Air quality and health

When combined, the three plants proposed in Kitimat would burn 2.5 times the amount of gas burned in Greater Vancouver in a year.

Kitimat and Terrace share an airshed. LNG facilities would receive “fracked” gas from Northeastern BC via pipeline. Here, it would be chilled at massive, energy-intensive plants. Gas companies like to fuel these facilities with the gas they’re processing, but doing so creates significant pollution.

LNG facilities emit nitrogen oxide (NOx), leading to smog and particulate matter in the local airshed. Rio Tinto Alcan’s Modernization is slated to increase sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions up to 42 tonnes per day. LNG facilities would add even more SO2 pollution to the Kitimat/Terrace region.

NOx and SO2 emissions could mean:

respiratory problems, such as asthma
bronchitis
emphysema
long term risks, such as cardiovascular disease
acid rain

Children and the elderly are especially prone to these health concerns. There is no “safe level” of SO2 – any pollution could cause serious health problems.

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Rio Tinto Alcan Environmental Appeal Board Hearing Summaries: April - June 2015

Two outdoors-loving Kitimat teachers, Lis Stannus and Emily Towes, have launched a case with the Environmental Appeal Board against the Ministry of Environment (MOE). The two appellants are challenging MOE’s decision to allow Rio Tinto Alcan to increase its sulphur dioxide emissions from its Kitimat aluminum smelter by 55 percent above current permit levels. Even more, MOE is allowing this without the any scrubbers installed at the smelter. Emily and Lis both suffer from asthma, and both teachers are concerned about their students’ health and worried about the effects of the increased emissions on the forests and waterways of the Kitimat-Terrace valley.

The hearings are expected to take four weeks. The first two weeks of hearings will be held in Victoria from April 27 -May 1 and from May 11-15. The hearings will resume in Kitimat starting June 1.

Hearing Summaries

Victoria, April 27 2015, Summary #1

Victoria, April 28-29 2015, Summary #2

Victoria, May 1 2015, Summary #3

Victoria, May 1 2015, Summary #4

Victoria, May 11-12 2015, Summary #5

Victoria, May 13 2015, Summary #6

Victoria, May 14-15 2015, Summary #7

Kitimat, June 1 2015, Summary #8

Kitimat, June 2-4 2015, Summary #9

Kitimat, June 4-5 2015, Summary #10

Kitimat, June 8 2015, Summary #11

Kitimat, June 10 2015, Summary #12