Marsulex Files Appeal Of Amended Permit

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. – Marsulex Inc has more than one battle on its hands. 

The chemical company located in Prince George’s BCR industrial site, has launched an appeal of its temporary permit.

“The appeal is a bit of a surprise” says Sean Sharpe,  Manager of the  Omineca-Peace Region Environmental Protection Division  for the Ministry of the Environment.  “The amended permit was the result of 5 to 6 months of discussions with the company.”

The amended permit took effect on January 18^th of this year, and would be in place until new equipment was installed and up  and running at Marsulex.   That new equipment is  expected to be on line by early fall.

The appeal  notes two issues:

1.The timeline is not practical and the  company cannot develop workable guidelines for the start up  of the plant.  There is also a requirement for a start up (the time when there would be a “plume”) to be held  off  if there are  weather conditions that would   have an impact on dispersing the  sulphur dioxide, ie:  inversion  or wind conditions.

2.The deadline for an ambient  air quality  monitoring plan  is not practical (February 28)   and there are issues about the  location of the  air quality  monitoring equipment.

Sharpe  says that while he was surprised by the filing of the appeal,  he believes  the issues can be resolved  without having to  have a hearing.  ``I think  the appellant misread the intent,  we all want the same thing, namely  no  health impacts.``

The  August 2006 incident was  one of the factors contributing to the need for an amended permit,  but Sharpe says there  was also a  requirement for Marsulex to upgrade its operations.

The amended permit is the guideline that must be followed until there is a resolution of the appeal.

As for the other battle, that one is playing out in the courts.  The company was in court yesterday on charges related to the August  2006  incident.  That incident involved the discharge of a plume of sulphur dioxide gas from the Marsulex plant. The gas settled in the neighbouring Canfor’s Rustad Brothers Sawmill yard.  18 employees at the Rustad Mill suffered adverse health effects, and 13 needed hospital treatment.

Marsulex is charged with failing to comply with a permit, introducing waste and causing pollution, failing to maintain and inspect works, and failing to determine the daily quantity of sulphur dioxide from their plant. 

The case has been adjourned until mid March.

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