Title
Biosolids Literature Review - Update
Recommendation
[At the April 17, 2024 Environmental Services Committee, the staff recommendation was not moved. Instead, an alternative committee member motion (#1) was moved followed by a motion arising (#2) and carried as follows:
The Environmental Services Committee recommends to the Capital Regional District Board:
1. Direct staff to continue the process of identifying suitable academic researchers to undertake an independent biosolids literature review, and report back to the Environmental Services Committee.
2. That staff be directed to proceed with an independent unbiased legal review of the risks associated with the land application of biosolids.
At the May 8, 2024 CRD Board meeting, the committee recommendation was amended by adding to the end of part 2 the words “and the risks associated if noncompliant with the provincial regulatory framework for biosolids” as follows:
1. Direct staff to continue the process of identifying suitable academic researchers to undertake an independent biosolids literature review, and report back to the Environmental Services Committee.
2. That staff be directed to proceed with an independent unbiased legal review of the risks associated with the land application of biosolids and the risks associated if noncompliant with the provincial regulatory framework for biosolids.
Prior to voting on the amendment, the following motion to refer back to committee was carried:
That recommendations 1 and 2 and the amendment be referred to the Environmental Services Committee.
Attached as SUPPLEMENTAL to this report is a historical timeline of the Committee’s recommendations and Board resolutions on the biosolids literature and legal review. Previous Staff Reports have been attached as Supplemental Appendix A (March 13, 2024) and Supplemental Appendix B (October 13, 2023)
At the May 15, 2024 Environmental Services Committee meeting, the committee discussed the Board's referral motion, amended it further, and passed the following recommendation unanimously:]
The Environmental Services Committee recommends to the Capital Regional District Board:
1. Direct staff to continue the process of identifying suitable academic researchers to undertake an independent biosolids literature review, and report back to the Environmental Services Committee.
2. That staff be directed to report back to the Environmental Services committee prior to proceeding with an independent unbiased legal review of:
a) the risks associated with the land application of biosolids that is compliant with the provincial regulatory framework; and
b) the risks associated if noncompliant with the provincial regulatory framework for biosolids.
(NWA)