly important in potential mitigation and protection of homes and businesses coming into what looks like another record fire season, here are a few items of note with respect to the current pick up site in Salmo.
Hazardous waste pick up is scheduled in Salmo later this month by the RDCK, to be conducted in a parking lot of what is currently zoned as parks and recreation land in the Village of Salmo. This land hosts Salmo’s Curling Club, Lion’s Baseball Park, and Lion’s outdoor skating rink, where people of all ages, in all seasons, take advantage of recreational opportunities.
This land is in the middle of a residential area of Salmo, where trucks carrying the hazardous waste will be driving past our elementary school and numerous residences.
As Salmo’s drinking water is collected from two wells in the village, we also need to most importantly point out that one of the wells is also located in the same parking area. It seems incredulous that hazardous waste pick up be conducted over an area that our drinking water comes from, especially as Salmo has a high water table. With a simple accidental hazardous waste spill in this unpaved parking lot, how easily could it potentially seep into our water source and contaminate our water?
This collection of hazardous waste is a necessity, but surely a far more suitable area, whether it be near Salmo, or closer to Nelson, would make a lot more sense.
Amy Windson
Garth and Sonja Forsyth
Lane and Stephanie Syme
Brian and Rose Cox
Marion Gora and Monty Wilcox
Salmo