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Mill Denies Waste Spreading Planned |
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No waste spreading planned here
By Peter Rusland
News Leader
Nov 30 2005
Spreading sludge and fly ash waste on Valley farmland isn't on the
radar of Catalyst's Crofton pulp mill, vice-president Don McKendrick
says.
"I have no plans to do that around here. It has nothing to do with us."
McKendrick was answering concerns by the Crofton Airshed Citizens'
Group and Reach For Unbleached about public feedback being gained by
B.C.'s environment ministry for an intention paper outlining a code of
practice for spreading waste on farmland.
RFU's Delores Broten was relieved when told the ministry's Nov. 30
comment deadline has been extended to Dec. 15, allowing more input time.
The ministry's Don McDonald says the deadline was shifted due to Christmas holidays and public feedback.
The MOE is gaining input via e-mails and letters from industry,
environmental groups and other groups but has not publicized the
intention paper in the press, he said.
"It's stakeholder response."
No public meetings are planned either, he said.
Comments to the MOE will be summarized then posted on its website by January.
McDonald was unsure how minister Barry Penner will use the intention
paper to allow waste spreading on fields but said, "We're a long way
from that."
The two environmental watchdog groups are alarmed at trying to enhance
soil with wastes like those from the Crofton mill because it's unknown
what chemicals exist in the sludge and ash.
Airshed and RFU fear mill sludge holds a stew of heavy metals, dioxins
and PCBs while fly ash also contains toxins that could bio-accumulate
in people and wildlife.
Broten says RFU has had sludge from an Interior mill tested
independently. Results will be released for the MOE's intention paper
and to the public.
"We want Mr. Penner to stop and think ahead before trouble starts," she said.
"The acceptable limit for some of the most dangerous chemicals known is zero."
Crofton mill's director of environment, Graham Kissack is commenting to
the MOE about use of mill waste on fields but "it wouldn't be a good
fit for Crofton's ash because of our salt content."
Crofton's current ash dump has some 15 years capacity left.
"We've got our house in order when it comes to dealing with our waste
streams," he said, noting the mill's various recycling programs.
"All Catalyst mills use all of the residuals from the site as fuel in
the power boiler and its beneficial because at other sites that waste
goes into a landfills and generates methane, a nasty greenhouse gas."
He's unaware of any Island mills using waste on farmland.
But Kissack signaled the spreading practise might benefit some soils if "prudent science" is done on waste contents.
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