Ministry of Environment Active on Asphalt Plant Complaints

By 250 News

        

The Provincial Ministry of the Environment says air quality complaints have doubled since May and most of the complaints have to do with the three asphalt plants operating  on the Ottway Bench..  “All asphalt plants have to go through the permit process  with the Ministry “ says  the Ministry’s Steve Lamble,  “But the issues surrounding noise and hours of operation  fall under the City’s jurisdiction”.

There have been enough complaints and concerns raised that all asphalt related concerns are now being handled by the Ministry’s Chris Raymond. “We’ve done a couple of things like meeting with the residents and the owners of the companies” says Raymond who adds most of the complaints are about “fugitive dust” which has been kicked up by heavy trucks rolling through the pits.  “Part of the problem right now is that there is a problem getting access to calcium chloride which is better at keeping the dust down than simple watering of the roads” says Raymond.

He is now in the process of doing formal inspections of the three asphalt plants operating in the Ottway Bench vicinity.   Those inspections include emissions data, registration information, general plant conditions, aggregate storage and dust control.  Stack sampling tests to check levels of emissions are to be done.  Pittman Asphalt is just waiting for its data to be returned. 

Here’s the  hitch.  For asphalt plants, the first stack sample has to be completed within 60 days of the start of the paving season.  If the  emission levels are too high, the company would have another 30 days to make repairs and do another stack sample.  If that one fails,  there are a further 30 days to comply.  That adds up to 120 days, or 4 months, to "comply".  In Prince George, that means the paving season could be over with an offending company not having "fixed" the problem.

The emission levels allowed for Columbia Bitulithic and Pittman are as follows:

There is also a push for a Code of Practice.  That would allow for a reduction in emission limits with a simple signing of an agreement and would not require a change in legislation.

Raymond says there are some other questions that have to be answered.  For instance, if the emission limits are reduced, are the limits achievable?  Are the asphalt plants the only ones causing dust problems? 

There is one  factor Raymond  says is clear “We have a lot of industry in an over committed airshed”

Although there  is an air quality complaints line (250-565-4487) and plenty of complaints have been registered over the years about various air quality issues, no one Opinion250 spoke with could recall of any complaint leading to a fine being levied or any legal action being taken.

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