The Prince George Air Quality Implementation Committee is trying to spread the word about the work it is doing.

This week, Chair of the Committee, Dave Sutherland, (in photo at right) conducted several media interviews to bring everyone up to date and there is work underway on a website to keep the latest information available.

Why?

Sutherland says they want to spread the word about the ongoing work “The primary reason is we have had the phase two management plan approved by the City of Prince George and the Regional District of Fraser Fort George and we are now into the implementation part of that plan.”

With 19 members in the Committee, ranging from the air quality watch dog group PACHA to reps from the major industries in Prince George, the Committee is setting up smaller working groups which will tackle some of the 30 recommendations contained in the most recent Prince George Air Quality Management Plan “Phase Two”. That plan was presented to City Council last November.

Chair Dave Sutherland says the phase two plan is a “bridge”. “The major changes to emission sources , which will produce the best improvement in air quality, will be in the next phase of this, as there are studies that have yet to be completed.” says Sutherland. Those studies are expected to be complete by the spring of 2008.

In the meantime, Sutherland says there are two major issues facing Prince George “One is the open burning resulting from the mountain pine beetle disposal, and the other is any new emission sources that might want to develop in this area.”

The Committee has already been asked by the Ministry of the Environment to make some recommendations on a pellet plant’s proposed move to the BCR site “We have been asked to get involved because it does represent the first new source in there.” Sutherland says this particular application will start the process of developing rules and policies for new emission sources and his Committee will have the opportunity to make recommendations to the Ministry of the Environment and the City. “What we’re hoping to see here is no degradation in air quality.”

As for the mountain pine beetle open burning, Sutherland says that will require coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Forests, the City and Regional District.