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A North American environmental commission is reviewing allegations the federal government has failed to enforce the law in relation to a sewage treatment plant in Richmond.
In April a coalition of environmental groups jointly submitted a complaint to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation about the Metro Vancouver-operated facility located at the mouth of the Fraser River.
The groups allege that sewage released from the Iona primary-treatment plant into the Strait of Georgia is potentially toxic to fish and could cause them to suffocate.
They also allege the discharge violates the Fisheries Act but the federal government has not adequately enforced the law.
The groups behind the complaint include the Georgia Strait Alliance, the David Suzuki Foundation, several Riverkeeper groups from across Canada, and the U.S.-based Waterkeeper Alliance.
They say the complaint was submitted following a failed attempt to launch criminal proceedings against the Iona plant.
After considering the complaint, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation today (December 16) determined it will ask the Government of Canada to submit a formal response within 30 days.
Opened in 1963, the Iona plant is one of five sewage treatment facilities operated by Metro Vancouver.
It serves more than half a million people in Richmond, Burnaby, Vancouver, and the University Endowment Lands, according to Metro Vancouver.
A Metro Vancouver spokesperson said there is a comprehensive environmental monitoring and assessment program in place at the Iona plant.
“We are seeing…outside the discharge zone from the Iona waste water treatment plant a very stable environment,” Albert van Roodselaar told the Straight by phone.
“We are not seeing any significant, negative environmental impacts,” he said.
Requests for comment from Environment Canada were not immediately returned today.
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation was established in 1994 under a side agreement of NAFTA.
Under the agreement, the commission’s secretariat can consider complaints from citizens or non-governmental organizations about failures to enforce environmental law.
After reviewing such matters, the commission’s secretariat can produce factual reports available to the public.