Motion before council seeks greater transparency on industrial spills

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“This is just about accountability and transparency,” he said, adding that this is not a criticism of EPCOR, the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) or city employees but rather a way to alert the public earlier.

The motion also asks that administration review the fine structure in place for “polluting spills and leaks affecting land and waterways within Regina.”

Stevens said right now the fines are a drop in the bucket for large scale industrial operations. Throughout the process of reclaiming and cleaning up the past two spills that originated at the CRC, the City of Regina has said that it will seek to be reimbursed by the refinery.

Another spill occurred on June 28, when vanadium, a heavy metal, was detected in water sample tests at the WTP.

That’s why part of the motion asks provincial and federal ministries and regulators to publish and name the offending company and the amount they were fined.

“Several councillors are deeply concerned about our water systems,” said Stevens.

alsalloum@postmedia.com