Allegations of low environmental standards at a run-of-river Independent Power Project (IPP) near Harrison Lake have been denied by the company in question and simply prove there is good oversight, according to Chilliwack-Hope MLA and Environment Minister Barry Penner.

The Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC) waded through 1,800 pages of documents received from a Freedom of Information request, some of which outlined complaints from conservation officers about the actions of Cloudworks Energy and the company's contractors at the site of the run-of-river project.

In one e-mail from March 30, 2008, Maple Ridge conservation officer Peter Busink wrote about the company's "disturbing" practices.

"Even more disturbing is the corporate mindset that either knowingly completed illegal works; or was not aware that agency approvals were required," wrote Busink.

Fish protection hydrologist Scott Babakaiff said ministry staff should bet on when road construction would cause a landslide.

"[We could] throw in a few dollars, pick a date, and see who wins. It'll be more fun than a meat draw, and recent history suggests there will be no shortage of action," wrote Babakaiff on March 26, 2008.

A third e-mail discusses the company's "illegal bridge" at Douglas Creek.

According to Busink, Cloudworks environmental manager Cory Bettles allegedly told Busink "it was likely Kiewit [Cloudworks' contractor] thought it might be worth the risk to construct the bridge without approvals."

Bettles believed "paying a fine" was Kiewit's "cost of doing business," wrote Busink on March 30, 2008.

But Cloudworks quickly sent out a press release of its own Tuesday affirming its "commitment to rigorous environmental standards."

"WCWC has released six brief and selective quotes from more than 1,800 pages of e-mails and other government documents, and claimed they provide a basis for sweeping conclusions about project impacts," said Cloudworks principal Nick Andrews in the release. "The roughly 200 words in question in no way reflect the rigour of environmental review and supervision at these projects."

Andrews went on to say the discussion among ministry officials shows not negligence, but that the system is working and Penner agreed. He said the documents are proof that his ministry is investigating projects under construction.

"I have asked my staff to make sure that every project that is under construction is being watched and gets their attention," he said. "There are conservation officers that came through there--there is a government presence in that valley."