BATC Given $3.4 Million To Solve Landfill Problems

BATC Given $3.4 Million To Solve Landfill Problems

Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 15:04

 

 

The Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs want to clean up the environment on their reserves.

 

The BATC member First Nations say their landfills have filled up fast, due to free dumping of waste.

 

As a result, they fear their drinking water may be affected.

 

They applied for money from Indian Affairs to solve that problem, and have now received $3.4 million in federal funding.

 

The money will be provided over three years.

 

Transfer stations will be built on the Sweetgrass, Moosomin, Saulteaux, and Red Pheasant reserves.

 

The band hope to reach an agreement with North Battleford to move the waste to the regional landfill there.

 

The money will also be used to help cover the cost of decommissioning existing landfills, with reserves covering half of that cost.

 

BATC Chiefs Representative Sheldon Wuttunee says the landfills are a major health concern.

 

The project is expected to begin this spring, possibly April 1st.