During their Nov. 10 meeting, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors heard from Mark Zacharias, B.C. Ministry of Environment assistant deputy minister, and Chris Jenkins, director of clean technologies for the MOE, about biosolids management and planned revisions to the organic matter recycling regulation (OMRR).
The OMRR governs the construction and operation of composting facilities and the production, distribution, sale, storage, use, and land application of biosolids and compost. It was developed to facilitate the recycling of organic material while protecting human health and the environment.
The board requested that staff prepare a response for consideration through the online submission process requesting that local government be given the opportunity for consultation, input and approval within the process.
Zoning bylaw to be amended to permit hobby farms
TNRD staff has been directed to amend Zoning Bylaw 2400 in accordance with the five recommendations related to hobby farming found in the director of development services’ Zoning Bylaw Amendments – Agriculture Livestock ALR Concordance Report.
Current bylaws currently set few to no limits on farming on small parcels.
Gas tax funds allocated
The board approved the expenditure to a maximum of $5,000 in federal Gas Tax-Community Works Fund revenues, allocated to Electoral Area “O” (Lower North Thompson), to fund a potable water supply piping retrofit at the Little Fort Community Hall.