is | iz = | Fil Six 3/0 ag Cominco furnace explodes - workers escape injury A matter of a few minutes “saved several men from being -injured in the July 24 explosion -of Cominco’s number one slag + fuming furnace. say operators in “the plant. > “Zwas going to tap out number ic," said furnace operator Ken itchell “I was heading out the © ‘door and she blew up on us, Two tof us could have been fried if we thad been there carlier.” Mitchell ‘said the fact he was finishing a cigarette probably saveil him from injury. “There was a major water leak inside causing the explosion,” said boiler operator Eric Neil. “2 guess when it exploded it ripped Off the jackets and opened all the “doors in the boiler room. Flames shot out a good 15-20 feet.” | Mitchell said Neil, who had been tapping barren slag out of another furnace when the fumace blew at 1:17 a.m., dived for the Nelson forest region | reports four new fires : The Nelson Forest Region ireported four new fires in the ‘past week which, added to the seven fires still burnng, brings ithe total number of fires this tyear to 86. The total number of “hectares bumed in the blazes is 2140. ‘: In 1990, the area had 167 fires tfor the same period but those ‘blazes burned only 124 hectares area. Firefighters throughout the province are in the process of tmopping up 26 fires caused by ‘severe lightning activity on July 123. “The lightning storm brought heavy to moderate rain which prevented many fire starts,” said Stan Lowrey, provincial fire con- trol officer. 3 More than 172 rh 21 floor when the furnace exploded. Neil added he was about to go over to the number one when it blew up. , I'd say within about a minute someone would have got hurt,” Neil said. “It was that close.” Both Mitchell and Neil credit controller Ron Lauriente with “freezing up” the furnace so that it couldn’t leak much molten slag onto the shop floor... ; Cominco. spokesperson Carol Vanelli said there was some leak- age of slag but that the Cominco Fire Department arrived quickly to put out fires before much dam- age could be done, Postal workers national ’ ‘The president of the Trail local of the Canadian Union of Postal varios said Monday the nation- al union is ready to strike Aug. 7 after working for two years with- out a collective agreement. "We are ready to strike if it becomes necessary,” said Libby Weaver. “Postal workers in this community want a contract now. We're fed up of working for two years without a collective agree- ment and three years without a helicoptors, eight aircraft and 16 pieces of mobile equipment are currently being used to fight fires in the province. ‘To date, 928 fires have. been reported in B.C. Humans were responsible for 645 of those fires, while the other 283 were started by lightning. A total of 15,688 hectares have been bumed in the current fire season. NOTICE | We will close FOREVER on August 15, 1991. Victor's SHOE REPaIR | ¢ we install new window zippers for boat tops * we repair or replace linings & zippers in leather jackets - | 365-6632 "All leather goods repaired” 364-2339 4120 - 4th St, Castlegar, B.C, 4 For services after Aug. 15:.1570 2nd Ave, wage i Weaver said Canada Post Cor- potion and the union will have for two years ‘as of or haly 31 and have signed off 278 status quo clauses — clauses Cominco back Cominco was back in the black in the second quarter despite lower metal prices and a trouble- some rise inexchange rates. ~ “The company eamed $7.3 mil- lion on sales of $386.1 million from March to June, turning around a $10.2 million loss recorded in the first quarter. In the’second quarter of 1990, eam- ings were $23.2 million on sales of $374.6 million. we The improvement was achieved in spite of lower metal prices and is attributed to higher ‘ion and sales “of Sth Avene - On the ain Downtows Mefaline Falls, Washington DY NEW VOR +4 E STEAKS | USDA: Choice Blue Bonnett Sof le i Select var eties: 4 pi SPAGHETTI | SAUCE ;f Prego Select varieties. so oz. “refined zinc, Copper conceatrate sand fertilizer, and a net gain-of $3.4 million on the sale of corpo- ration’s 40 per cent equity in Cominco Binani Zinc and 45 per 5: Spresi nt Robert ‘Hallbaver. news release. The current high value of the Canadian dollar ages US: cur- rency such as those governing health benefits — but ‘stopped when other unions which had refused to become part of. the legislated amalgamation into CUPW began raiding. The corporation stopped bargaining until it could know who would be the bargaining unit for the employees, Weaver said. A conciliation board' of lawyers is meeting ‘with ‘the: various unions so that bargaining may proceed. The union is also seeking Tetroactive pay for the two years without an agreement.’ Weaver said such an agreement would be especially beneficial to those postal employees nearing retire- an dollar were to trade at, for example, 80 cents relative to. the USS. dollar, eamings for the sec- ond quarter would have been $8.4 million higher and for six months $15.2 million higher," said Hall- bauer. “For Canadian'exporters to compete competitively, the rela- tionship of the Canadian’ dollar to the U.S. dollar is critical.” . The mining and integrated metals segment had an operating profit of $13.4 million in the sec- ond quarter, down from $26.3 million in the same period last year Sales were $254.1 million, compared with $260.3 million a year ago. Lower prices for zinc, lead and copper was the main reason for the reduction | in. eam- ings: a The impact of lower prices was partially offset by increased sales volumes, including a 49 per cent increase in zinc sales and an 18 per cent rise in refined lead sales. at Trail of refined lead and zinc was higher than last’ 6 -. year’s levels which were’ affected “levels, earnings for the first six months of 1991 would have been $4 million higher. “If the Canadi- by construction projects and the start-up of the old lead smelter. Zinc production returned’ to nor- \ crest “Buy 2100 ml. Crest toothpaste, for the price of 1 ~ Secret solid deodorant 55 mi. 7 - choose Baby Powder scent or ~ Sporty Clean! 25 mi., 50 mi. for traveling 100 ml. tube, 100 mi.:pump, 125 ml. bonus tube. nt _Freshmint Regular © HAS IT ALL! . Allsizes.. -- All flavours * MOLAAR TRIPLE PACK TOOTHBRUSHES reg.£1.49 _.Manelli said it will take: three weeks work to re-build the fur- nace. She explained that, during that period the furnaces’ capacity would be down to 60 per cent but that lead bullion production would not suffer. Vanelli said just Cominco would be investigating the inci- union prepared to st . "We're not only fighting for our jobs,” Weaver said, “but to protect postal services in this community. Our collective agree- ments are the last road block in Canada Post's way. of. totally gut- ting the postal service.” Weaver explained, noting that many, post offices such as the one in Trail have closed as the corpo- tation has opened up smaller offices in such locations as retail outlets including drug stores and convenience stores. ‘She noted this was already the case in com- munities like Whitehorse, North cand Whi adding oe there has been talk of mal in “March and the ‘sinelter is operating at arate of 110,000 tons avyear, ‘about 80 ‘per: cent ‘of: capacity. At-the Red Dog Mine in Alaska, production been sustained at full capacity. The fertilizer segment has a second quarter profit of $18.1 million, up slightly from the same period a year ago. Sales volumes of ammonia and urea were higher in the second quarter and first levels ~ improved .over those. attained. in... the first quarter but! have not yet.“ dent but United Steelworkers of America spokesperson Gordon Steep said the union will be a part of the intemal investigation and added that the Workmens’'Com- pensation Board has already: paid -Wednesday, July 31, 1991 The-Castlegar Sun-- - -~---- tt Red Mountain Resorts is éxpe- “rlencing regulatory difficulties in its attempt .to create a day lodge in Paradise ‘Basin on the back side of Granite Mountain. 