With mounting reports of environmental eyesores and illegal dumping in and around Yellowknife, the territory's natural resource oversight body is reminding residents to get rid of their waste the right way.
“Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) encourages people to follow all laws and regulations that exist for proper disposal of waste …,” stated department spokesperson Dawn Curtis in an email Tuesday.
On a recent trip through Great Slave Lake, Yellowknifer came across a burned-out pick-up truck near the Wool Bay Fish Plant. Confined to its snowy grave in an area between Ruth Island and Post Island, the dilapidated and ash-covered vehicle appeared to have been in the area for quite some time.
The ENR hasn't received a report about the car in question, but said it's up to vehicle owners – and not the GNWT branch – to remove the junk.
“Responsibility for removal of a vehicle and any related environmental clean-up is the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle. If the owner does not remove it and clean up the area, or cannot be located or determined, then ENR may take action under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and attempt to get restoration costs through the courts,” stated Curtis.
Residents who neglect to haul their vehicles away could face “fines or formal charges” under the legislation, she added.
Despite putting the ball back in vehicle owners' courts, ENR admits the presence of abandoned automobiles pose an environmental threat.
“The vehicle could contain fluids such as fuel, oil or antifreeze that would be considered contaminants …,” stated Curtis.
“When an abandoned vehicle is reported, Renewable Resource Officers investigate to determine if there are contaminants present. They also attempt to locate the owner of the vehicle,” she added.
During the same trip, Yellowknifer discovered two large piles of rotting fish meat on the lake just south of Post Island.
The area was well-developed, with fishing nets and dead burbot fish present at the site. The burbot is a freshwater fish commonly regarded as a undesirable. As a result, the unwanted species is often discarded.
In an email to Yellowknifer, Fisheries and Oceans Canada said it hasn't received complaints about “fish wastage” in the Post Island area, but that an investigation into the reported piles has been launched.
Under fishing laws, it's illegal for sport fishers, licensed domestic net fishers and Indigenous anglers to “waste any fish that is suitable for human consumption.”
Violations could result in a hefty fine of up to $500,000.
The pair of discoveries come on the heels of calls from community members to address the issue of illegal dumping in the Yellowknife area.
After stumbling upon the remains of a caribou carcass at a site just kilometres from the Yellowknife sandpits, a woman expressed her concern to media. She said the spot has long been a haven for illegal dumpers looking to pass off their unwanted junk and waste.
Asked whether or not the recent reports point to a problem with illegitimate dumping in the city and its surrounding area, stated Curtis, “improper disposal of waste is an issue across the NWT.”
Through its website, ENR offers tips on the proper disposal of waste and the department works with “local governments to ensure waste is disposed of in the appropriate manner,” stated Curtis.