Worthington Mackenzie Mill Under New Order

Tuesday, February 10, 2009 04:08 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The Worthington Mackenzie pulp mill is now under a new order from the Ministry of the Environment. The order replaces one that was put in place January 23^rd in an effort to prevent risk to the health of the community and to prevent environmental damage. That emergency order kept workers on the job to ensure the mill was kept warm and there was no risk of chlorine tanks or lines rupturing.

The new order is open ended says Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell. The mill is safe, the workers have been paid ( including a final payment made last Friday by Worthington) so there is no cause for concern says Bell.

There is a new issue though, as the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission ordered the removal of nuclear devices . The devices contain radioactive materials and are used to measure wood chips and pulp. There are several of them on site.

The Provincial Ministry of the Environment wants to keep the devices on site and a temporary extension has been granted.

The license to have such devices doesn’t automatically transfer when there’s a change in ownership. Worthington would have had to apply for a new license. That was either not done, or the application has not yet been granted. The bottom line means there is no valid license to have those devices on site.

Bell also says that while Dan White, the President of Worthington properties has promised to present a plan to get the mill running, no such plan has been delivered.

Minister Bell says the Province has a strategy to move forward on the matter of this mill, but will not reveal those details at this time although he did mention, the Province has received some information from Mr. White’s legal Counsel.

While the new order does not have a time limit, and continues to give the Province the ability to step in to make certain there is no threat to the health of the community or to the environment. The Province is expected to ask Worthington Properties to repay all costs incurred by the Province to ensure the safety of the mill.

The cost to keep the mill in this stable condition is about a million dollars a month.

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Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 04:08 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Denaljo on February 10 2009 5:33 AM

I read in a paper from down in Lotus Land that these nuclear devices could be used in the making of a 'dirty bomb'. That is why the watch dog agency would like them removed. Add to this mix the idea that nobody really knows who the mystery owner from way back east is. Scenario for a X-Files case in our backyard. Conspiracy theorists take it away!

Posted by: beesknees on February 10 2009 5:56 AM

...the plot thickens...

Posted by: MacOldtimer on February 10 2009 6:52 AM

whats with this.. frist Worthington didn't have a bond for the enviromental clean up now he doesn't have a license for the nuclear devices. These are huge factors for a pulp mill when they change ownership? How could these things been overlooked? Someone wasn't doing there job..Or were they?? Maybe Dan White IS just the point man....

Posted by: dlamoureux on February 10 2009 7:42 AM

This whole disaster is linked to PWC don't you think???

Posted by: mackbc on February 10 2009 7:53 AM

WHAT ? explain dlamoureux

Posted by: bruceb on February 10 2009 8:03 AM

Hi dlamoureux:
I agree Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) have a lot to bear in this whole issue. They are the ones that recommended Dan White and company. They got their money for handling the bankruptcy but the decisions they made did nothing for Mackenzie or the province

Posted by: dirtcheap on February 10 2009 8:13 AM

This whole scenario is beyond belief,I think a movie will be in the works.The ineptness of the city council and the powers that be, including Hamburger Patty, and anyone involved in bringing this kind of ownership to a pulp mill that has no clue in the complexity of such an operation,is unbelievable.Were they that desperate to get that mill started up that they overlooked this crooks credentials and or qualifications.I guess it goes without saying, this is the kind of people we have making decisions with our tax dollars.

Posted by: mackbc on February 10 2009 8:15 AM

Thanks for the follow up info bruceb wasn't sure were it was going

Posted by: He speaks on February 10 2009 8:17 AM

A dirty bomb. I was under the assumption that critical mass was about 14 lbs of pure uranium. Thus, I doubt that there is even 14 grams of pure uranium in the entire mill.
If I was Dan, Cut my losses and sell it back to the government for $1. or send it back to bankrupcty proceedings.

Obviously the man does not have enough money to start up the mill. There is only a few companies that is going to plow in the 20 to 30 million dollars it takes to get it going. Canfor or West Fraser will likely not take it over, they have enough mills, and Mackenzie is a dirty little mill to begin with. To bring it up to their standards, the company will need to plow in 100 million.

