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The County of Stettler council will send a letter to a major rail line after voicing concerns about stacks of creosote-soaked ties lying near a hamlet. The resolution to send the letter was passed at the Oct. 9 regular meeting of council.
Under the “council’s request for information” part of the agenda a topic titled “Nevis rail yard (Coun. Nibourg)” was listed. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Yvette Cassidy began the discussion by observing that Coun. James Nibourg was absent from the current council meeting; however, she noted she was familiar with his interest in raising this issue.
Cassidy related that it seems Nibourg wanted to raise the issue of CP Rail railway ties stacked in a pile across Hwy. 12 from the Hamlet of Nevis, which is located about 15 minutes west of the Town of Stettler.
She stated that the ties are stacked on the CP Rail right-of-way (ROW).
Cassidy stated that Coun. Nibourg voiced concern about the ties, which are used in rail line construction, leaking creosote into the ground. Readers should note creosote is a wood preservative derived from wood or coal tar and is highly flammable.
As environmental concerns were apparently paramount for Coun. Nibourg, Cassidy noted the councillor suggested sending an official letter to CP Rail requesting the company move the ties.
Reeve Larry Clarke noted he’d heard concerns about the ties leaching substances into the ground but also observed a possible fire hazard.
Clarke asked if the ties pose a fire hazard and if they did in fact catch fire, is the smoke dangerous?
Clarke observed ties soaked with creosote that burn could create smoke that’s, “…pretty dangerous.”
The reeve noted during discussion railway ties north of the Hamlet of Gadsby had, in the past, caught fire and burned so intensely the fire department chose not to extinguish the blaze but rather just monitored it. Clarke suggested the county fire department look into the concern.
Coun. Dave Grover noted a rail company had ties stacked up north of the Hamlet of Red Willow, located northeast of the Town of Stettler. Grover stated the County of Stettler couldn’t do a thing about those ties.
He further noted stacks of ties on CP Rail property is the company’s problem to deal with, not the County of Stettler’s.
However, Reeve Clarke stated the Hamlet of Nevis is right across the road from a pile of CP Rail’s ties, and if they leach or burn that could affect county residents.
Coun. Justin Stevens stated that it was his observation that Nibourg’s letter could simply ask CP Rail what they intend to do with the ties and when they will be moved. Stevens also asked if the County of Stettler taxes that ROW as a storage yard; the CAO responded it’s taxed as a railway.
Stevens stated perhaps the best approach is to just send a letter and ask what the company plans to do.
Reeve Clarke responded, “We’ve seen how those letters go when it comes to our approaches.” Judging by the voluminous laughter Clarke’s comment elicited from councillors and staff, apparently County of Stettler official letters to CP Rail have little discernible effect.
Stevens stuck to his guns by noting the County of Stettler doesn’t know how a letter would be received unless it sends one. The reeve noted if a letter was sent he wanted the leaching and fire hazard concerns included.
Councillors unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the County of Stettler to send a letter of concern and inquiry to CP Rail regarding creosote-soaked ties near the Hamlet of Nevis, and to also send a copy of the letter to Drumheller Stettler MLA Nate Horner.
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