MARIJUANA GROW-OPS CAN LEAVE TOXIC REMAINS

While the RCMP's Cariboo Region Integrated Marijuana Enforcement task
force (CRIME) may be adept at taking down marijuana grow operations,
it has uncovered an ugly environmental side to the operations that,
for now, seems to be without a solution.

According to Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson, after a grow operation is
taken down the RCMP are left to deal with the collection,
transportation and storage of the operation's equipment as well as the
"toxic remains" for which they neither have a budget nor the skills to
handle.

Const. Mike McLaughlin, media relations officer with CRIME, agrees.

"When it comes to clean-up costs for any type of environmental
degradation the RCMP is not the lead agency," McLaughlin says. "It's
one of those things where we're certainly involved when we're dealing
with crime and criminals. These things come up but it does get tricky
for us because we're not trained in dealing with environmental
degradation, pollution, etc."

At grow-ops, Simpson says, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, diesel
fuel and other toxins can be left behind; these pose an environmental
threat to soil, ground water and surface water. McLaughlin could not
offer any specifics on what type of chemicals are causing the concern.

In areas where grow-ops have been found, ranchers alerted officials to
their concerns.

Simpson says he wants to put pressure on the provincial, regional and
federal governments to ensure there is appropriate follow through on
grow operations including the removal of equipment like generators or
jerry cans and site reclamation.

He described a situation at a recently uncovered grow-op where at -21
C there was a puddle of liquid in the yard that wasn't frozen.

"So that tells you it's a bit of a toxic soup; it's not water," he
says.

There currently is no agency assigned or funded to perform
environmental clean up at grow-op sites. "The problem is that we don't
have a clear line agency authority or responsibility to do that
(cleanup) work. It falls between jurisdictional gaps," Simpson says.

The regional government doesn't have the legislative authority, he
says, adding neither does the Ministry of Environment nor do
conservation officers.

Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says she has recently been made
aware of the issue and will speak to the Ministry of Environment.

"It's a big concern," Barnett says. "It's a very serious issue and I'm
glad the RCMP have brought the issue forward and I certainly will be
speaking to the ministry."

The RCMP is attempting to work with the provincial government on the
issue, McLaughlin says, adding there should be a public announcement
from the task force on this and other issues sometime in March.