UNB Woodlot - Destruction of Regent Street Bog

IS OUR GOVERNMENT PROTECTING NB's WATERSHEDS?

The Facts & Video Speak for Themselves.

The Regent Street Bog is part of the critical watershed and catchment area that makes the UNB Woodlot so important to Fredericton. Not only does this watershed contribute to our aquifer - the sole drinking water supply for the City of Fredericton - , but this giant sponge for severe rain events is our insurance policy against climate change.

There have been documented 4 incidents since 2004, by RAR Properties Inc., of filling in a portion of wetlands of the Regent Street Bog, on their property at 584 Bishop Drive.

WETLAND AREA DESTROYED TO DATE -- approx. two (2) football fields

July 23, 2008 -- CBC Television (New Brunswick at 6) reporter Jennifer Choi, reports that Al Lacey, co-owner of RAR Properties, answered that he has reached a compromise with the Department of Environment. Mr. Lacey reported that he can develop four-and-a-half (4.5) acres as long as he leaves two (2) acres untouched. Reporter Ms. Choi said that "the Government would not confirm this information. In fact, they won't comment how they went from denying the request to an agreement."

July 23, 2008 -- CBC Radio reports that Al Lacey, co-owner of RAR Properties, answered that the wetland was not there when he first purchased the property.

July 14, 2008 - Paul Vanderlaan (Director, Project Assessment and Approvals, NB Dept of Environment) spoke with Mark D'Arcy and said that a Ministerial Order had been issued in order to rectify this recent infill of the wetland. Mr. Vanderlaan noted that this is an enforcement action and the details of the order are not made available to the public. When Mark D'Arcy asked how the public will know if the property owner has taken the appropriate measures to remedy the damage, Mr. Vanderlaan replied that this will be decided by the enforcement officer at the Department of the Environment (Contact: Mr. Ray Mather, Manager, Enforcement Services, Dept. of the Environment).

July 1st long weekend, 2008 - RAR Properties starts to bulldoze infill material into Regent Street Bog

March 20, 2008 -- Communications NB announces RAR Properties Inc. fined $1, 000 in Fredericton Provincial Court for violation of the Clean Water Act.

June 27, 2006 - Dept. of Environment inspectors found a bulldozer and excavator, working on RAR Properites Inc. property on Bishop Drive, damaging wetlands in the Regent Street bog with loads of fill material.

February 22, 2006 -- Wellfield Protection Area designated for Fredericton aquifer but the protection area covering southside Fredericton ends just before Bishop Drive.

2005 -- DOE inspectors issue a Cease and Desist Order to RAR Properties Inc. when they discovered loads of fill material had been deposited in the Regent Street bog on their property on Bishop Drive.

April 26, 2004 - Public presentation to Fredericton City Council "to protect this vulnerable portion of a wetland that contributes to groundwater recharge, base flow for four Fredericton watercourses, as well as provides important wildlife habitat."

April 2, 2004 -- DOE issues Stop Work Order to RAR Properties Inc.

March 11, 2004 -- Order in Council issued that denies an application for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) under the Clean Environment Act. Essentially, the Minister of Environment refuses to evaluate the proposal. "ORDERS IN COUNCIL, March 11, 2004, 2004-66. Under section 18 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation under the Clean Environment Act, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council accepts the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment and Local Government that approval should not be given for an undertaking to place fill within a vacant property located in Fredericton, New Brunswick property number 755331371, owned by RAR Properties Inc." This order in council is issued by "Herménégilde Chiasson, Lieutenant-Governor".

November 1, 2001 - Watershed Protection Program introduced for 39 watersheds but does not include Fredericton's in the UNB Woodlot.

NOTE: COURTS CAN GIVE OUT THE FOLLOWING FINES

Violation of Clean Environment Act -- $1000 up to $1, 000, 000 fine.

Violation of Clean Water Act -- $1000 up to $1, 000, 000 fine


Together with the removal of beavers from the wetlands, the UNB Woodlot wetlands are being significantly compromised. Note that regular woodlot users saw all beaver activity stopped around Corbett Brook Marsh after Christmas 2006.

UNB Fredericton -- Beaver Trapping & Killing (Global TV)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hjpZsvAWv2U

CONTACT:

Mark D'Arcy and Caroline Lubbe-D'Arcy
Fredericton, New Brunswick
506-454-5119 (home)
markandcaroline@gmail.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• UNB
• woodlot
• development
• beaver
• wetland
• University
• New
• Brunswick
• Fredericton
• watershed
• regent
• street
• bog
• RAR
• Properties
• Inc.
• Mark
• D'Arcy
• darcy
• aquifer

[BCD345]

Environment NB has 30 days to give you the documents that pertain to this development. They go back to at least 2003 so ask for the whole history of this parcel beside the Regent Street Bog. You don't need to specify documents, just all material related to this property, including e-mail, documents, letters, meeting minutes, etc.

SPEAK UP! ENV NB issued a Ministerial Order against the developer, but new infill is being spread everyday.

Mark D'Arcy, Fredericton,NB, CANADA

Tel: 506-454-5119

[TheLead1000]

Uh there are lots of bogs in New Brunswick that you can visit. Or are you only interested in the ones that you can see from a major road? Do you have a house? There was likely once forest on that location. Should you move and replace the property with forest? No? Then you're a hypocrite.

[trekat71]

dont worry guys costco and everything will be up around there soon... Its sad but its all about the Money and New Jobs these places will create... Espically at these hard times

[calamagrostis88]

Thanks for these it has inspired me to go out and get a video camera.  This is such a good way to document environmental crimes to show to government officals and activists. I live in California and we have the same problem with UC Santa Cruz and many other big developers.

[cdnit]

Protest UNB and don't go there for any education, they have sold their souls. Shame on them, bastards.

[huet2007]

Who cares.. All you people will be eating at these places and buying clothes ETC.. You have too much time on your hands, Listening to you talk is like sitting threw a grade 10 History class

[gosbinni]

I think we all need to be talking about this more and contacting our leaders to address this lack of protocol regarding environmental assessements. We need to let them know that the people of Fredericton are not content to allow this to continue in this day and age where we should be clammering to save our natural resources.

[nange41]

RAR and friends are hoping no one is paying attention. Thank you Mark for taking the time to make us aware of these issues. Hopefully others will be inspired to take action as well!

[NBrealitycheck]

how was this approved?

2 ha LEGISLATED REQUIREMENT FOR EIA CONSULTATION IGNORED?

approved through what process then?

who directed this approval?

Does the infilling of provincially significant wetlands for private gain meet the rules in the NB Wetland Conservation policy?

Why Can Al Lacey and co. do this when other people are denied?

How do I conduct an RTI with the Government to find this information?

If I ask for this information will ENV give it to me?

What the hell is going on here?

[Membleton77]

It's horrible what there doing.

I cant stand it, I wish I could do something.