Williams  Lake  Air  Quality  Roundtable  Minutes:  May  29  2014  

In  attendance:  Bert  Groenenberg,  Chair;  Tammy  Keetch,  Air  Quality  Educator;  Jane  Wellburn,  Admin  to  the  Air  Quality  Roundtable;  Ralph  Adams,  Ministry  of  Environment;  Rory  Colwell,  Cariboo  Fire  Center;  Sue  Zacharias,  City  of  Williams  Lake;  Nigel  Whitehead,  City  of  Williams  Lake;  Byron  Kemp,  Cariboo  Regional  District;  Jason  Gentles,  West  Fraser  Lumber-­‐Plywood;  Cheryl  McEwen,  West  Fraser  Lumber-­‐Mill;  Chris  Stahl,  Atlantic  Power,  Lorne  Davies,  Pinnacle  Pellet.    

• Welcome  and  Introductions     Meeting  started  at  10  am  with  introductions  around  the  table.    

• Approval  of  the  agenda  (approved)    

• Review  and  approval  of  previous  meeting  minutes  (November  2013)  Bert,  Byron  

• Discussion  around  Air  Quality  award  –  ongoing    

• Ministry  of  Environment  presentation  –  Ralph  Adams  • Report  attached  • Matthew  Lamb-­‐Yorski  no  longer  available  to  attend  meetings  (no  longer  in  a  

compliance  role)  • New  instruments  coming  in  to  measure  PM  2.5  (new  one  installed  in  WL  last  

July,  reading  60%  higher  –  rates  will  likely  go  down  because  readings  are  higher  in  winter)  

• During  ‘FEM  transition’  perception  within  community  when  rates  change  is  that  air  quality  has  deteriorated  –  important  to  communicate  that  the  air  quality  hasn’t  changed  but  rather  the  instruments  to  measure  it  

• PM  10  less  serious  than  PM  2.5,  larger  particulate,  i.e.  dust.  Downward  trend.  PM  10  not  being  measured  as  much,  when  instruments  die  they  are  not  replaced.  No  funding  to  replace  with  FEM  machines.  

• Library/CRD  station  unlikely  to  continue  operating  beyond  the  next  few  months.  Alternatives  available  –  partisol  instruments.  

• Decision  needed  about  placement/conversion  of  partisol  machines.  • 2014  Williams  Lake  will  report  out  with  new  monitors,  will  be  close  or  above  

BC  objective.  Very  common  when  instruments  change.  • Two  main  issues  for  MOE:  Tech  time/capacity,  and  what  to  do  about  PM  10.  

If  PM  10  monitoring  is  to  continue  it  would  have  to  be  community  led,  partnered  with  MOE  and  funds  would  have  to  be  sourced.  

• Canada  doesn’t  have  a  system  to  address  non-­‐attainment  of  AQ  objectives.  

What  to  do  about  new  sources  when  an  area  is  in  non-­‐attainment.  • Focus  on  Air  Quality  needs  to  shift  from  point  sources  to  incorporate  

additional/cumulative  sources.  Discussion:  Lorne  Davis  (Pinnacle)  –  concerned  about  Ministry  offload  Nigel  –  concern  about  not  being  able  to  issue  advisories    Ralph  –  advice  will  have  to  come  from  Health  officials.  Tammy  –  discussion  around  having  members  (particularly  those  from  health)  attend  via  conference  call.  Call-­‐in  access  will  be  set  up  for  next  meeting.  Byron  –  what  will  happen  if  Health  switches  from  Interior  to  Northern…  Lorne  –  moving  forward,  a  proposal  for  what  monitoring  should  look  like;  Ralph  –  process  in  the  works,  issue  could  be  a  part  of  that,  including  different  scenarios    ACTION:  Ralph  will  discuss  the  PM  10  issue  with  Greg  Baytalan  (Interior  Health)  at  first  opportunity.  Scenarios  to  be  discussed  at  the  next  meeting  (Novemeber)    

• Updates  from  members    o Member  reports  include:  what  has  been  done  by  your  organization  

since  your  last  report,  what  is  currently  being  done,  and  plans  for  the  future  

o If  you  are  unable  to  attend  on  the  29th  please  forward  your  summary  to  Jane  via  email  prior  to  the  date  of  the  meeting  so  it  can  be  read  to  the  other  members;  please  provide  your  report  in  digital  format  prior  to  or  shortly  after  the  meeting  to  be  included  in  the  meeting  minutes  

 Nigel  (City  of  WL)  

• Discussed  street  cleaning  with  managers;  significant  challenges  in  sweeping  because  of  weather  conditions  (ice  and  rain);  standard  procedures  in  place;  discussions  around  coordination  and  standards  for  private  sweeping  –  likely  educational  versus  regulatory;  regulations  for  paving  residential  driveways  in  discussion  recently  –  issue  around  secondary  suites  (three  parking  spots  required  –  need  to  be  paved  over  two  spots).    Ralph  –  Quesnel  has  a  bylaw  requiring  watering  before  sweeping.  Bert  –  question  over  parking  requirements,  does  boulevard  spot  count.    

