It has been approximately eight weeks since a sandblasting and industrial painting business was allowed to begin operating from their acreage next door to mine. This business was to do all sandblasting within a tent and we, as the closest neighbours, were assured by the business owner that the noise from the sandblaster would be short in duration and would likely not bother us at all. In fact, he said his wife had horses she would be bringing to the property and he would not be making excessive noise or pollution because he, too, had animals.What we didn't know was that the business owner was not honest when he described his proposed operations, and I believe he was not honest with the county either! He built a small tent out of blue tarps which blew down in about three days. He has been sandblasting and painting huge tanks out in the open (every day of the week) for weeks (the tanks would never have fit into the tent!) and the particulate from the blasting flies everywhere on the wind. This particulate includes particles of silica sand, possibly recycled glass and also particles from the paint on the storage tanks (this old paint could include mercury, lead, benzene, heavy metals, etc. – we don't know)This particulate dust comes on to my land with the wind so that on most days there is no air that is safe to breathe anywhere. The air is filled with dust and looks like a fog over the property. I had wanted to work on my acreage (gardening) during Victoria Day, but had to remain in the house with the windows closed to avoid breathing in the particulate dust or the fumes from the paint. I went out anyway at 3:00 to plant some trees, but after an hour or so had to wear a mask so I could breathe and work on my property. Today my voice has been affected and I cannot speak properly! Permanent damage to my voice? I don't know! The business owner said he knows his tent blew down but he can't stop now. UNACCEPTABLE!Along with the particulate dust, there is the EXCESSIVE noise of his sandblaster! After having that running next to my residence for nine to 12 hours every day, I feel exhausted. We can never have people over because they would run for cover from the dust, the paint fumes, and the NOISE! This business owner has never brought horses onto his property and it is unlikely that horses could survive there. They would probably run through the fence due to the “BEEPS” when he is moving the heavy tanks, the crashes, the sound of metal scraping on metal, the sandblasting, the pollution, etc.This business should be located in an industrial park or some such approved site where the business owner can be supervised 24/7 and where he will be required to follow OHS regulations as well as environmental guidelines. Now he can hide in the bush and just go ahead with his unacceptable operation where he is poisoning the soil, the air, possibly the groundwater by now, and the neighbours! He is also avoiding paying the proper taxes by locating on an acreage where he can hide from view. Because these acreages are so close together, this industrial business should never have been allowed to operate here!I believe that this business owner has not only been untruthful with the county, but when the county offices are closed, he does whatever he wants to do – such as sandblasting on Sundays! It's as if he knows that he can get away with this and he can operate without regard for anyone else and does not have to follow the conditions the county laid out for him. I believe a responsible business owner would be following environmental guidelines whether or not they are being supervised. I would like to know that when I am at work, he is not busily poisoning my property, or running at large on my property with his dogs, until I get home!I believe I have a right to breathe clean air on my property and be out gardening, cutting grass, walking, having guests over, etc., without being poisoned. I do not understand what I am supposed to do in summer. Stay in the house all summer with the doors and windows closed? I think this is UNACCEPTABLE!DISGUSTED!!!Sandy GravesMountain View County
