The Council of Senior Citizens of B.C. (COSCO) expressed concerns with Howe Sound Pulp and Paper's (HSPP) amended burning permit application this week.
COSCO's Louis Legal spoke at Tuesday's Gibsons infrastructure committee meeting explaining the group's concerns over the possibility of toxic materials being burned alongside construction waste.
Legal was hoping that the committee would recommend that council support an amended permit specifying fuel prohibitions and limitations. This would include the prohibition of burning specific items, including treated and painted woods, railway ties and old tires. COSCO would also like to see an independent, third party brought in to monitor air emissions in Gibsons.
Al Strang, HSPP's manager, environment and external relations, and Cassandra Caunce, environmental management section head of the Ministry of Environment, were also on hand.
Caunce said ministry staff is looking into the prohibition of burning certain materials and ensuring regulations are thoroughly followed.
"It can be a challenge," she said, adding that the ministry has taken that into consideration while they draft the permit.
As for air emissions, Caunce said the ministry has an air audit team that checks that monitoring instruments are functioning accurately around the province.
Legal then raised the issue of other mills in Canada applying for permits to burn tires for energy.
"Once the foot is in the door, what's to prevent them from burning all those other things?" he asked.
Strang took the next step by assuring those at the meeting that HSPP has no intention of burning old tires and the matter is "not even on their radar."
At the end of the presentation Caunce ensured the Town that she would take the items brought up at the meeting to her colleagues for further discussion regarding the amended permit.
