Air Quality Management for Grand Forks

1. Air Quality Management for Grand Forks presented by Councillor Chris Moslin January 23, 2006 • Elements of Air Quality Management • Scientific Understanding • Community Involvement • Cooperative Planning • Realistic Goal Setting • Long Term Commitment • Implementation and Monitoring

3. Our Past Actions • 1992 - PM10 monitoring starts atop City Hall • 1996 - Grand Forks City Council and Area D representative Basil Jmaiff form first Air Quality Committee • 1996 - First public complaint about Cantex Asphalt Plant Operation • 1997 Province’s portable air monitoring trailer installed at Councillor O’Doherty’s home for six months • 1998 - The Reid Report • 1999 - the pollution hotline • 2002 - Friends of the Granby appeal Roxul permit and are denied • 2002 - Ralph Adam’s report • 2005 - 2.5 PM monitor installed

4. The Reid Report 1998 Major Findings i) That the downtown area is most affected by elevated levels of pm10. ii) In the downtown, Industrial sources account for 45% of the particulate and Domestic sources account for 55% (open burning, wood stoves, roadway and other dust). iii) Wind speeds are low; pollutants that should dissipate do not, resulting in high ambient pollutant concentrations. iv) A ground based layered haze is visible approximately one third of the time, particularly early in the morning. This haze drifts to the East of town. The Nursery area is less affected by pm10 pollution than downtown. Recommendations I) 50 % voluntary reduction in industrial emissions II) 50%voluntary reduction in woodstove emissions III) Ban on all uncontrolled outdoor burning within the municipality IV) City program to reduce fugitive dust from roadway emissions

5. Ralph Adam’s Report 2002 Conclusions and Recommendations The levels of inhalable particulate matter are among the highest in the southern interior and a concern to public health With the measurements available we cannot distinguish between fugitive dust and smoke The distribution of the particulate matter reading during the days of the week suggest that the problem is due to human activities Respirable particulate matter monitoring should begin as soon as possible Wind measurements should be made to investigate prevailing winds more thoroughly Records from industry should be examined to see if there is an annual or weekly cycle to emissions The city should summarize the methods used to clean-up fugitive road dust to look for improvement The city should conduct a wood heating survey to allow an estimate of emissions from wood heaters The Air Quality Committee be resurrected to address the issue of airshed planning

6. Current Situation

8. The following data is based on measurements taken at the points of release for the various industrial concerns mentioned. These are the preliminary and unreviewed results posted on The Environment Canada National Pollutants Release Inventory (NPRI) website for 2004. Pope and Talbot

9. Canpar

10. Roxul

11. Possible Benefits • Installation of real time monitoring equipment • Warning system for poor air quality days • Improved airshed management by permitted users • Phase out of old wood heaters through buy back programs • Improved public education on outdoor burning • Airshed “room” for industrial expansion • Improvements to public transportation • Improved road maintenance • Improved health for vulnerable citizens • Improved air quality for all citizens