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Crofton on the lookout for plume chasers |
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By Edward Hill
Ladysmith Chronicle
Jun 03 2006
If Crofton residents see a vehicle driving around this fall with weird
equipment poking out, they shouldn’t be worried — it’s just researchers
chasing the plume.
Catalyst Paper’s Crofton community advisory forum is mulling its
options for a program aimed to test if ambient air stations are in the
best locations, and are tracking mill pollutants accurately.
The Crofton mill has three air stations: at the mill site, south of
Crofton and near Duncan. Members of the CAF who also belong to the
Crofton Airshed Citizen’s Group have questioned if these stations are
picking up concentrated but short-lived pollutant releases.
Warren McCormick, a Ministry of Environment air quality officer,
outlined possible strategies, including parking a mobile unit in
various areas, analyzing local flora like mosses and lichen, and
spreading around small paper devices that react to airborne chemicals.
“What you want to use really depends on the time scale we are looking at,” McCormick said.
McCormick said a mobile analyzer can monitor chemicals wafting by
minute by minute. He noted the CAF might have to rent or buy expensive
particulate analyzing equipment.
“It is limited to the roads. It could be a problem if you are chasing the plume and come to a dead end,” McCormick said.
Conversely, the small paper samplers are cheap, can be spread around
urban and rural areas and can monitor chemicals as often as they are
collected. McCormick said they are limited to gaseous, highly reactant
pollutants and can be subject to false-positives.
Last, a moss and lichen survey could cover a wide swath of territory
and is also relatively cheap. McCormick said plants absorb sulphur
compounds and would indicate a long-term average.
“We could do a combination of two, a biological survey with a mobile unit,” he said.
Jon Lefebure, chair of the CAF, was in favour of pursuing a mobile
unit, saying some people in the town are worried they are being exposed
to higher levels of chemicals than registered at the air stations.
“A mobile analyzer will presumably show if that is happening,” Lefebure said.
Some CAF members questioned how these methods would differentiate
between mill emissions and regular background pollution from vehicle
traffic. Past Catalyst reports have indicated traffic and the ferry
contribute at least half of all particulate matter in the area.
CAF member Sherman Power suggested the group do a triple combination,
as to mute criticism and doubt, alluding to the divisive Jacques
Whitford health and air quality study that was rejected by some members
of the CAF.
“We should do all three rather than leaving ourselves open with big gaps in information,” Power said.
It is possible nothing will happen, as the CAF is facing a crisis of
membership. The group has dwindled in size and public interest has
waned since it formed December 2004.
Residents interested in joining the CAF can contact Julie Douglas at
the Catalyst mill at 246-6054 or North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure at
North Cowichan municipal hall at 746-3100.
The next meeting is June 27, 6:30 p.m. at the Crofton Community Centre and is open to the public.
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