SUMMING IT UP: Grand Forks environment committee meets

By Mona Mattei

The topics of air quality, water needs and how to become carbon neutral stay at the forefront of the Grand Forks environmental committee as they continue to meet regularly.

 

Reports from the three sub-committees at the last group meeting on Friday, Jun. 17 gave an overview of the direction the committee is taking in their endeavours to achieve their goals.

 

Air quality

 

A webcam is up and running on the top of Observation Mountain and the next weather station, slated to be installed at the Carson fire hall. These stations help monitor air quality conditions and feed information into overall data collection that will assist in future airshed modelling studies.

 

“The attempt is to try and make sure it becomes an accredited weather station. So that data from that weather station not just be distributed to the public, but it can also be used for scientific studies,” explained Chris Moslin, Grand Forks city councillor and chair of the environment committee.

 

The committee agreed to request a loan from the University of Victoria of a nephelometer. This unique device is portable and can be used by volunteers to start collecting data for an informal study of air quality in different locations around the city. The main uses of nephelometers relate to air quality measurement for pollution monitoring, climate monitoring, and visibility. Airborne particles are commonly biological contaminants, particulate contaminants, gaseous contaminants, or dust.

 

Woodstove exchange program

 

Woodstove Exchange Co-ordinator John Vere reported that the program has received another round of funding from the province. The Regional District of the Kootenay Boundary will need to apply for the local program to be continued.

 

“I’ve put a letter to the board of directors for approval,” said Vere. “I was talking to retailers and there’s a chance that there’s not that many old stoves left. Its (the demand) really been dying down in this area.”

 

Co-generation plant at Interfor mill site

 

A discussion on the proposed co-generation plant at International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor) covered both water and air quality issues. Mike Van Eck, from Interfor, said that the decision from B.C. Hydro on the proposed plant has been delayed until July 31 so at this time the project is on hold.

 

The water demands of this plant would be in the area of 230 gallons per minute, comparable to the past use by Canpar Inc. with 193 gallons per minute. Councillor Chris Moslin pointed out that the usage by the co-gen plant would still be less than the rest of the city’s daily use at 851 gallons per minute.

 

“If the co-gen plant gets the green light, council will ask this committee and Interfor too, if they’re going to drill their own water they will have to go to the Ministry of Environment and get a licence,” said Moslin. “The water modernization act will require them to get a special review. At that point this committee has a role to play (in re-writing air permits.)”

 

Interfor has been researching systems that do not use high levels of water, but Van Eck said the plant design would be a higher cost.

 

World Rivers Day

 

The committee passed a motion to support an event on World Rivers Day Sept. 25. The event will be determined by the water sub-committee to bring awareness to the issue of water and the need to protect the area’s rivers.

 

Carbon neutral sub-committee

 

A poster campaign has been designed by carbon neutral sub-committee member Chris Heffley. The posters were circulated for comments from the committee. The idea of a campaign addressing carbon neutral issues such as garbage reduction, using non-fossil fuel transportation, and other topics was supported by the committee. The sub-committee will review the poster design and come back to the committee of the whole with another draft.

The next meeting of the environment committee is Friday, Sept. 16.