The power boiler at Howe Sound Pulp and Paper (HSPP) was back in operation Tuesday night after a week-long shutdown.The power boiler was shut down on the evening of Jan. 9 due to damage to some grates.
"When we have a shut, the mill has to vent the odorous gases we normally burn in the power boiler. This means that residents may have noticed more odour coming from the mill in the last five days," said Al Strang, Howe Sound's manager of environment and community relations.
Strang said the boiler had to be shut due to extensive damage to its grates and grate drives. According to Strang, the damage was caused by excessive metal in the hog fuel provided by one of the mill's suppliers. This supplier has now been cut off, until they improve their product's quality, Strang said.
"Howe Sound monitors local air quality on a continuous basis in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment. The levels recorded in the last week will have no direct health effects on the people in the community," added Strang. "However, the odour itself can cause stress for some people, and stress does have a related health effect. We recognize the impact that odour has on people's lives and we are striving to minimize that impact."
