News TRAPS SLUDGE TheReview Wednesday, March 21,1990 — A2 SSS SSS ue seecssnescaaneacensmmmemeece . e Continued from Page Al cannot be pulled apart without the use of a spreading tool.” Apparently the traps were intended to kill raccoons by a hobby farmer who pen-raises pheasants. Tuddenham said the man’s pheasant pen was not secure, allowing raccoons to enter and kill. “Rather than fix his pen this man set traps in the bush near Hagan Creek on Crow’s property,” Tuddenham said. The traps were set on the pre- school’s 10-acre private property without the owner’s knowledge or consent, she said. A wooded area where one trap was found was frequently used for supervised walks with some of the 40 pre-school children, pre-school operator Dana Crow said. Crow has joined others in peti- tioning Central Saanich to amend its animal bylaw 745, adopted in June 1984, to prohibit the use of conibear traps. Currently, only leg- hold and snare traps are banned, Tuddenham said. Crow’s grandmother lost two house cats from the Haldon Road property — a big white Persian named Tuffy and Patches, a 15- year-old calico, March 4. “Grandma was calling at all hours of the night,” Crow said. ‘I can’t believe the nerve of some- one.’ Tuffy and Patches have never been found. So far, parents of children have been understanding but Crow feels urgent action to stop the placing of traps is needed. “I still allow them outside but we certainly don’t go for walks in the woods anymore,” Crow said. The Society for the. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the police department have inspected the property to ensure no other conibear traps are in the area. SPCA executive director Lynn West said: “I find it difficult to understand why a person would use conibear traps for raccoons. “If you’re having a problem with raccoons you can trap them in a humane way.” She said Central Saanich is changing and is getting more resi- dential areas with families that have children and pets. West said the SPCA would sup- port a petition to council asking that the bylaw be amended to make use of the traps illegal. A similar trap placed on a nearby Christmas tree farm also killed a cat, Tuddenham said. Tuddenham said she’s written to Central Saanich Mayor Ron Cullis about the problem and wants the district’s animal bylaw amended to define killing trap and snare. “We also want a section to allow for the confiscation of traps from people who are using them ille- gally.” Central Saanich Ald. Gary Vali- quette, the community services and legislation committee chair- man, said he expects the complai- nants to write to council so action can be taken by amending the bylaw. Tuddenham said the man responsible for placing the traps was charged by Central Saanich police for trapping without a licence and trapping illegally on private properly without permis- sion. Police were unavailable for comment. “J don’t have to tell an animal lover what il means to Jose an animal member of the family, especially when it’s the victim of some senseless human act,” Tud- denham said. ~ Continued from Page Al CRD senior environmental engineer Tom Lidkea recom- mended North Saanich add a $150,000 de-watering press to the Bazan Bay plant. The press would change the sludge composition from one per cent solid to 10 per cent solid, making it cheaper to transport and more suitable for farmland application. FULL-GROWN MALE raccoon Lidkea estimated the equipment and installation would cost $352,000, but said the municipal- ity could anticipate SO per cent cost-sharing from the Ministry of Municipal A ffairs. Woodwynn Farm in Central Saanich has agreed to work with the regional district in a pilot project on farmland application, adding the sludge to 200 acres that was caught in @ Conibear trap by ifs leg. The coon was shot with a .410 shotgun as if was running loose with the Lake in January 1988. “a 2 ¥ trap Gragging, near Prospect SPCA photo Br I a “Luxury living in a natural setting” a unique blend of 75 adult orientated carnage homes nestled throughout 75 acres of manicured and prestine parkland. OPEN DAILY 10-5 1255 Wain Road, Over 75* Sold é Choice Locations: Now Selling 2 in our used for forage crops. “1 think the sludge is a product that, once it’s proven, will be something quite valuable,” said Woodwynn Farm co-owner and operator Jim Sandwith. However he said public accep- tance of the idea must be pro- moted, leading North Saanich council to ask the regional district to take on a public education campaign. : During the two-year pilot pro- ject, the remaining sludge would have to be dumped in a landfill, Lidkea said. : “Landfilling is just not accepta- ble to me,” Michaluk objected. “Dumping it in the ground is no different than dumping it in the ocean.” Lidkea said the pilot period is necessary to determine how best to handle the sludge. Because the Sludge would not go through a compost and therefore be sterile, Lidkea said restrictions are placed on farmland use and on access to the sludge treated fields. Ideally the sludge would be de-watered to 20 per cent solid and go through a compost using a Static aerated pile method, produc- ing a biologically safe material Over two months. But the composting equipment is expensive and the equipment to de-water to 20 per cent costs $500,000 to $600,000, Lidkea Said. Eventually all three Peninsula municipalities might want to de- water the sludge to 10 per cent in the local treatment plant, then move the sludge to a jointly owned plant to de-water to 20 per cent solid, he said. Lidkea noted the farm land application of sludge is used by Tacoma and Seattle uses sludge in tree farming. The farm land appli- cation is the best for the Peninsula, since it reduces transportation costs, Lidkea said. Michaluk suggested the study on adapting the Bazan Bay plant to s handle septic tank pump-out. At present pump-out effluent is dumped out Victoria’s outfall into the ocean, Michaluk noted. ~ We can’t resolve one sewage effluent problem and have another group continuing to dump into the ocean,” she said. She also predicted North Saa- nich may be asked to share the cost of upgrading the Victoria system if the municipality does not handle its own septic tank waste. The septic tank study would be done before the final decision on Bazan Bay upgrading is made at the end of May, said Seamus McDonnell, regional district engi- neering service division manager. The regional district is presenting the sludge treatment options to all three Peninsula municipalities, he said. Council approved Lidkea’s recommendations in principle. OVERSEAS JOBS High demand in Australia, U:K., France & 18 different countries. Need persons willing to work overseas on contracts. All trades. Supervisory positions also available. Call Smart International Incor- porated 1-719-687-6084 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System A one-half day seminar on WHMIS will be : given in Victoria for manufacturers, suppliers and importers of controlled products. The semunar, sponsored by the Workers’ Compensation Board, will discuss Federal Legislation — the Hazardous Product Act and Controlled Product Regulations, classification of Controlled Products, label and Material Safety Data Sheet Preparation and employer needs under the WHMIS system. SEMINAR TIME: Hotel Grand Pacific 450 Quebec Street Victoria OS&H Division April 12, 1990 8:30 a.m. —12:00 noon Registration fee is $40.00 per person TO REGISTER, PLEASE PHONE: WCB Education and Training Section : 276-3099 (toll free in B.C. 1-800-972-9972) WHMIS...THE WORD IS SPREADING. WORKERS COMPENSATION BOARD cotimeis