ns Castlégar News _ febwvory 11,1990 Questions must be answered The provincial government should allow Celgar Pulp Co.'s proposed expansion of the Castlegar pulp mill to proceed but not betore legiti q ions have been d about the i mental impacts the new mill will have on Castlegar and the surroun:- ding area. Castle Theatre last night winning out The Castlegar News supports the expansion for the stability it over Miss Del Friese and Miss will bring to our c ity but too many k ledgeabl biased : Marrion Sommers in a very close con- people whose opinions are respected and trusted have raised too t many questions for support to be unequivocal at this time. We realize that Celgar officials are anxious to assure their financial backers that the expansion project has the government's stamp of approval. tt’s unfortunate that the provincial government didn’t have an established process of approval in place for major industrial projects such as the Celgar expansion. The company is being forced to go through the government's somewhat mysterious major projects review process, still in draft form, about which the public knows very little and had no input. The result is something akin to a white rat running through a maze ing laboratory while the scientists in charge of the experiment decide what exactly they want to accomplish. E AV It won't lower your blood cholesterol it it's guaranteed to raise your blood pressure. Ellen Wallace received the nomination for Miss Castlegar at the ALL PRICES HED TO SELL Castlegar ALEX CHEVELD WE MAKE BUYING int if tlic © Playmor Junction ¢ Voykin Subdivision ¢ 9th Avenue South, © Ootischenia 154 Crestviev » jest. Miss Wallace will represent Castlegar at the Rossland Sno-Sho on Feb. 17 and 18. The winner of the final Queen Con- test in Rossland will receive a free trip to Hollywood, all expenses paid. ._ * 6 tale fet il gibeeebedecteets a a, 8 ik Esbsysl rt a | : 8 i (ali The auditor for the Department of Education met with the Secretary- Treasurers from all the School Dis- tricts between Kaslo and Kettle Valley (Districts 6-13 inclusive) at the Castlegar School Board offices last s 3863 i ae bn iil oa2 ees ceetece!; ee si? The confidence factor about the end result is, at this poi. rather low. One of our biggest concerns is that the proposed new mill will ehnit 37 times more sulphur dioxide into the air around C than the existing mill. Sulphur dioxide is one of the leading com- ponents of acid rain and it doesn't make sense on the one hand to support the federal government's efforts to get the United States to crack down on its industries which contribute to the acid-rain problem while on the other hand turning a blind-eye to an industry in our own back yard which could worsen the problem here. Cominco does spew such pollutants into the air ata higher rate than the proposed pulp mill will, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't lobby Celgar to incorporate existing technology such as the “scrub- bing” of its i with an alkali lution. Envirochem Services points out in its analysis of Celgar's environmental impact assessment that “scrubbing” has proved very effective in reducing sulphur dioxide emissions. That said, we also note that Envirochem brings up an interesting point — the estimated emissions of sulphur dioxide from the expan- ded mill will exceed the provincial government's toughest current pollution objectives only intermittently. “This will likely be acceptable to the Ministry of Environment,” Envirochem’'s report says. To borrow Dr. Mark Mealing’s apt analogy he used in a letter to the editor last week, suppose you're driving around in your car, its muffler full of holes spewing fumes into the air, yet not violating any existing laws controlling exhaust emissions. If you're a conscientious person you'll get your muffler fixed even though you don't have to. So, although we hope Celgar will be a conscientious corporate citizen and try to eliminate as much as possible the sulphur dioxide emissions, we're not going to blame the company if it doesn't. We're going to blame the provincial government for not imposing more stringent laws regarding the emissions. We also agree with one of the concerns raised in a thorough analysis of the envir | impact by a group of Castlegar residents, most with science backgrounds, who says-it-is worried about the continuing discharge of material containing dioxins and furans into the Columbia River. Although the levels will be reduced by about a third, the amount of suspended solids will in- crease almost three times. As the group points out, since the compounds containing the dioxins and furans are associated with suspended solids, “their removal. through such established technology as improved clarification or filtration must be given serious consideration.” There are other concerns about the environmental impact of the mill which we continue to hope will be discussed at a public meeting on the proposed mill expansion. Meanwhile, we urge local residents to submit to Celgar general manager Jim Browne and Dennis McDonald, regional director of the Ministry of Environment in Nelson, their views on the proposed ex- pansion before the Feb. 16 deadline for public comment. Celgar and Castlegar