Band clarifies process with Ottawa to remove explosives

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 18, 2016 at 8:00 AM
The Okanagan Indian Band insists approval isn’t needed from Ottawa to develop its land. The band has been pushing the Department of National Defence to clean up explosives on reserve land previously used for military training. “Recent media coverage of the Okanagan Indian Band’s efforts to clear their lands of unexploded ordnances included a statement from the DND that misleads the public about DND’s contractual obligations to clean training areas once they are no longer being used for those purposes,” said Chief Byron Louis. Recently, DND told Global News: “To support the Okanagan Indian Band’s future development plans, DND will continue to assess and initiate clearances once the band has finalized its economic development implementation plan and timelines.” However, Louis says there is no requirement for the band to submit an economic development implementation plan or timelines prior to DND clearing the lands of explosives. “In the original agreement which allowed the DND to use the OKIB lands for training purposes the contract clearly states that, ‘the permittee (DND) undertakes to repair all damage done to the land and to fill all holes for the protection of stock and riders,’” he said. “Further, DND agrees to remove, or dispose of all duds from the permit area at the termination of any firing practice.’ Subsequent numerous agreements, all signed by the DND state their obligation to remove UXO from OKIB lands.” The federal government recently settled a legal dispute with Aquilini Development over land south of Vernon that was used for training. The company is currently clearing explosives from the property and it has applied to the City of Vernon to subdivide. “The failure to clear OKIB’s reserve lands of unexploded ordnances continues to impact the Band’s potential uses for those lands,” said Louis.
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Okanagan Indian Band tired of waiting for Defence Department to clean up military explosives
January 18, 2016 - 10:46 AM by Charlotte Helston INFO-News.Ca

VERNON - Military explosives left littered on their lands by the Department of National Defence continue to hamper the Okanagan Indian Band’s plans for development. In a media release issued today, Jan. 18, Chief Byron Louis is calling on the Defence Department to fulfill promises made in the original agreement for use of the borrowed land, which states: ‘The Permittee [DND] undertakes to repair all damage done to the land and to fill all holes for the protection of stock and riders.’ Further, ‘[DND] agrees to remove, or dispose of all duds from the permit area at the termination of any firing practice…’ The Defence Department has stated it will assess and initiate clearances once the band finalizes its economic development implementation plan and timelines, Louis said in the release. “There is no such requirement, under the terms of the permits, for the Okanagan Indian Band to submit an ‘economic development implementation plan’ or ‘timelines’ prior to DND clearing the lands of (unexploded explosive ordnance),” he said. Until the land is cleared, potential uses for the property is in limbo, Louis said. Recently, Aquilini Development and Construction Inc. settled out of court with the the Defence Department over unexploded explosive ordnance on their property which is near Okanagan Indian Band lands.