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CAF Recommendations to MoE on Dioxins Monitoring |
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May 20, 2008
Randy Alexander
Regional Environmental Protection Manager
Ministry of Environment
2080-A Labieux Rd
Nanaimo BC V9T 6J9
Dear Mr. Alexander,
The Crofton Community Advisory Forum (CAF) was formed in response to public concern regarding environmental, health and safety impacts of operations at the Crofton mill. It constitutes a broad-based membership of stakeholders that includes: employees, environment, First Nations, the local community, local government, local business and Catalyst Paper management and key staff.
As an advisory forum, the mandate of the CAF is to review and make recommendations to Catalyst Paper and appropriate regulatory authorities to address concerns regarding environment, health, safety and other issues relevant to Catalyst’s Crofton mill operations and the surrounding communities.
On April 15, 2008, following a lengthy pollution prevention committee process that identified distinct areas for further action, the CAF passed a motion to make a number of recommendations.
The pollution prevention committee meetings were attended by Bernard
Bintner, Environmental Protection Officer for the region, as well as
community participants and Catalyst Crofton operations staff. A full
list of the recommendations is attached for your information.
Included
in the CAF recommendations and relevant to the Ministry of Environment,
are the recommendations in Item #3, from the CAF to the Ministry, as
follows:
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; and the
Ministry of Environment work to develop
continuous sampling technology for dioxins / furans/ PoPs / metals and
take (an) active and leadership role in submission (of proposals) to
potential funding sources and partners.
These recommendations
come following community concerns expressed regarding the inherent
toxicity problems associated with the burning of salty hog in the power
boilers of coastal pulp mills. These two recommendations are two of the
potential measures identified to mitigate the environmental and health
impacts associated with this activity.
In addition, we are
recommending the exploration of workflow practices, pollution
prevention measures and end-of-pipe measures with a view to instituting
formalized and entrenched standards via regulatory instruments under
the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Environment. We believe
that this would contribute to reduced pollution problems resulting from
salty hog burning, and a level playing field for coastal pulp mills.
The
CAF has also recommended participation in the development of a project
that would pilot continuous sampling technology for dioxins / PoPs /
and metals on industrial facilities. The ministry has had various
representatives attend preliminary stakeholder meetings that are
relatively well acquainted with the history and context of this
recommendation.
On behalf of the Crofton Community Advisory
Forum, I respectfully submit these recommendations and request that you
respond in writing as to your position on these issues.
Regards,
Sherman Power
Chair, Community Advisory Forum
Enclosure
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