are going to be around for a long time to come and we just can't see any reasons why the issues raised in the current expansion process should cause prolonged and continuous debate in future years if actions now can prevent it. to the editor Area at crossroads Castlegar is at a crossroads. Not only geographically, as its logo and motto suggest, but now in terms of its future. The proposed expansion of Cel- gar’s pulp mill raises critical issues that must be addressed by all citizens — both in Castlegar and in surroun- ding communities. Aspects of these issues have been raised by recent letters to the Castlegar News. There is a real possibility that the proposed expansion may not proceed. This possibility raises another set of issues that need to be considered. Dr. Mark Mealing rightly com- pared Celgar’s ‘‘exhaust system’’ to that of his own vehicle. He is also correct in his observation that the provincial government is cracking down on polluters of both types. ‘The difference is that Celgar’s repair bill, at $630 million is substantially more than Dr. Mealing’s would be. Celgar must pay the price or close down. If expansion is delayed, the mill will probably be forced to shut down. Were this to happen, Castlegar’s future will be affected in many ways: © There will be an immediate layoff of 380 mill employees. ¢ A reduction in chip sales for sawmills in Castlegar, Slocan, Salmo, Fruitvale, Thrums, Grand Forks and Midway would threaten the viability of mills in these areas and may indeed lead to further layoffs. This in turn will affect the retail and service in- dustries in those areas. © The forests will benefit in the short term, but only until the Americans and Japanese start buying logs for export to be processed in their own mills. © Substantial provincial and municipal tax revenues will be lost — far more that would compensate for the cost of a Robson bridge and wear and tear on the area’s roadways. © The air and water will be clean. If the mill expands, the effects will © A net gain of 40 jobs after con- struction. © Ensured viability of area saw- mills. With an increased market for chips, they can better weather down- turns in lumber markets. This would assure steady, reliable employment for forest industry workers and for those in support industries. An increased industrial tax base will provide revenues to build the Robson bridge and maintain the area’s highways. It will also permit existing community amenities (library, aquatic centre, etc.) to be en- joyed to capacity. © Air and water will not be perfectly clean. It will be the responsibility of Celgar and the Environment Ministry to keep pollutants at acceptable levels. © Our forests would be managed, our trees provessed and sold by our- selves. It is the mandate of the Ministry of Forests to ensure that proper forest management practices are followed. Regardless of who cuts the trees, environmental and forestry management problems must be ‘ad- dressed. The life of everyone in Castlegar will be affected by whatever happens to Celgar. We are all at the crossroads. What kind of future do we want? How many of us, or our friends, will have this opportunity if Celgar closes? Before we can make intelligent decisions, we must confirm ourselves. Everyone is urged to visit Celgar’s in- formation office in Castlegar’s City ‘Centre Mall. See the plans, review the environmental impact study and discuss the issues with the people there. Express your concerns. Think this through. When you've arrived at your decision regarding, Castlegar’s future, put it in writing and send it to Dennis McDonald, regional director of the Ministry of Environment in Nelson and to Jim Browne, general manager of Celgar Pulp Co. in Cas- tlegar. The future of Castlegar is. our future. I{,we remain silent, we may have to live with the results of a change we did not actively choose to make. It would be sad, in retrospect, if a shutdown were initiated by a very local minority whose lives and live- lihood were largely unaffected by the change they instigated. Time is short. If you want a voice in this matter, you must communicate your view before Feb. 16. Don McDowell Robson night. Mr. King, secretary-treasurer for Castlegar district, spoke of it as a “very successful meeting.”” . 6 6 The annual meeting of the Castlegar and District Projecyg Society was held Tuesday, Feb. 6. The assets of the society were reported to be well over $6,000 and new ideas on canvassing were discussed at length. ‘ The general feeling of the meeting was that more public opinion should be gathered as to what projects be supported, the known ones being a Community Hall or Recreation Cen- tre and an enclosed skating rink. 25 YEARS AGO From the Feb. 11, 1965 News Retention of the road to Deer Park and its relocation and improvement at an estimated cost of $820,000 is asked for in a 26-page brief to be presented to B.C. Hydro by the. Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce. ._ The George Menzies rink of Castlegar captured the Celgar event first place competition in the three- day fourth annual Castlegar Bonspiel by edging the Alec McKinnon four- some 8-6, finishing two up coming home. . . The right of the village of Castlegar to demand changes in venting systems in connection with sewerage in- stallations in homes that have been built 15 and 20 years ago was questioned at Castlegar’s council meeting last week. . 