 Rory  (Fire  Centre)  

• Report  attached    Lorne  (Pinnacle  Pellet)  

• Stack  extension  last  big  capital  investment  –  complaints  lowered  significantly  

• Continuing  with  watering  program,  maintaining  site  fences,  planting  and  

grassing  inactive  areas  on-­‐site;  looking  at  paving  site  in  the  yard  to  further  reduce  dust  potential  

• Driver’s  clean  trucks  with  long  air  wands  before  leaving  barn  and  are  tarped  for  transport  

• Trying  to  keep  inventory  down  and  in  barn,  larger  chips  outside;  planted  trees  to  increase  barriers  on-­‐site  

 Chris  (Atlantic  Power)  

• Report  attached    

• Lunch  (provided)  at  12:00    Byron  (CRD)  

• Report  attached.      Jason  (WL  Plywood)  

• Road  sweeping  took  place  in  mid-­‐April,  suppression  will  take  place  as  needed  • Emulsified  asphalt  on  road  ways  (made  by  Pacific  Chemical),  water/air  wash  

down  on  vehicles    Tammy  (AQ  Educator)  

• Report  attached  • Discussion  around  funding  for  next  year:  Grant  in  Aid  opportunities,  etc.    

 Cheryl  (West  Fraser  Lumber)  

• Report  attached    Sue  (City  of  WL)  

• City  re-­‐committed  to  energy  smart  pledge,  reduce  GHGs  80%  below  2008  levels  by  2050  

• People  can  pay  for  City  costs  online  (reducing  driving)  • Green  fleet  strategy  available  online  • Sue/Nigel  to  work  on  reporting  back  to  group  

 • Opening  for  Chair  (posting  description  circulated/attached)  

Send  posting  to  City  reps  (Cindy  Bouchard,  Ken  MacInnis).    Attach  a  deadline  to  posting.  Bert,  Jane,  Sue  –  on  screening  committee.    Story  into  newspaper  (re:  Bike  to  Work  Week  and  Chair  availability;  Person  of  Interest  story  on  Bert  about  position)  Formal  acknowledgement  of  Bert’s  contribution  to  the  Roundtable.  Bert  will  stay  on  as  rep  for  the  Environmental  Society  (or  transition  to  Scout  Island,  Field  Naturalists).  

• Informal  information  sharing  session  on  issues  related  to  air  quality  

Nigel:  shift  of  focus  from  point  source  industry  to  broader  AQ  impacts.    Tammy:  emphasis  on  AQ  for  people  considering  location  changes,  lifestyle,  etc.  Focuses:  active/alternative  transportation,  wood  stoves,  idling.  Nigel:  re-­‐visioning  process  needed  for  group.    Discussions  around  long-­‐term  funding  for  education  contracts.  

• Date  of  the  next  meeting  Thursday,  November,  20th  (Outlook  confirmation  via  calendar  request)  

• Adjournment  and  safe  travels  Meeting  adjourned  at  2:10pm      

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Williams Lake Air Quality Round Table Spring Meeting, May 29, 2014 R. Colwell Perspective # 1 – Wildfire Management Branch, Cariboo Fire Centre

• Busy start to fire season in April, mostly grass fires in the Chilcotin. May has been quiet for obvious reasons.

• Seasonal workforce continues on fuel management projects on Airport Rd., and Fox Mtn. Some chipping occurred on Fox Mtn. Project.

• Open burning prohibition came into effect May 16th for Category 3 burning (i.e. harvesting debris piles).

• There is no longer the ability to burn under “fair” venting conditions so the amount of burning days was reduced over winter. “Good” venting started in the spring.

• Improved monitoring and consideration of Air Quality continues when conducting prescribed burning on behalf of Land Managers (including custom weather and venting forecasts).

• Still exploring any opportunities to provide fibre from “in-house” fuel management projects to Atlantic Power and/or Pinnacle Pellet.

Perspective # 2 – Williams Lake Interface Fire Plan (WLIFP) secretariat • Fuel management project is still pending for a woodlot in 150 Mile House. Project

may not go ahead unless/until the proposed OBSCR legislation changes as costs will increase beyond feasibility.

• Secretariat group has not met in quite some time but now a larger regional group has been formed to help drive where future treatments take place.

Report  submitted  to  the  Williams  Lake  Air  Quality  Roundtable  for  May  29,  2014:    Prepared  by  Chris  Stahl  

The  WLPP  had  been  offline  since  April  1,2014,  with  a  brief  run  from  May  20-­‐23.  We  are  planning  to  continue  our  scheduled  curtailment  until  August  6  2014.  

During  this  period  we  had  our  maintenance  outage  and  concentrated  the  majority  of  this  year’s  capital  into  repairing  our  Tubular  Air  Heater  (TAH).  The  TAH  job  is  to  preheat  combustion  air,  to  increase  efficiency,  and  particulate  reduction.  

