Ministry of Environment officials are confident there is no risk to public health or the environment, but have decided to launch a formal investigation into concerns around the approximately 1,800 tonnes of potentially hazardous fly ash shipped to the Cache Creek Landfill from the Burnaby waste-to-energy facility in July and August, Environment Minister Terry Lake said in a press release Tuesday.

The investigation is being conducted by the ministry's Environmental Protection Division offices in Kamloops and Surrey, and the Conservation Officer Service.

Staff continue to work with Metro Vancouver, Covanta, and Wastech to deal with removal of the ash. Any hazardous ash must be removed and transported to another facility because the Cache Creek Landfill is not authorized for hazardous waste.

All ash currently being produced by the Burnaby incinerator is being transported to an authorized hazardous-waste facility in Alberta.

This is a non-compliance issue and ministry staff are continuing to work with Metro Vancouver to ensure all environmental standards are being met and that all the necessary steps are being taken to remediate the situation. The B.C. government is committed to a timely investigation.