2° 6 An order in council was passed by the provincial cabinet on Tuesday authorizing school districts in the West Kootenay to present a money bylaw for the proposed regional college. 15 YEARS AGO From the Feb. 13, 1975 Castlegar News The possibility of developing @ hostel in or near Castlegar is to be Monday, Feb. 12 through to Sunday, Feb. 18 PLACE @ DECADES: "60S (MON- TUE, THU-FRI) STAGE (MON-WED. Supplement to the Castlegar News d 21 on ABC. 49, “The Kennedys of Massachuset- ‘3 gar TENNIS @ AMERICAN MAGAZINE day, February 11, 1990 Feb. 18, 19 an e of Sun ‘ACRO- IBRARY Il Scott (I.) and Steven Weber play brothers Joe Ken- d Jack Kennedy in S.A. GYMNASTICS ‘MAGIC Lt ‘GALLER'S CHOICE Castl .”" The miniseries airs 7:30 @|CAPTAIN KANGA ‘ROO STEIN 7:05 @ ZOOBILEE ZOO @us. Campbel nedy Jr. an ™5 @ ts. tlegor we ("The Fifth Muske- ‘Lookin’ to Get Out”) (ise Park is Mine") Pe (They Shak Have Music”) @ NEWS UPDA’ (@ KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES @ Movie 1:40 @ SHOWBIZ THIS @ Movie LUMBING & HEATING FOR ALL YOUR ‘SEE US APPLIANCE NEEDS discussed informally with city of- ficials and federation hostels program coordinator Doug Findlater at a date SALES & SERVICE Facts interesting The Westar Timber public meeting in Fauquier on Feb. 1 produced some interesting facts. In the next three years approximately 8,100 truck loads of wood will be harvested from the Octopus and Taite Creek areas south of Fauquier and this is only the beginning. Ninety-five per cent of the logging operation will be clearcut. Of that, 20 per cent will be left as is, 40 per cent will be slashburned, and 40 per cent will be MSP (mechanical site preparation). Of course, MSP means pushing the slash into piles and/or windrows which will also be burned So actually up to 80 per cent of the slash-will be burned. In this age of global warming, the mass destruction of our forests by clearcutting and the addition of more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by slashburning is completely unaccep- table. But it is obvious that Westar and all the other multi-national cor- porations currently mining our forests care littlé for the global implications of their actions or the concerns of a growing number of citizens. They care only for their profits, which we were told at the meeting they couldn’t make without clearcut- ting. This is hard to believe when one considers that the 8,100 truck loads of wood, some 300,000 cubic metres, will only cost Westar $2.4 million in stumpage royalties. We are still giving our forests away in this province. When one looks at the number of trees being cut yearly in B.C., it is not hard to see that a major fall down in the forest industry is not too far off. Instead of slowing down their operations and developing truly sustainable forest management prac- tices, the companies like Westar are moving as quickly as possible to turn as much of our forests as they can in- to their plantations. And then what? ““Gee boys and girls, all the trees are gone so we don’t have any choice but to close down the mills. But don’t worry we'll open them up again in 50 years or so when the plantations are ready. That's if the plantations sur- vive."* Sensitive selective logging that does not deforest is the safest way to go in the uncertain future we face. The day is close when natural forests on this planet will be few and far between. History will name us fools if we let the best of the last slip away. Of course, none of this will change until a whole new attitude toward forestry is implemented from the top and to do that it appears we have only one course of action. Change the government. In the meantime, who knows what direct actions the growing concerns among frustrated and dissatisfied citizens might produce. One only has to look at Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union to get a picture of what unhappy . people can do. Michael Brown Kootenay Greens Expansion needed I write in reply to a number of let- ters in the Castlegar News of Feb. 4. Those letters raise legitimate concerns related to increased truck traffic, possible deterioration of the envir- onment, etc. Reading those letters, however, one could almost conclude, from the general tone, that the people in the area are opposed to the re- construction and expansion of the Celgar pulp mill. I don’t think that is true. Mr. Mealing and I have one thing in common. Our jobs don’t depend on the Celgar expansion. We will both do quite nicely without it. However, there are a lot of people that I know in the area that will be unemployed if the expansion does not go ahead. The existing mill cannot meet current en- vironmental standards and they admit that fact. If the project does not go ahead, the Ministry of Environment will Nothing simple It is becoming increasingly clear in this-world that nothing is black and white. It would be easier, I suppose, if there were only two sides to an issue, but this is simply not the reality. For example, some people seem to think that there are only two choices with regard to Celgar’s proposed