Regional district seeks legal advice into Site C camp dismantling

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Regional directors voiced their surprise and frustration at the possible demolition of the large workers’ camp at BC Hydro’s Site C hydroelectric dam, and have resolved to seek legal advice and answers.

During the March 20th regional board meeting of the Peace River Regional District, the directors reviewed a report about the possible demolition of the workers’ camp at BC Hydro’s Site C hydroelectric dam project in Fort St. John. 

According to the report, the PRRD received an inquiry about the “sorting requirements and capacity at the North Peace Regional Landfill” from a BC Hydro subcontractor now responsible for demolition planning. 

In a statement from BC Hydro, community relations manager for Site C Bob Gammer stated while the utility has seen a high level of interest in the camp, it is still available to be reused by other organizations once BC Hydro has no more need for it. 

In the meeting, Bradley Sperling, director for Electoral Area C, explained when he saw the report it caught him “totally off guard.”

“I’ve been involved with this right from day one…Never once have [BC Hydro] ever, ever said that this would be coming to our landfill or getting demolished,” Sperling said.  

Sperling reiterated that since “day one” of communication with BC Hydro about the Site C hydroelectric dam project, the PRRD has requested first right of refusal on any parts of the dismantled camp.

“We don’t need 1,700 beds, but [BC Hydro] are very well aware that virtually everything [at the camp] could be repurposed or reused if possible,” Sperling said. 

The director stated BC Hydro had consistently stated the structures belong to ATCO, an engineering, logistics and energy company. However, the camp could now be demolished by a subcontractor of the utility, and could end up in a landfill in the Peace River region. 

Gammer told Energeticcity.ca BC Hydro has been “proactively reaching out to all local governments, non-profit agencies, Indigenous Nations, government agencies and the private sector” since 2023 to gauge interest in the camp as a whole and in pieces. 

“We wanted to ensure others were aware of the opportunity to assess whether the camp could potentially be repurposed instead of having to properly dispose of it,” Grammer said.

Citing the PRRD’s Community Measures Agreement, Sperling raised questions about whether demolishing the camp violates the first request to BC Hydro in that document, which seeks financial compensation for “costs incurred to manage Site C solid waste.”

The demolition of the camp into the landfill would force the PRRD to drastically shorten the timeline for constructing a new landfill site. 

The 1,700-bed camp consists of 21 three-story dorm units, 39 three-story corridors, 131 kitchen, dining and recreation units, 24 modular offices, a fitness building, a gymnasium and a theatre. 

This amount of infrastructure would take up a large amount of space in a landfill, resulting in the need for a new landfill in the district far sooner than budgeted for. 

“This could cost us millions and millions of dollars,” Sperling said. 

Gammer confirmed BC Hydro had signed a solid waste agreement with the PRRD in 2024 for the “value of the airspace consumed by the project over the entire construction period,” as well as paying tipping fees established by the district. 

According to Gammer, this agreement is separate from the Community Measures Agreement the directors discussed. 

Dan Rose, director for Electoral Area E, called the news “disappointing.”

Tony Zabinsky, city councillor and director for Fort St. John, echoed the sentiments of the electoral area directors and emphasized the landfill would not be able to handle the waste generated by the demolition of the camp. 

He also explained the City of Fort St. John council had considered acquiring some of the ATCO trailers at the camp to put near the Fort St. John Hospital and be used as a Ronald McDonald House.

Ronald McDonald Houses offer families with sick individuals a place to stay near medical facilities, reducing the stress of traveling to access medical care. 

However ATCO stated the city would be required to cover the costs of moving the facilities and would need to have a plan in place with the company before April, which was not realistic for the city. 

“I’m not for [the demolition of the camp], I don’t think we need it to go to any of our landfills, [taking] up our space,” Zabinsky said.

He alleged: “What they’re going to pay us for [the waste] is nominal at this point, I think worst case scenario they need to truck it out of our whole region.”

Lilia Hansen, mayor and director for Fort St. John, agreed with Zabinsky and stated if given more time Fort St. John or the PRRD could have taken the opportunity to acquire parts of the camp. 

“[Right of first refusal] was one of the first things we ever asked for,” Sperling said.

“There’s a sewer system down there that is self contained, there is a water system down there, doesn’t matter what, it could be the kitchen stool for all I care but that was never offered.

“We weren’t looking for free, we just asked for [the] first right of refusal… they want to crush it and bring it to us and I recommend we just say no.”

Gammer stated BC Hydro had received interest from “some organizations” in acquiring parts of the camp, such as interior furnishings and reusable equipment, and were “developing a process” to support such interest with more details to be announced “in the future.”

The directors agreed to seek legal counsel about what actions the PRRD can take surrounding the disposal of the camp.

The board also voted to invite BC Hydro before the board as a delegation to discuss the exact financial compensation BC Hydro would be required to pay the district for the use of the landfill and alternatives to demolition, such as donating the structures to First Nations in the region.

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