4. The Ministry of Health will not sallow the ground disposal of hnsewage, so the lodge is now being I redesigned to provide for contain- «iment tanks that will have to be ispumped out at the end of cach a visit to the site.of the expl and is conducting its own investi- agtion. ke Trail’s mail being. sorted in Kelowna by 1992. Weaver said Trail has the advantage of being a union town, a fact she feels,may help the community retain its present post office as she thinks the other unions in the area would not stand to see CUPW. members lose their jobs as the result of a closing of the Spokane St. Post office. . "If we win, everyone wins,” Weaver said. “If we lose, then the postal service in this community is in great jeopardy. We are fight- ing not only for job security but for a postal service we can be proud of.” in the black haif of the year. Potash sales volumes were slightly of last year in the second *, quarter but behind 1990 levels by 6.5 per cent for the first half of the year Cool,-wet weather in the early Spring delayed farm fertilizer application and intense sales competition kept prices down: ° With the exception of urea and potash, realized prices (after inflation) for fertilizers were marginally below last year’s. Westar Timber cuts back activites and employees With Celgar Pulp Company facing a strike, Westar-Timber Ltd. has cut back its.activities, leaving 200°péeople out of work and another 240 facing the’ same Westar’s general man- ager said Monday. Strike notice was served on Celgar last week by its, employ- ces who are Fepresented by the Pulp and Paper Workers of Cana- da Local One. As a result, Westar has curtailed its logging opera- tions in the Arrow Lakes area, a move which Ieaves 200 indepen- dent logging contractors out of work. A E Celgar general, manager Jim Brown confirmed Monday that Strike notice had been served, but added he had heard nothing new on the situation. PPWC members voted 85 per cent in favor of strike action in a il Rela- iepeating: strike for the compa- ry to i lo; Red in is still ‘hoping to have the lodge open for next season, but the ‘Red Mountain Resort. made to redesign ply. ‘The city suggested Red Moun- tain be required to, pump sewage ; further away from the creek, but * the Ministry rejected ground dis- posal anywhere on the mountain. "A rocky mountain is'not a good place to dispose of sewage,” said Dr. Nelson Ames, director of the Central Kootenay Health Ont which regulates sewage dis- posal This differs from the conclu- sions hed by a all of the data is that the site is just not suitable,” said Ames “We don’t think:that going the extra step of doing addition! tests is going to change our minds, It just is not safe.” Ames said the risk of satura- tion during spring runoffs was the biggest'concem of his office. He said poor planning and the use of ground disposal at ski areas such as Whistler and Blackcomb have led to “tremendous problems.” going to keep going until we get this thing done,” said Hank Cut- tell, a partner in Red Mountain Resorts, “But we are disappointed our proposal‘has been turned down. We feel we have done everything we should have, and have been asked to do. a The proposed 1,800-square- foot,’ $225,000 chalet would be located off the right-hand side of Southern Comfort as skiers Approach | Southside Road. The City of Rossland objected to’ location of the septic field, because it-was'to be located 300 metres ‘above a'series of springs which in turn are only 100 metres from West Little Sheep Creck. The creek is one of four that forms the watershed for the city of: Rossland’s surface: water sup- engineer hired by Red Mountain on the recommendation of his office, and the soils expert from the of Environment that sevens the study for the health aethe $60,000 study indicated that sewage would be cleansed by the soil by the time it reached the springs over a 60-day period. The Ministry of Environment soils expert said he was “reasonably ble with the proposal based on the information present- ed” but wanted more tests donc. These tests would establish whether the samé type of soil is present’ all the way'down the slope and if ‘the soil would become’ saturated in the spring, allowing the sewage to flow to the surface and into the'creek _ more quickly. *. "Our decision after reviewing Q B.C. Wildlife Federation . responds to et proposed backcountry recreation “SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor in Victoria between the two sides after the Ministry of Lands and The B.C. Wildlife Federation made its concerns known to the . govemment about a provincial discussion paper titled Commer- cial ‘Backcountry recreation on Crown Land in British Columbi Parks d the BCWF paper which called for the Red in is now looking at a type of