Mackenzie Residents Can Breathe Easy

Monday, February 23, 2009 03:59 AM

Mackenzie, B.C. – Residents of the industrial area in Mackenzie were allowed back in their homes around 8 last night, following the threat from a chlorine dioxide leak at the Worthington-Mackenzie Pulp Mill.

The leaky valve on one of three chlorine dioxide tanks was contained last night, and once it was secure, the evacuation order was lifted.

At the height of the scare, access to the industrial area was restricted to emergency personnel only and the 30 or so residents in the area were told to leave their homes. Although a registration centre was established for those needing assistance, only one person registered for help in finding accommodation until the threat of danger had passed.

The valve on a chlorine dioxide tank started leaking last week. At that time, the valve was sealed with a fibreglass resin. The seal didn’t hold and the leak resumed again Saturday night, prompting several precautionary moves.

Mackenzie Mayor, Stephanie Mayor Killam says the incident has allowed her community to test its emergency plan “ It gave us the opportunity to see if there were any holes in our plan, and so far, no holes have developed.” At no time was the townsite of Mackenzie in any danger.

Officials from both the Ministry of the Environment and the Provincial Emergency Program were brought in to ensure all the proper precautions were taken.

Mayor Killam is very proud of the way her community responded to the situation “Once again, it shows Mackenzie is able to handle whatever comes its way.”

The long term plan is to remove the chemicals from the pulp mill, but that is long term says Mayor Stephanie Killam “That is not something that is going to happen today.”

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Posted on Monday, February 23, 2009 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: x-pt on February 23 2009 6:43 AM

It's good to hear no one was hurt and that according to Pat Bell in today's Citizen, "there was no 'broad' environmental damage" (whatever that means!). I'm surprized there was no comments from the mill folks. There should be an investigation into the cause of the leaking valve, there are valves on the other two tanks - are they in good shape, or will they leak also?

Posted by: Mother of 5 on February 23 2009 6:47 AM

In a small town like Mackenzie...You drive "Downtown" and see local trucks parked in the mall...you know somethings up! I'm guessing half of Mackezie didn't even know what was going on!! If it wasn't for friends on facebook we wouldn't know it was happening...as our children are ice fishing or just out with friends. Yet you say theres "no holes in your plans" What if it was worse than it really was? What do you do for the people that don't know? what about the people that don't have a vehicle or the means to leave if they had too? Why keep that deadly liquid in those tanks if there not going to do anything with it? Make Mackenzie residence feel safe and get rid of it!!!!

Posted by: Mother of 5 on February 23 2009 6:50 AM

Posted by: Jim13135 on February 23 2009 7:10 AM

They have chlorine dioxide leaks all the time at the Prince George pulpmills and they don't evacuate homes?? It's not even uncommon to have gas alarms going off in the mills for hours and hours on end because of chlorine dioxide gas. Recently they had two spills outside the mill walls.

A little over-reaction in McKenzie or are PG residents being put at risk?? That's the question.

Posted by: x-pt on February 23 2009 7:37 AM

You're right Jim, all pulp mills have chlorine dioxide leaks but the one in Mackenzie could have ended up with 75,000 gallons of chlorine dioxide solution in the lagoons and gassing off. I don't think there's any means of containing that volume inside the mill so the community would have been at some risk. I don't think there have been any similar leaks from the Prince George mills.

Posted by: x-pt on February 23 2009 7:46 AM

Posted by: dirtcheap on February 23 2009 8:01 AM

"The long term plan is to remove the chemicals from the pulp mill" does that mean that the mayor has given up on the pulp mill ever starting up, if that is the case,one wonders about all the other mills. Why not just tell the residents to pack up and move on.Politicians much have to take courses on how to BS people."At no time was the townsite of Mackenzie in danger"....if that was the case then why was everybody so concerned about it then.

Posted by: Denaljo on February 23 2009 8:52 AM

A test? of its emergency plan.
No holes in the plan? Sounds like somebody has holes in their head!

Posted by: downnotout on February 23 2009 12:55 PM

give the clorine dioxide to the other mills in thre area for the cost of trucking

Posted by: woodwoman on February 23 2009 3:02 PM

Just ask Pat Bell to investigate - everything will look be OK and maybe he could transport the chlorine to Fort MacMurray (by plane) just like he said he would do with the laid off workers - remember the rally "Save Mackenzie!"