After hearing so many concerns from locals, the Ministry of Environment have finally admitted that the emissions from Pinnacle Pellet’s Burns Lake plant are not up to par.
Lakes District News has asked the Ministry of Environment on numerous occasions about the issue, only to be told that the emissions consisted mostly of water vapour so not to be concerned, and said that Pinnacle Pellet is working on the issue.
While it is correct that Pinnacle Pellet is working to correct the problem, it appears that the plant’s emissions are more than just water vapour.
This is something that local residents have been saying for quite some time, and it seems that their complaints have been legitimate after all.
The emissions issue was brought forward at the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako recently by Tom Greenaway, director of Fraser Lake rural and the board of directors.
Ben Weinstein, a meteorologist at the Ministry of Environment, and a representative of the Bulkley Valley Airshed Management Society agreed that there is a problem with high particulate matter in the emissions.
It certainly was nice to hear a direct and honest explanation of what is happening.
It has been over a year now since Pinnacle Pellet’s Burns Lake plant has been up and running, and from all accounts, the new dyer technology is creating the problems.
The company’s environmental stewardship appears to have gone out the window, at least during the very long commissioning phase.
The Ministry of Environment say they are keeping tabs on the situation, but how are they doing that?
Is simply knowing there is high particulate emissions from the plant enough?
There always seems to be loop holes for big business to slip though.
What happened to regulations to prevent particulate matter being dispersed into the air, and why has Pinnacle Pellet been allowed to continue to operate under these circumstances?
Once emissions, smoke or dust rolls into the valley it seems to linger and cause air quality issues for an extended period of time.
By no means do we want Pinnacle Pellet to shut down, and yes, industry does create emissions, that’s not the issue.
There are standards that have been set, and for good reason and everyone should have to abide by them.
It’s been over a year now.
Pinnacle Pellet creates employment and economic diversity for the local area, so let’s hope this issue is sorted out sooner, rather than later so that we all can have clean air.