high-technology, out-, house which. is used at the sum- sewage tanks i “mit lodges at Blackcomb, The. washrooms are in a separate h directly over the Hiolding tanks... The lodge i being redesigned.” to relocate the washrooms from the basement to the deck.: Con- “struction is expected to take three ‘months which means Red-will have to get approval for the new + design and start work soon if the lodge is to be in place this season. "Things are getting very tight,” said Cuttell. “If there'are: any more delays, this:thing won't » happen this year.” Rossland city council deals with damaged waterline | Rossland City Council voted Monday night to take “a stop-gap measure” to deal with a damaged water line which takes water from the Hanng Creek Dam to a junc- tion box 200, feet below the dam. "The fact that this water line is an old woodstove pipe and lays in the streambed makes it almost impossible to repair effectively,” said a memorandum to council from the public works manager. It was decided to take this measure as a report from the city’s public works manager. ; showed that‘ construction could’: be done to replace the entire dam’ at a cost of $90,000. The cost of replacing the line is estimated at $13,000, . “8 “This is only a y solu- that no such groups were interest- ed and that the city was:now looking for a business person ’to lease the concession on,a yearly basis, The concession was for- merly used as a fundraising activ- ity by Rossland-Trail ‘Minor Hockey. Council also received : “A report on.the first meeting of the Ross- land Mountain Bike Society.-The meeting attracted over 70 people, 41 of whom took out member- ships. waits, ~The purpose of the-society is to secure the use of, develop. and help maintain trails in the Ross- land area for multi-purpose recre- ational use. ‘Profili said he thought the tion as the dam is obsolete and is in the future plans for replace- ment,” said the memorandum of the $13, 000 replacement. “There is also'no guarantee that this line will not be washed out again by high water.” While the fabrication of a tem- porary intake system opted for by council would cost taxpayers only $2,500. _ "We shouldn't commit to dations. eet ‘ “The meeting wi called by the Ministry. They just wanted to make sure there were no misun- vane d i d last geging which would keep its supplies of lumber up. Westar keeps about nine weeks worth of lumber stored on the Arrow Lakes, stock that is worth about $9 million to the company. Due to the expense of carrying the stock and the threat of timber boom break-ups in bad weather and the threat of timber such as hemlock becoming waterlogged and sinking, Mad- lung said it is not in the compa- ny’s interests to keep logging if the timber may be lost. He noted ‘Westar will try to keep its inven- tory at the $5 million level until the labor situation improves. The 200 contractors in the Nakusp area who will be affected are e solely contracted to Westar. tions Councii supervised vote. Members were in a legal strike position Sunday, but were still at work Monday. ‘Westar operates a mill on the the same site as Celgar and the Sale Starise August Ist said the ip may begin logging again if only to feed its Castlegar mill. The company also has its Malakwa mill near Sycamous. Logging in the north of the province to feed that operation will continue, Westar does have some contin- gency plans for its chips and hog fuel, but those are not as prof- itable when compared to its deal- ings with Celgar. Madlung says Westar ships hog fuel to Washington Water Power's Kettle. Falls mill at a cost to Westar of $100,000 a week. He said .wood chips could be run to the mill but WWP does not pay for them, something for which Celgar pays $800,000 a month. Madlung noted that the lumber market, is dropping and the company could not t Support such losses. "We re reducing our risk in sets out a program teoigned to attract national“and intemational visitors to holiday i in the province "s backcountry, and to enjoy such recreations as hik- ing, snowmobiling, river rafting or heli-skiing. Issued by the Min- istry’ of Lands ‘and Parks, the doc- ument called for ‘public discussion on its proposed poli- cies; with a deadline for submis- sions set at June 30. . Although the B.C. Wildlife