Start up BC Forest Products, (tee hee hee) and make the workers all shareholders. The Province puts up a limited bond for $50 million, and see if the community can make a go of it.

Posted by: dlamoureux on February 10 2009 8:31 AM

This whole disaster is linked to PWC don't you think???

Posted by: He speaks on February 10 2009 8:48 AM

True, enough PWC was too desperate to find a buyer, they will settle for anyone. To build a mill that size will cost close a billion dollars, and Dan picked it up for $6.5 million.

I think Price Waterhouse Cooper needs to look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves, were they looking after anyone else but themselves and their fees.

Posted by: dirtcheap on February 10 2009 9:36 AM

Yes,we get your point,dlamoureux.But we would hope that minister Patty, (Minister of Forests and Lands) and city council (Mackenzie)ie. Mayor, would have some input on who sets up shop in their town.

Posted by: dlamoureux on February 10 2009 10:07 AM

They did not have any influence as it was handled by PWC and the courts.

Posted by: dirtcheap on February 10 2009 10:58 AM

Is this another job for the "Job Opportunitys Program" to steer all blame away from the "Government" for the people by the people.This kind of poor management just moves Macktown just ever so closer to becoming a Ghost Town.

Posted by: dlamoureux on February 10 2009 12:48 PM

The point is, what do we do from here on forward? I believe Mr. Bell does have Mackenzie's concerns and well being at hand and with current government intervention now in place, they can and will have influence into what happens next.

Posted by: seamutt on February 10 2009 12:59 PM

The NDP are to blame, I just know it, it just has to be.

Posted by: Windigo on February 10 2009 1:19 PM

Where was the government support with all the mills going down in B.C.? I'm sure that more brownie points could have been gained for them by being more proactive in helping to build a more competitive Sawmilling industry rather than just sitting back collecting taxes...why did the government settle the lumber tarrif dispute when Canada had the U.S. on the ropes? Maybe the mills would still be operating right now if the Gov had continued to fight rather than go for the money grab. I think that there needs to be a serious look taken at the activity of the Gov over the last number of years it seems weird that mills in Alberta are running full swing right now doesn't it. I was talking to a B.C. born and bred friend of mine who was forced to move to Alberta to find work. Believe it or not he is working in a sawmill in Alberta and he say's, and I qoute "THE SAWMILL IS RUNNING FULL OUT THREE SHIFTS AND IT IS JUST FLYING". By the way they are making money at the mill as well. Sounds like maybe the Government along with their Confor and West Fraser buddies should spend some time researching what the sawmills in Alberta are doing to allow them to continue to operate at a profit.....I wonder what Pat Bell, Gordo,Jimmy Pattison and Hank Ketchum could learn if they actually cared about whether the Sawmill industry ever improves in B.C.

Posted by: dirtcheap on February 10 2009 2:00 PM

Good post there Windigo.We need more people like you that tells it like it is.Not like some people on here that so willingly absolve the people responsible for this bloody mess.Sugarcoating all this b.s. does not make it smell any better.

Posted by: dlamoureux on February 10 2009 2:21 PM

come on guys, at least post your real names

Posted by: astro on February 10 2009 3:31 PM

Wow, Good posts! I agree with them. However I would like to see the money trail. Where did it come from and where did it go? How is it that someone in Slovania ( I believe ) and virtually untouchable is now the owner?

Posted by: astro on February 10 2009 3:41 PM

You don't need critical mass to make a dirty bomb. You do need critical mass for a bomb that requires nuclear fission, a standard atomic bomb. A dirty bomb, like the ones that the US uses when they have a bomb with a uranium casing does not require a critical mass.

Posted by: downnotout on February 10 2009 3:48 PM

Like to know which mill Windago is talking about. From all the reports that I have heard the lumber industry is in the toilet. Those mills that are working are doing so because it would cost more to shutdown or because the pulpmills need the chips. I also think that the final say in the sale of the Pope and Talbot mill was approved by the provincal government and I do hope that it does not get involved any farther. The failed bailout of the mill in Prince Rupert abd the millons of dollars that cost the provincal government [taxpayers] sticks in my mind.