Westar Landfill given another extension on environmental order

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on May 21, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The owners of a landfill which caught fire near Medicine Hat eight years ago will have another year to appeal with an environmental protection order.

The Westar Landfill burned for six weeks in late 2013, near the junction of Highways 41 and 41A, east of the city, eventually costing Cypress County about $2 million to call in specialized fire-fighting crews.

No charges were laid by the Alberta Environment and Parks ministry, but an engineering and remediation plan was issued.

Ministry officials told the News in late 2021, when the latest extension to the order came due, that the private facility’s owners were working toward resolution and talks were ongoing.

The province’s environmental appeals board website now lists January 2023 as the next deadline for the parties to provide an update.