To the Editor,
It is time Nanaimo and its council move into the big league.
Incinerator technology has substantially improved since the days I was responsible for the administration of the discharge from the Burnaby incinerator. The technology employed then was state-of-the-art and the permit to discharge contained clauses requiring the regional district to upgrade.
What Nanaimo needs to do here is accept an offer from Metro Vancouver and proponents to build a facility with the following provisions:
That the operators employ best available technology, and that a review and report on the technology be conducted every three years to assess impacts.
That a long-term contract be signed with provisions to shut down the facility if monitoring indicates environmental criteria is not being met.
That Metro Vancouver and proponents pay off the entire present-day debt of the City of Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo, and that an annual operational fee be charged to cover and exceed all the operational costs.
This would translate into a substantial tax reduction for all of us and establish a sound financial position for years to come.
If Metro Vancouver and proponents will not agree to these requirements, simply tell them to go away.
Al Spidelvia e-mail