I guess its okay to shiver and be cold in your own home but go into the bowl and look at all the idleing cars in the drive thru's,how much is that contributeing to the air quality?

A few weeks ago plumes of thick smoke were seen by us along 97 South near Red Rock from extensive slash burning along the highway. The smoke was drifting across the highway, causing me, who has a breathing problem to have coughing fits for the next 15 minutes!

Of course, this type of burning should have been banned years ago, as it distributes visible smoke and fine particulates over a vast area, possibly including Prince George.

Does anybody know how much slash burning is going on in other logged areas not visible from the major highways?

Why are cars, which are 85% cleaner now than 20 years ago always blamed first???

I do agree that remote starters should be banned immediately!

Diplomat ....

You say a few weeks ago. I was flying to Vancouver on Nov 5 and took these pictures of slash burning between West Lake and the river. You can see that with the normal southerly wind that day, the smoke was drifting towards Prince George.

As you say, I thought this type of operation was banned a few years ago, but shows how little I know.

I will be taking these pictures to the MoE and their air management group, not that it will have any effect. Just a smoke and mirrors show anyway as far as I am concerned.

Don't know if Jago can do any better with a redundant committee. There has been one in place for about 10 years and the city has not been seriously involved. What a second group is going to do, God only knows. I think he may not realize what he has gotten himself into.

Click through the photos on this site.

http://ye-olde-owl.tripod.com/forest_safety/index.album?i=2

BTW .... the Ministry of Earth Wind and Fire has once again changed their name to Ministry of Environment ...

http://www.gov.bc.ca/bvprd/bc/channel.do?action=ministry&channelID=-8395&navId=NAV_ID_province

>Click through the photos on this site.<

I did. It is amazing! Thank you for these revealing shots!

My neighbour, in the city limits, burns wood during the night. He does have natural gas and electricity like the rest of us. In the morning I almost pass out when I retrieve the paper from the mailbox!

One can cut the air with a knife. Called the city. No action, it is still going on, regardless whether there is an air advisory or not.

It appears as if regulations and laws are just window dressing.

Enforcement is virtually nil, zilch, nada.

I just viewed the media release .....

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/nor/pollution/environmental/air/advisories.html

So, the web site is the Ministry of Environment ....

Then, when you click through to the Media Release it states Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection ......

hmmmm .... As Gordon Wilson once said ..... is it any wonder????? !!!! ;-0

Yes Diplomat, it would appear that it is only window dressing just like the illegal suite bylaw and the noise bylaw. IMO the city passes these bylaws and then expect others to enforce them. Just how many charges have been laid under these bylaws? But by trying to ban burning it makes them look they are doing something about it. By all means don't tell the mills that they can't operate during high pollution times. Just who is the pollution police anyway?

my neighbor burns wood 24/7 all year round. Last summer he did not burn for 3 weeks. He has a gas furnace (new 5 years ago) I get smoke in my house continuously. He has no concern for me or my wife. I have spoke to him a number of times. Last time I phoned the city and they came out--but they can DO NOTHING about nuisance burning. Puget sound in the US has a law that gives a 2500 dollar fine. If anyone is interested, There is much info on wood burning smoke proving it more dangerous than second hand from cigs.
http://www.webcom.com/~bi/globe.htm
http://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Hazard/WoodBurningEffects.htm

Very informative sites. Myself and a few others plan to storm city council one of these fine days as well as write to Jago.

Mike if you were a nice neigbour instead of being a wineing pain in the butt you would offer to help pay his gas bill during the winter months.
Now tell me does he really burn wood 24/7,maybe you should buy the guy some windows and insulation also:)

>IMO the city passes these bylaws and then expect others to enforce them.<

The city is expecting me to be an enforcer? Next thing you know my neighbour will ring my doorbell carrying a baseball bat?

No way! There is a sytem in place that is being supported with our taxes.

Mike ... I have a similar situation ....

My neighbours chimney is at the side of his house close to the property line. My patio door opens about 20 feet away. He is south of me and when there is a southerly wind, there is a natural downdraft caused by the configuration of the building which causes a low pressure area on the north side, so the creosote laden smoke drops towards our house. Luckily I do not have my fresh air intake for the forced air system on that side of the house.

I think the main consideration should be for the "local" situation.

The same with dusty roads. The main impact is on those who live along such roads and those roads need to be treated more for that reason than for their effect on the region.

Not to worry!!!
Jago is going to come up with the solution that has stumped everyone for decades.
Give him time-lots of time, because this study is probably not coming without some fee attached!!!
Will it be worth the wait???
Do not hold your breath!!!

Gypsy:>"Give him time-lots of time, because this study is probably not coming without some fee attached!"<

Studies, like Royal Commissions, are the politically correct thing to do when nobody knows what to do next!

The more voluminous the eventual result is, the better! Then, one can "study" it for a long time, thus buying even more precious time!

After that, one puts it on a shelf, where it lingers for a long time!

Then, one day, after a long time has passed someone will remember it and look at it! By that time it will be so hopelessly outdated that a new "study" can be justified, thus buying even more time.

Marvellous, isn't it? Everybody looks busy and important and gets paid over and over.

Should matters finally get urgent, one can fuzzify some more, or hire "experts" to rush in, who will recommend new costly studies.

Interim report:

"We are still as confused as ever, but we are happy to report that we are now confused on a higher, much more important level."