44 pages FRIDAY January 3, 1997 DOING IT RIGHT: BEFORE YOUR.EYES, aR. LUBE! ‘ \WISHING YOU a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON "31790 Marine Dr, North Van “THE VOICE WEATHER Saturday: Cloudy with showers ui flurries NORTH Van City employee Clyde Robinson, in bobcat, had a pile of work to do Sunday on Lonsdale Avenue. Howe Sound co. wants break on pollution rule By fan Noble News Reporter ENVIRONMENTALISTS are fighting an application by the Port Melion pulp and paper mill for hefty increases in emissions of two harmful pollutants. The mill, located 22 kilometres (13.7 miles) from Horseshoe _Bay on Howe Sound, is asking for a 300% hike in sulphur dioxide emissions and another increase in nitrogen oxide emissions. In its application to the B.C. Ministry of the Environment, Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Lrd. notes it has reduced emissions of sulphur diox- ide, which leads to acid rain, by 85% since 1989 and smog-forming nitrogen oxide by 37% since 1994, According to mill monitoring statistics, the average ambient air concentrations of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are well within provincial ‘A’ level air pollution guidelines. The environment ministry agrees the mill has the strictest emission limits on suiphur dioxide in A Furry Creek golfer's view of Howe Sound Pulp and Paper’s Port Meilon mill. the province. Bur opponents of the mill’s appli- cation say that’s no reason to relax the permit for the mill, which is already one of the biggest sources of nitrogen oxide in the Lower Mainland. Nitrogen oxide and sunlight contribute to ground ozone, the smog that damages crops and makes breathing more difficult for some in the Fraser Valley and Squamish on sunny days, said a B.C. Environment Ministry spokesman. Said Terry Jacks, the founder of Environmental Watch: “They don’t have the right to put these poisons into the environment because the air and water belong to all of us.” Company claims that ambient air quality in the mill area does not exceed guidelines do nor impress Jacks. He said the pollutants simply travel to other locations through wind and weather, including outflow winds from Howe Sound which pass over the North Shore. Jacks said Port Mellon should be by far the cleanest pulp mill in the province because it is located close to Vancouver — the third most pop- ulous metropolitan area in Canada. Instead of raising the permit limits for the company and increasing the amount of allowable pollution, the government should charge the mill for exceeding permit levels, said Jacks. Ray Robb, the head of the industrial section for environmental protection in the Lower Mainiand, said the ministry has been through the consultation process on the application. Concerns expressed will be studied. A new permit will be ready in late January at the earliest. Robb said the company has made a very good case for relaxing sulphur dioxide limits. The com- pany has asked for emission limits of 400 mil- ligrams a cubic metre, 300% more than the 100 milligrams a cubic metre now in the permit. Bur the company’s request for nitrogen oxide limits of 300 milligrams a cubic metre averaged over a monthly period instead of 250 milligrams See Province page 3 “sports year." in Veview +. High 4°C, low -1C. ane wT By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter LAST week’s snow storm cleared all three North Shore municipal- ities of their snow removal budgets. In North Vancouver Diszrict the 1996 snow clearing budget of $356,000 is already overspent by about $35,000, said Bob West-Sells, public wi orks manager. West-Sells said about 10 pieces of equipment including plows, graders and backhoes were manned continu- ally during last week’s snow storm. Works yard staff pur in 12-hour shifts around the clock during the storm. The snow clearing pnority was to keep bus routes open. “They (district works yard crew) are used to it and are well-trained. A number of a our people delayed their holidays.” said West-Sells. Because of the heavy snowfall, West-Sells said it took workers “awhile” before the residential streets were cleared. In West Vancouver, the snow clearing budget for 1996 was set at $250,000. Gn Dec 31, the munici- pality was over budget by $150,000, according to a works yard spokesman. ; West Vancouver has about seven pieces of machinery including salters and plows. The equipment was run- ning 24 hours straight during the snow storm. - The salt supply for icy roads in West Vancouver was down “to ground level” as of Tuesday with about two tandem truck loads left. A new salt shipment was slated to be available later in the week. The most difficult areas for snow clearing crews in West Vancouver included the British Properties, the Woodgreen area, Horseshoe Bay and the western part of Marine Drive. Snow crews had trouble ruming their large vehicles on streets littered with parked cars. Bus routes and main roads had priority for snow clearing. Side streets were not cleared in West Vancouver until the snow stopped falling. By Dec. 31, all West Vancouver side streets were cleared of snow, according to a works yard See Clearing page 3 cer pera aa TE, ee TT : ‘