Pellet plant explosion in Burns Lake

Image Credit: Google Maps

October 09, 2014 - 12:15 PM

BURNS LAKE, B.C. -

Three mill workers have been injured in a fire and explosion at a wood pellet plant in northern B.C.

Leroy Reitsma, the president of Pinnacle Renewable Energy, says the incident happened during a maintenance shutdown at a facility near Burns Lake.
Reitsma says one worker suffered serious injuries and two workers received minor injuries, though he couldn't offer more details on the nature of the injuries.

Reitsma says the company is now working to determine the cause of the fire and explosion, which he says originated inside a drying machine that wasn't operating at the time
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The wood mill industry has been under increased scrutiny since two fatal explosions at facilities in Burns Lake and Prince George, both of which were linked to the presence of combustible wood dust.

Reitsma says it's far too early to speculate about what happened at the Pinnacle plant, though he says the fact that it occurred inside a piece of equipment makes the accident different from previous explosions related to wood dust.

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School district holds second meeting on pellet plant

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by  Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Aug 27, 2014 at 8:00 PM

The Vernon School District will hold a second meeting about the proposed pellet plant in Lavington.

Trustees decided Wednesday to hold another meeting Sept. 2 on the topic after a request came from parents concerned about the potential impact a pellet facility would have on the health of Lavington Elementary students.

"Comments will be restricted to safety," said Bill Turanski, board chairperson.

"We have no jurisdiction over whether the District of Coldstream did the right thing or not (with rezoning the property)."

On Wednesday, trustees received a presentation from Pinnacle Renewable Energy, which is proposing the pellet plant in conjunction with Tolko Industries.

The Sept. 2 meeting will be at 4 p.m. at the school board office.

Look for more in Friday's Morning Star.

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Pellet plant clears hurdle

by Carmen Weld | Story: 121273 - Aug 19, 2014 / 1:30 pm

Photo: Google Street View

The proposed pellet plant would be constructed next to the Tolko plant in Lavington.

After six hours worth of public hearings and deliberations, Coldstream Council left Monday night's meeting having approved a rezoning request for a new pellet plant in Lavington.

The lengthy public hearing, which ended just before midnight, was the last chance for members of the public to speak out about the proposed 39 million dollar facility to be built through a conditional partnership between Tolko Industries and Pinnacle Renewable Energies.

Despite weeks of public hearings, a petition to stop the plant, and public outcry, council gave its approval by a slim 4-3 margin on the third reading of the rezoning application.

Councillors Doug Dirk, Gyula Kiss and Richard Enns opposed the rezoning.

Kiss says the marathon of public hearings led him to believe that the public, the people who voted him in, unequivocally wanted the plant to be denied a place in their town.

Photo: Google Street View

 

Residents have fought the idea, saying the plant will raise air quality concerns next door to an elementary school.

 

“I didn't think at first I would vote against the plant itself because they had a reasonably good case,” explains Kiss.

“But, the biggest problem is that almost all the people that came from Lavington, who live around the plant, opposed it.

“The fact is that I am a representative of the people who elect me and I am supposed to actually look after their interests, and what they want.”

The biggest complaint has come from nearby residents who feel air emissions from the plant will be a health hazard for residents and children attending Lavington Elementary, situated next door to the facility.

Kiss says that while he feels the pollution created by the pellet plant would be minimal, he believes pollution levels in that area are already high enough and any additional pollution created would put levels above the safety threshold.

“The proposed plant is only 300 metres from the school and this is the biggest worry, that the kids there will be exposed to the additional pollution.”

In fact, Kiss says he and his late wife got cancer decades ago because of a pulp mill in Prince George. His wife later died from that cancer.

“I have a little more empathy for people who feel their health may be influenced by the pollution created by manufacturing,” adds Kiss.

Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick says the decision will go to a fourth and final reading next week. Garlick wants to point out that all public input on the proposed plant is now closed.

“At this time council receives no more input on the application, from either side,” says Garlick.

While it appears the rezoning application will be approved by Coldstream Council, the pellet plant still has a few more hurdles to cross – including approval from the Ministry of Transportation, an environmental permit on emissions, and further building permits before construction can begin.

Note: Association between my cancer and the pulp mill effluent was just a conjecture and cannot be verified!

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Pellet Plant Gets A Go Ahead

Written by Glen Morrison Tuesday, 19 August 2014 05:10 

 

Another marathon for Coldstream council and a win for the pellet plant side.

The public hearing on rezoning property by the Lavington Tolko mill to allow the development of the 39 million dollar facility ran 6 hours last night, atop the 4 hours last Monday.

In the end council gave it's approval with councilors Doug Dirk, Gyula Kiss and Richard Enns opposed.

Mayor Jim Garlick says there's an important point the public should be aware of with the closing of the public hearing.

 He says "It will go to 4th vote next Monday, and again, just a reminder that no more information can be received by council on it.  That is legislated rules on how these bylaw, the zonings are,carried out."

Still required is highways final approval, an environmental permit on emissions and some Coldstream permits such as development and building.

"Full house" at Coldstream Council chambers.

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