Blackwell Dairy farm in Kamloops is seen in this undated image from Google Street View.
Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW
November 27, 2024 - 7:00 AM
A Kamloops dairy farm was fined $15,000 this month by BC's environment ministry.
It's the farm's third environmental fine in 12 years and the second stemming from a privately run landfill on its property.
The landfill at the Blackwell farm has been in operation for more than 20 years and the province has a small list of things allowed to be dumped. It's generally restricted to wood waste and concrete, but a Compliance and Environmental Enforcement Branch inspector found tires, barrels and chairs on Nov. 20, 2023.
E.J. Blackwell Holdings Ltd. argued not only that the fine was too steep but that the past fines were unrelated history and shouldn't affect the new fine.
The farm, which includes separate companies for Blackwell Dairy and Blackwell Holsteins, also argued the inspector failed to account for the 40 acres of the property that's been improved since the landfill first got its permit, according to the Nov. 12 report.
The ministry's enforcement director found the past fines were relevant, especially since their intent is to deter future environmental risks.
The most recent fine in 2020 was for a total $6,000, related to dumping of waste from a vacuum truck on the property. It wasn't directly connected to the landfill and what was inside the truck isn't clear.
The older fine was directly related to the landfill and came with a 2012 conviction in provincial court, according to the report. Blackwell ordered to pay $10,000 for dumping construction waste in its own landfill, including PVC piping and wiring.
In pleading for a fine reduction, Blackwell also said people have trespassed to dump their own waste into the landfill over the years, and the farm routinely attempts to stop them or investigate who the trespassers are. It wasn't made clear whether the 2023 violation stemmed from the property owner or a trespasser.
Blackwell said it's had financial hardship in recent years including some business-related issues since COVID and ongoing litigation with an insurance company after a 2017 fire caused $3 million in damage, the report said.
The ministry did reduce the initial $17,000 fine to $15,000 after reconsidering whether the farm saw a financial benefit out of avoiding city landfill fees.
The province gave Blackwell a month to pay the fine or file an appeal.
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