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Pollution Prevention Measures Recommended to Crofton Mill |
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On April 15, 2008, the Community Advisory Forum (CAF) of the Crofton mill, a multi-stakeholder group with the mandate to recommendations to Catalyst Paper,Crofton Division and others, made several recommendations for pollution prevention following a months long 'Pollution Prevention" process.
The CAF, comprised of groups representing employees, First Nations, residents, local business, local government, environment and senior management of the mill, unanimously recommended next steps for the Crofton mill and the Provincial Ministry of the Environment.
Central to the recommendations to both the Ministry and Catalyst Paper
was the proposal for state-of-the-art continuous sampling technology
for dioxins / furans, heavy metals and other persistent organic
pollutants from plant stacks. The technology, widely used, and even legislated in part of Europe, provides ongoing sampling of stack emissions that can be analyzed at whatever time interval is desired. This stands in stark contrast to the current regime of annual one-time stack testing for dioxins from coastal pulp mills under steady state conditions.
Coastal pulp mills are well documented as a primary source of airborne dioxin emissions in British Columbia due to their use of 'salty hog' fuel in their power boilers. Salty hog is wood waste from logs that are transported and stored in ocean waters. The burning of salty hog results in the formation of organochlorides, including dioxins and furans.
Besides the recommendation for better technology for monitoring emissions, the CAF recommended steps to investigate the feasibility of known solutions to mitigate the formation of pollutants by washing the hog fuel prior to burning it; implementing sludge digestion to generate energy and destroy pollutants rather than burning it; and technology to mitigate chlorine dioxide emissions from the bleaching plant.
The CAF also unanimously requested a written response from Vice President of Crofton Division for Catalyst Paper, Don McKendrick within 30 days. Read his response here.
The following are the recommendations made by the CAF:
Crofton Community Advisory Forum
Pollution Prevention Recommendations
1. Fill Information Gaps by requesting analysis and reporting to CAF on the applicability to Crofton and implications for practice of the:
a. Elk Falls Study on Alternatives for Sludge Disposal
b. Elk Falls report on hogwash technology
c. Economic and technical feasibility of heat recovery from TMP
d. Results of new continuous online analyzers for SO2 / TRS from recovery boiler
e. Policy and practicalities of greenhouse gas accounting
f. Status of ClO2 emissions and plans for CLO2 – TRS pipe mixing mutual destruction project.
2. Develop proposal for dioxin / furans / PoPs / metals continuous sampling technology for submission to Environment Canada and other potential funding sources and partners. (Read the letter to MoE here)
3. Make recommendations to the Ministry of Environment that:
a. Code of practice, or alternative regulatory instrument be developed for the purpose of reducing salty hog fuel use in keeping with the goal of virtual elimination of dioxins and furans from coastal pulp mills power boilers.
b. Ministry of Environment work to develop continuous sampling technology for dioxins / furans/ PoPs / metals and take active and leadership role in submission to potential funding sources and partners.
4. Maintain regular CAF updates and current information sharing regarding:
a. Continue investigation of opportunities for operations optimization for:
i. The hog presses in order to achieve drier hog and optimize burn
ii. The electrostatic precipitator to minimize PM emissions
iii. The bleaching plant to minimize chemical input
b. Continue program of equipment upgrades and maintenance in order to eliminate leaks of ozone depleting substances.
c. Energy / Greenhouse gases
d. Water – as developed within Environmental Effects Monitoring Process
e. Bunker C spill
f. Fibre loss
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