An Edmonton-based financial services firm is facing a government order to remove a blockage in a Sturgeon County waterway after causing flooding on upstream land.
The Government of Alberta issued a water management order against Transwest Financial Services Corporation on Monday, ordering the company to remove the obstruction from the waterway.
“We do have a range of options available to enforce the legislation, including the Water Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act,” said Carrie Sancartier, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) spokesperson.
“It is one of the tools we use to try to get the company into quick compliance with the legislation,” she said.
Legislation states that a water management order can be issued to the owner of land if “on that land, in the opinion of the inspector or director, a flood occurred, occurs or may occur.”
“[The order] does say that flooding on the complainant’s upstream land has been a concern for a number of years,” Sancartier said, adding she is unsure as to the extent of damages to surrounding land.
Alberta Environment and SRD received a complaint on Sept. 11, 2011 notifying them of the blockage on the property bordered by Highway 44 and Highway 37.
Government officials conducted an initial inspection on Oct. 14 and determined a build-up of fill material and rocks was the cause of the blockage.
Several requests were made to Transwest to have the obstruction cleared, but officials say the company failed to comply over the following eight months.
Sancartier said when a follow-up inspection was conducted on Nov. 1, the rocks and fill material were still obstructing the waterway.
“We’re working on getting that resolved,” said Transwest president Wayne Wald.
He said the company has owned the land for about one year, but declined further comment on the order.
“There’s a number of issues here that I’m not at liberty to discuss,” he said.
A follow-up email from Wald stated the company officially had no comment on the order.
The water management order gives Transwest until June 8 to remove the blockage and restore the watercourse and surrounding land to pre-disturbance conditions. If the company fails to comply, it could face a range of punishment, including possible prosecution.
Sancartier said she expects the company to comply with the order.
