Mirax Group, the owners of the Suncoast Industries cedar mill on Aqua Road in ts'uḵw'um (Wilson Creek) is appealing a $15,900 administrative penalty assessed for operations at that site under the Environmental Management Act.
On June 19, a fine notice was issued for unauthorized release of air contaminants. Raphael Chernis of Mirax explainted in a July 25 email to Coast Reporter that an oversight on the part of one of it's contractors lead to the penalty being levied. He said dust cyclone was installed to mitigate and collect the fine sawdust in the sawmill in the end of 2021.
That that action was taken to improve the health, safety of our employees and to comply with Work Safe BC dust control requirements along with elimination of fire hazards at the mill, he noted.
"Unfortunately, the contractor that installed the dust cyclone failed to apply for an air discharge permit from Ministry of Environment on our behalf. We are currently in the midst of applying for an air discharge permit and will be appealing the fine," he wrote.
