Kamloops Air Quality
Air quality monitoring station on the way for Aberdeen
KAMLOOPS – Kamloops will again have a second air quality monitoring station, this time in the upper Aberdeen area. The mobile air quality monitoring station, a joint project between the Ministry of Environment, KGHM Ajax Mining and School District 73, will continuously measure air quality and weather patterns including coarse particulate matter, fine particulate matter,...
Smoky skies advisory ends for Southern Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A system that broke a nearly three-week heat wave and dropped rain in the Interior also helped clear the smoke. The smoky skies advisory that had been in place since June 7 was lifted this morning, July 13, by the Ministry of Environment and the Interior Healthy Authority. While many large fires are...
Smoky skies advisory issued for entire Thompson-Okanagan region
THOMPSON OKANAGAN – If the visible smoke in the sky wasn't enough to warn you, a smoky skies advisory has now been issued for a large portion of the Southern Interior. The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Interior Health Authority, has issued a smoky skies advisory for the Thompson, Shuswap, Nicola, Fraser Canyon,...
City agrees to New Afton’s request to increase air discharge rate
KAMLOOPS - There were many opinions to be heard this week as city council tackled New Gold’s New Afton Mine request to be allowed to increase its air discharge to reflect the mine’s new operational status. City staff advised council to agree to New Afton’s request, which the Ministry of Environment asked for city input on....
New Gold looks to expand; asks to increase air discharge rate
KAMLOOPS – The New Afton Mine just west of Kamloops wants its air quality restrictions to reflect it is now operational, and allow for growth. The mine has moved from construction to operational phase, and now wants to be allowed to increase the maximum air discharge rate from the underground workings of the mine. The...
Thompson Rivers prof to speak regarding the proposed Ajax mine
KAMLOOPS - A Thompson River University professor is exploring the the social impact the proposed Ajax mine would have on Kamloops and is holding a public lecture on his academic effort. Dr. Michael Mehta says when exploring the possibilities of new financial or economic ventures, communities fail to take the so-called soft sciences into account...
Air quality initiative gets a few thumbs up from council
KAMLOOPS - A group advocating for clean air won a major victory for their cause this week and will now get help from the city in establishing a committee to specifically look at how to better improve air quality in Kamloops. Headed by Gina Morris, the group wished to continue the work of the already...
Free transit worth the cost?
COUNCIL WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS OPTIONS KAMLOOPS - Transit is a topic that gets a lot of discussion around the table at City Hall, and rightfully so. Taxpayers subsidize a portion of the public transportation and council plans to again explore whether any form of free transit can be offered and how much is too much...
New high stack design to reduce impact of Domtar emissions
KAMLOOPS - Though a major project has been delayed by nearly a year, Domtar is well on the way to living up to its promise to reduce emissions by 68 per cent by 2016. As part of the air permit process Domtar assumed the obligation, through purchasing the mill in 2007, to achieve a 61...
New Gold air quality better than originally indicated
REPORTING METHODS UPDATED KAMLOOPS - The amount of fine particulate matter produced by the New Gold mine just outside of Kamloops is a lot lower than originally thought, according to recent numbers from the company. When the 2012 numbers were released last summer it appeared the New Afton Mine was the third worst polluter in...
Domtar eyes North Shore monitoring station
KAMLOOPS — Though complaints are down, Domtar continues to closely monitor odours from the factory and is even looking at adding an additional air quality monitor near McArthur Island. Kristin Dangelmaier, Environmental Manager for the Kamloops mill, says there appears to be a direct correlation between the reduction in number of calls and the closure...
Fewer complaints over stench in 2013
KAMLOOPS — The annual air report from Domtar shows improvements in air quality, though the company is claiming the public tolerance for smell may be getting lower as well. Overall, complaints in 2013 were 'notably fewer' than the previous two years, which the company attributes to the measurable reductions in total reduced emissions from the...
Airshed Management Plan ready for action
By Jennifer Stahn Kamloops City Council approved the Airshed Management Plan presented to them at a council meeting Tuesday, with many members of council agreeing with Mayor Peter Milobar that the plan has been “a long time coming.” The management plan will see an initial focus on incentive programs to get owners of wood-burning stoves...
Local doctors join fight against Ajax
Part of job to voice question and concerns when public health is an issue KAMLOOPS – City physicians have joined the fight to protect the area in and around Kamloops by forming an organization geared towards promoting health education and science based interventions to maintain and improve the environment. The catalyst for the latest health...
Ajax would make ‘low-grade smokers out of children’
KAMLOOPS – Air pollution is a big concern for the health of the community according to a group of local doctors who say the extra pollution the proposed Ajax mine would bring into the community is unacceptable. “People need to know the impact on health is like smoking constantly, 24 hours a day. You can't...