mill expansion — either Celgar’s demands are met the i or Too often companies move into an area, set up an industry to use local resources, then use them in an i ible and inable man- probably shut the mill down. Those people affected will not be just direct employees, but also workers in the wholesale, retail and service in- dustries. There may even be a few teachers who will be unemployed. The tax base will shrink and those who are still here will have to carry a larger share of the tax burden. I like living here as much as Mark Mealing and I’m sure we both are in- terested in the good of the com- munity, but I don’t want to be the only one living here. I don’t want to see my friends and their children have to move away because there isn’t enough work. 1 think we should say to Celgar that we want to see the com- pany here and look forward to its contribution to the continued ner. Then, when it is no longer profitable, or when the resources are gone, they pull out. They take their profits with them and leave the local people with no jobs and sometimes a ruined i (This has hap- the mill goes the way of the dodo. This translates into a choice between the environment and jobs. Sadly, that is no choice at all. I believe that people shouldn't have to make that choice. If a company is going to locate in an area and use the local resources to make a profit, it should take (or be forced to take) — ESTABLISHED AUGUSE 7, 1947 Castlegar News JARAABER OF THE B.C. PRESS COUNCIL TWICE WEEKLY MAY 4, 1980 INCORPORATING THE MIO WEEK MIRROR PUBLISHED SETPEMBER 12,1978 AUGUST 27.1980 LV CAMPBELL — PUBLISHER, AUGUST 7, 1947. FEBRUARY 15, 1973 PUBLISHER — Burt Campbell EDITOR — Simon Birch PLANT FOREMA\ Peter Horvey ADVERTISING MANAGER — Wayne Stolz ‘OFFICE MANAGER — Lindo Kositsin CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heother Hoadley —_, for the impacts its ac- tivities will have on the community and the environment. If a community is going to rely on an industry for jobs for now and in the future, steps should be taken to ensure the sustainability of that in- dustry. This includes managing the resource base with an eye to the future as well as protecting the environment from pollution. pened recently to the people of Kim- berley when Cominco closed the mine there.) It is possible to protect the en- vironment and still have jobs. If an area is going to rely on one industry to supply most of its then prosp of the area. There will be problems, but let’s take a positive outlook and help solve those problems. On balance I believe the Celgar project will be good for the area, and I suspect the ‘‘silent majority”’ agree. Unfortunately, unless that silence is broken, the project may go down the drain in a wash of negative thinking. Ron Ross Castlegar yet to be set. . 28 6 Eleven dogs were picked up by the city in January and of these, seven were destroyed. Not wanting to-have-a similar ex- perience as reported in other centres of small children being attacked by dogs, the city is tightening up its dog control. a oe @ A request from the Kootenay Music Festival for a grant has been referred by council to its finance committee. . 28 6 Preparing of a street-naming and house-numbering plan for the city of Castlegar could be completed in 1975. ey aS A request to defer the proposal ofa swimming pool, which was to be join- tly financed by the city and School District No. 9 has been made by the school district's committee represen- tative. 5 YEARS AGO From the Feb. 10, 1985 News Castlegar teachers will start a work to rule action tomorrow to protest the school board’s layoff of all district lunch hour supervisors on Feb. 1. The move is also to protest education cutbacks, and the fact that two teachers on long-term sick leave have been only partially replaced, ac- it makes sefse to ensure that the in- dustry cis sustainable and non- polluting. It makes more sense, however, to have a broader-based economy involving more diverse, and perhaps smaller, businesses and in- dustries with local management of resources. Then, if one company pulls out or fails, the economy of the area isn’t devastated. After all, Castlegar did exist before the pulp mill camie. More letters, page A8 Please address all Letters to the Editor to: The Castlegor News, P.O. Box 3007, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3H4, or deliver them to our office at 197 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar. Letters should be typewritten double-spoced ond not longer than 300 words Letters must be signed and include the writer's full name ond address. Only in very exceptional cases will letters be published without the writer's nome Nevertheless. the nome ond address of the writer must be ditclosed to the editor The Costtegor News reserves the right to edit letters tor brevity, clarity, legality ‘ond grommor cording to a Castlegar District Teachers’ A iati release public Friday. ._ 2 6 Westar Timber’s Celgar sawmill needs extensive upgrading and beefed up maintenance or it may not last more than another two years, says the International Woodworkers of America’s plant chairman. . 6° 8 The B.C. Utilities Commission has granted West Kootenay. 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