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Published on: 8/23/2005
Last Visited: 8/23/2005
It wasn't okay three years ago, and it's not okay now, says Dave Bartram, Regional District of Nanaimo director for Area H, about a proposed pest management plan by E&N Railway Company"I said 'why are they trying to do this again?'" says Bartram of his reaction to seeing a legal notice in last week's The News about a proposed plan to spray herbicides along its rail lines and along Lighthouse Country's drinking water intakes
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"The issue for us in Area H is our drinking water supply and the vulnerability [of it]," says BartramMost of the drinking water comes from wells, either from individual land owners or through the Deep Bay, Bowser and Qualicum Bay water districts.They're unconfined aquifers, he explains, which means there isn't much protection for their water's safety"They're fed by rain and there's no impervious layer," says Bartram - meaning that whatever the water picks up on its way through, will come through people's taps as well
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Bartram, also sent a letter to his constituents warning them of the proposalHe says he has had a lot of response from people in the area"I sure have, I have e-mails, letters â about 20 or 30 people who have sent letters to E&N already," says BartramThere should be more concerned he adds, as the proposed area on which to use the chemicals runs from Victoria to Courtenay, and Parksville to Port Alberni