Federation (BCWF) stated that they eagerly awaited the discus- sion paper, they were disappoint- ed with the approach taken in the document. “We think the motivation for this effort came about because of a perceived need on the part of the Ministry to make a quick dol- lar rather than‘any concer on their part for an increased role of stewardship of the land base,” ‘stated the paper which was sub- mitted back to the Ministry of Lands and Parks from the BCWF. Included on the Paper was a list of retum p' two sides d the agree- spending funds on something that’s inadequate,” ‘said Mayor Bill Profili. The city had been trying to find a non-profit fundraising group interested in operating the concession, at the, Rossland ‘Arena. 1 Tt' was reported t to. council by Alderman Maurice Samuelson of such a society ‘was important to Rossland and that he was pleased with the ‘direction the society's. aie ‘was going. ‘Selling something? ‘Phone 365-5266... GLASS & TRIM LTD. ’24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE 1050 COLUMBIA AVE. ments and arguments the BCWF has § with the government docu- _ Wildlife Federation has a membership reaching the 40,000 mark, and represents the views of 120,000 - 140,000 hunters and 450,000 fishermen." Between now and September the Ministry of Lands ‘and Parks will be reviewing all the es they have received and in November or December plans are underway to holda public forum. When this occurs,’ Hallinan says the BCWF may be involved in forming policy. “As it stands right now, we (BCWF) feel there has to be lot of changes to the way the provin- cial government looks at back- country recreation in” this province. We're going to do ‘our best to make, sure these changes take place,” he finished. ever with SWIMWEAR OPEN: _ Mon,-Sat. 8:00-5:00 44 75 7578-8th St: SHON 4 ARS ANN The 1991 Swimwear season is here and we look forward fo helping you look the best _ CABA FASHIONS Manufactured. in.Grand Forks Can't Beat Our Wholesale Pric GRAND FORKS ASARY 442-2875 : WATERMELON : California grown. certain areas where problems could be foreseen. “The list called for close to a dozen recommendations that were to be looked upon by the Ministry of Lands and Parks. One of | these included'a proper definition of backcountry recre- ation itself, which would be agreed to long before ‘any further action was to take' place, and as well, the rights of public access would ‘have to be enshrined in law before any more’alienation of crown lands takes place. The recommendations also included that-not only should the Ministry of-Environment have the right of veto over any 'propos- als, consultations with all inter- ested parties should’ be fecessary. According to Phil Hallinan, Vice-president of the BCWF, a meeting was held just last ard LARGEST SELECTION of lawn & garden rl aoe / In the Kootenays ‘See! bebe ‘all your rental needs trom homeowner th haavy construction This could mean: *NO HIKING: «NO CAMPING Langley,’B.C. Canada: V3A 1N4- Phone: (604) $33-2293 Faw: (604) 539-1592 or your focal Rod & Gun Club. : “HUCKLEBERRY | This haadiine n may not have made the front page....yet., " But, watch this space, if the government has its way, this Heading could be tomorrow's news. The British Columbia Wildlife’ Federation is alarmed at the current government's proposal to legislate Commercial Backcountry Recreation on Crown Land i in B.C. *NO HUCKLEBERRY FICKING -NO FIREWOOD CUTTING °NO MUSHROOM PICKING -: -NO “ANYTHING, UNLESS You PAY. FIND: OUT MORE... BEFORE ITS TOO! LATE! Contact the BCWF at 102 - 6070 - "200th Street,” Bringing } You : The Finest in Quality! FRESH FRYING CHICKEN: 1.94 kg.Whole. Grade A or Utility. ig 5) Limit of one bag with family purchase: 3 per bag. Ib. 5 PORK SIDE |FRESH PINK SPARERIBS| SALMON Thaw =} 98 woe Thawed for your convenience Ib. 35/100 &. 3 1”. Canada No. 1 Grade. B.C. grown. .42 kg. Whole. Limit of one per ain purchase. .11’kg. ai rerec wenn reap cys FRENCH BREAD Crusty and Fresht 400 ede Advertised Prices In Effect Sunday, July 28 through Saturday, August 3, 1991 2) Mon. to Wed. & Sat, Thursday & Friday “9 am. to MJ Pm. Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ; Tight to lmntt sales to retall quantities. : SAFEWAY ‘We bring it all logelher * ue