Asphalt Plants, Reducing Emissions

By 250 News

It was the concerns over asphalt plant emissions which raised air quality issues to a new level in Prince George.

The Air Quality Forum in Prince George  heard today that there are things that can be done to reduce the blue smoke from asphalt plants, but,  the changes are linked to the City switching to a permit situation on asphalt plants rather than  letting the provincial regulations set the standards.

Ray Robb is  the Manager of the  Regulaton and Enforcement Division of the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

The GVRD  has its own set of rules about emission limits  and Robb says  while there are  pressures to  have regulations rather than permits,  the permits are the way to go. "Under the permit system it is  labour intensive as each  application has to be dealt with, but the permits allow  faster  adaptation to changing technology  and changing attitudes." 

The GVRD's rules for asphalt plant emissions are  the toughest in the province.  On some standards, the GVRD rules are less than half of the limits allowed under the provincial regulations. 

There has been a great deal of pressure  in Prince George City  Hall to have a similar  permit situation that would allow the City to set the limits on a case by case basis.  The City recently  sent a letter to the Ministry of the Environment asking for regulation  changes  or the ability to  go to the permit  system because of the  impact of  industry on ambient air on an airshed that has been overtaxed, especially given the  topography. 

Ray Robb says  changes can be brought about through emission controls,  requirements for equipment  and following it all up with monitoring.

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