PG AIR Makes Progress
Tuesday, May 28, 2013 @ 6:00 AM
A spike in 2010 was created by forest fires, but otherwise, there has been a slide in PM 2.5 – graph courtesy PG AIR
Prince George, B.C.- The PG AIR ( Air Improvement Roundtable) says there have been significant improvements made to the quality of air in Prince George, but the CEO of PG Air, Terry Robert, says there is still a 50-50 chance there will be an air quality advisory during the 2015 Winter Games. “We don’t want to have any negative view of Prince George when we open up the national stage” says Robert. “I think if we persevere (in reducing fine particulates) and the weather cooperates, we should be able to avoid that.”
In a presentation to Prince George City Council, Robert said while the smell of sulphur doesn’t pose a health hazard, it can have a negative impact on the possible development of the City. Robert told City Council there were some students who were accepted for the Northern Medical Program, but they refused because of the “smell”. “Sulphur smell is a key inhibitor for long term development” says Robert.
The City’s financial contribution to PG AIR covers about 16% of the monitoring operations, 17% of general operations, 22% of education costs, and 15% of the research costs.
Research now is looking at identifying strategies that could help Prince George reach the 40% reduction of all significant (industry, mobile, wood burning), emission sources by 2016, and an annual average PM2.5 ambient target of 5 μg/m3 by December 31, 2016.
Transportation plays a role in emissions that impact the city, and Terry Robert says with the number of natural resource projects in the Prince George area, there will be a need to move those resources to market and CN is expected to play a key role. He says it will mean an impact for all communities along a rail line. He points to the landscaping along the CN’s frontage on First Avenue as an effort to not only beautify the entrance to the City, but to act as a dust and emissions buffer.
The City has contributed about $70 thousand a year to PG AIR, but Robert reminded Council the City would still be on the hook for about $17 thousand a year because of historical agreements that are in place even if PG AIR were no longer in existence.
Comments
A dust and emissions buffer! Are they serious?
Any voodoo science for the public …. makes for a good story.
I would like to see that graph run in parallel with a graph of the number and length of inversions. As he admits, the air quality readings are co dependent with the weather as well.
“He points to the landscaping along the CNâs frontage on First Avenue as an effort to not only beautify the entrance to the City, but to act as a dust and emissions buffer.”
First Avenue CN frontage has been landscaped and beautified by the city???
I drove along that stretch of First Avenue yesterday (especially the part that the city just paved) and have not seen anything that would qualify as landscaped and beautified.
Where are the newly planted trees, shrubs, grassy areas and flower beds?
Great news for residents! It is not voodoo science. PM 2.5 and PM 10 measurement is pretty straight foward.
Goods news indeed. I didn’t think clean air in PG was possible, but we are certainly getting closer. It will the residents’ responsibility thatt will be the tough nut to crack. I saw lots of backyard rubbish burning this spring
Hey mr pg, drive down to the east end of first ave. there you will see new trees and fresh grass. In ten years or so it might look pretty good, providing the trees don’t get run over or vandalized!
Thanks, I will look for something NEW besides the area close to the bridge which was done years ago. Hope I don’t need a magnifying glass! The gentleman’s remark pointed to the landscaping along the CN frontage – which is next to the entire length of First Avenue – sorry if I was wrong to assume that it had indeed been landscaped and beautified.
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