| Cathie Roy Staff Writer
|
| Howe Sound Pulp and
Paper (HSPP) will be well represented on a national group formed to
manage air quality. Al Strang, the manager of environment and external relations at the local mill has agreed to chair the new group. Included in the group will be representatives of the federal and provincial governments, environmental and aboriginal communities and the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). Strang was part of a forum composed of the same players that met in Montreal on Feb. 7 to consider air quality and emission issues confronting the wood, pulp and paper industry. A technical advisory group whose objective was to answer questions, identify shared interests and opportunities and develop a 10-year co-operative plan supported the forum. |
HSPP with a labor
force of 570 people is the largest employer on the Sunshine Coast.
According to Strang the mill has been at the forefront of
environmental initiatives since 1989. Since then the mill has reduced
particulates by 87 per cent, sulphur dioxide by 77 per cent and the
gases that give the rotten egg smell to the area by 75 per cent.
Nationwide particulates have been reduced by half, sulphur dioxide by 20
per cent and total sulphur gases by 45 per cent. |
to work
together to ensure clean air while addressing the important energy
challenges faced by the pulp and paper industry. One of the groups involved with the initial forum, Friends of the Earth Canada was pleased with the process. Beatrice Olivastri, CEO of the environmental group said clean air is critically important to people who live in communities hosting pulp and paper facilities as well as those who work there. Nationally the industry represents three per cent of Canada's gross domestic product and exports $40 billion of wood, pulp and paper annually. |
Reproduced with permission of The Coast Reporter 2005