We  have  just  completed  our  CEMS  Quality  Control  Manual  to  meet  the  latest  regulation  (EPS  1/PG/7  Protocols  for  the  Performance  Specs  for  CEMS)  and  current  air  permit,  and  are  implementing  the  plan  to  incorporate  into  our  operation.  

Earlier  had  our  first  RATA  test  and  we  passed,  we  are  waiting  to  complete  our  2nd  RATA  later  in  the  year.  

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Tammy Keetch, Air Quality Educator, Williams Lake Environmental Society (WLES) – May 29/14 Earth Challenge Event - Year 2 • Trivia competition for grades 4-7 focused on waste, water, air, and ecosystems • Led by the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS) in partnership with Scout Island Nature

Centre • Revamped materials, gave presentations to classes on air and air quality (Mountview -2 classes;

Cataline Elementary) • Competition held at Thompson Rivers University in April 11th/14 ~100 students, staff, parents, media

in attendance • Great success, will likely be held again next year ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION Bike to Work & School Week – May 26- June 1st • The following community partners collaborated and assisted in Bike to Work & School Week

o Williams Lake Cycling Club and WL Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium o City of Williams Lake: Bike Rodeo (Recreation dept.), planning department, Mayor and

Council, Junior Council o Cariboo Regional District: Manager of Communications o School District: Superintendent, District Principal,; elementary and secondary school

administration and PACs o Local bike retailers e.g. Red Shreds, Barking Spider o Boys and Girls Club- bike club o Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS) –Bikes for All program o Oliver St. Market o Local coffee shops and stores

• Partnership and small grant ($500) received from Bike to Work Society of BC o Use of the Bike to Work week web infrastructure to create our own community pages for

Williams Lake, see http://www.biketowork.ca/williams-lake o Use of poster templates, registration structure, email communication directly to registrants

etc. o As of Wed. May 28th- 119 people registered; 13 teams; 56 new riders; 1176 km travelled; 255

kg of GHG saved o Events for all ages happening all week

• Two posters & one flyer were designed- one for Bike to Work (adult/youth focused); Bike to School (elementary/middle)

• Face book event page created and shared with all partners- https://www.facebook.com/events/775369319163825/

o ~500 invites • Proclaimed Bike to Work & School Week in Williams Lake by Mayor and City Council and CRD • Info was sent to the School District for circulation to principals for their school newsletters to parents;

Bike to School poster was posted on the SD website (two weeks prior) • Community event listings / Face book links about Bike to Work & School sent to WL Tribune, Green

Gazette, City of Williams Lake, Thompson River University, Cariboo Regional District, all participating community sponsors, Scout Island, Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society, Child Development Centre, Interior Health

• A flyer was designed about Bike to School and 100 were given out at the Bike Rodeo registrants • Articles about Bike to Work & School sent to WL Tribune, Caboodle.ca (former Welcome to WL

website) • Posters and flyers distributed around town at local shops; flyers given out at Children’s Festival (May

25th) • Interest from Interior Health to work in partnership on cycling planning and infrastructure in Williams

Lake with the community partners that have led this Bike to Work & School initiative

Public Education & Community Partnerships • Working on final draft of a brochure rack card about air quality in WL to put out around town and out

at display tables o Permission to use info from their brochure/website granted from Interior Health Northern

region, Prince George Roundtable o Ralph Adams, meteorologist with Ministry of Environment will review

• Created & delivered power point presentation to the Pregnancy Outreach Program March 27th; 12 people, invited to return

• Attended Seedy Saturday, May 10th with display ~200 people in attendance • Attended Children’s Festival, May 25th with display ~ 300 people in attendance • See Bike to Work & School section • Clean Air Day – June 4th: upcoming articles in Green Gazette and Tribune • Website: updated with info, downloadable guides, and links to air quality events & webinars – info on

http://www.biketowork.ca/williams-lake

Woodstove Exchange Program (WSE) • Baker Creek Enhancement Society (BCES) in Quesnel still the contact for the program locally • Williams  Lake:    4  x  550.00  complete  and  1  for  250.00  -­‐  5  total  • Still  a  number  of  rebates  left  • WSE info is still on our website and will remain until all of the rebates have been used • Once rebates completed we will consider a joint application in partnership with BCES UPCOMING • Possible presentations to: Garden Club, Soccer Association, Teacher’s Association, school PAC’s,

Chamber of Commerce • Air Quality award –discussion around possibility of award with Chamber of Commerce • International Walk to School – October • Interest from School District to partner on possible Idling initiatives

Williams Lake Air Shed Meeting

May 29, 2014

Cheryl McEwen West Fraser Mills Ltd. Lumber Division We are running two trucks intermilling. We are not watering as mother nature is taking care of this which is good as we are on a fir run. We will use our water truck as needed. Sweeping is ongoing all summer. Our new planer is up and running. No changes in emissions expected. Moved cyclones to new planer. (same amount) Production may increase later with new planer. Pacific Chemicals will treat our road surfaces after the fir run and when the roadways dry up.