Editor, The News:
Re: Plans to develop Albion flats off soon to agricultural land commission (The News, Oct. 4).
The article prepared by Phil Melnychuk was very informative.
It was reassuring to know that the chromium, which was found through a detailed soil analysis of the property on the north east side of 105th Avenue in Maple Ridge, was not worth worrying about.
I’m sure that the property owners feel much better about this now.
Before reading this article, there was concern that the expert advice, which had been sought in order to remediate the land and resolve the problem of chromium on the property, would be extensive, costly and possibly unachievable, and would saddle the property with the stigma of unhealthiness for many years to come.
It is wonderful that the District of Maple Ridge, on the advice of the Agricultural Land Commission, has determined that the issue isn’t worth talking about, that they should just “forget about it.” This comment comes even though toxicology reports indicate that the Chromium found on the property was above allowable agricultural levels.
Could this land be used to develop an organic farm on?
Could you raise sheep on this land?
Would you feed strawberries grown in soil with known carcinogens above allowable agricultural levels to your family?
I wouldn’t.
Sherry Gordon
Maple Ridge