“Wednesday, February 19, 1992 eee Cominco granted @ Trail smelter receives breathing room from Ministry of Environment Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER Granted a six-week exten- sion at the end of December, Cominco Ltd.’s discharge per- mits are now in place. Last Friday, the Ministry of Environment announced that air and waste discharge per- mits for the Trail smelter have been amended to include a schedule for major discharge- quality improvements, and ex- tended until the end of 1995. In a news release, Environ- ment spokesman Rick Crozi- er stated that the amend- ments to the permits will re- sult in improved air and water quality in time for a new lead smelter process to be in oper- ation. “They follow a tight but re- alistic time frame for the com- pany to make the improve- ments needed to get a new lead smelter process operat- ‘The smelter’s permits rep- resent effluent discharges into the Columbia River as well as ~ air discharges from the @mokestacks. In addition to the elimina- tion of discharges from a con- taminated sewer associated with the smelter by 1996 and collection and treatment of contaminated surface water from the plant site by late 1994, the permit requires the ending of slag discharge into the river by 1997. ‘There are a number of conditions in there that push the company to get the work done as quickly as possible.’ -— B.C.’s Rick Crozier Tuesday, Crozier said the company is looking hard at ways of dealing with slag dis- posal. “It’s a process of finding and reprieve evaluating ‘potential disposal sites,” he said, adding that it would be a “very special land fill operation”. “I know the company is still investigating, but nothing’s come up so far.” The air discharge permits require existing sinter and blast furnace plant discharges to cease by 1996, and that dis- charges from existing slag- fuming furnaces cease by 1997. _. Crozier said the ministry outlined the permits using time as the basis. “There are a number of con- ditions.in there that push the company to get the work done as quickly as possible,” he said. “I think the time limits we've given are about as tight as we can get.” : . The permits were issued af- ter extensive public consulta- tion in Canada and Washing- ton State. The permits had been tem- porarily extended from Dec. 31 to Feb. 14 to allow for that public consultation period. continued from front page O’Connor, who, along with the founding ex- ecutive was reinstated, urged citizens to at- tended the budget meeting, saying their tax statements may depend on it. He said the city is planning to spend $10.2 million on capital projects over the next five years. O’Connor urged the city not to get ahead of itself, saying Castlegar is already servicing a debt of $4.8 million. O’Connor said the city is living beyond its needs. He demanded public hearings on all capital projects, including city hall renova- tions, sewer restoration and the relocation of Castlegar works yard to the industrial park. “It’s been said before and I'll say it again, council is trying to have its supper before it eats its lunch,” O’Connor said. “We're not against (capital projects), but what we'd like to see is things done in an orderly fashion when (Castlegar) can afford it.” O’Connor said council is relying on the windfall of Celgar’s tax bill far too much. He said the city should wait until it has the mon- ey in the bank before proceeding with capital CURB calls for open government expenditures. Ald. Kirk Duff defended Castlegar’s capital projects. Duff, who attended the meeting as an observer along with Ald. Jim Chapman, say the city is bound by the Municipal Act to establish a five-year plan. He said that doesn’t necessarily mean Castlegar will spend $10.2 million over the next five years. “We're not stupid,” Duff said. “We’re not go- ing to spend money that we don’t have.” Duff, who is strapped with the task of fi- nalizing Castlegar’s 1992 budget by May 15, referred to the friction between CURB and council as “growing pains.”. Duff also took the time to clarify misinfor- mation regarding the city’s open house on the budget. Contrary to what CURB is claiming, Duff said people are welcome to ask questions. He said council is requesting written submis- sions so it can prepare proper answers. Duff added that as chairman of the budget hearing, he would ensure that no question is left unanswered. The budget meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the Castlegar and District Community Complex. Bluetop Burger he VIN 1G7 Citizens wishing to make’a presentation or receive information on a specific subject are requested to contact City Hall for details on the participation guidelines. City of Castlegar 460 Columbia Avenue Castlegar, B.C. CASTLEGAR CITY COUNCIL Seeks your input to the 1992 BUDGET at a meeting to be held MARCH 2, 1992, 7 P.M. CASTLEGAR COMMUNITY COMPLEX Phone — 365-7227 Fax — 365-8566 CASTLEGAR SAVINGS CREDIT UNION Wishes to Remind You that the Deadline for R.R.S.P.s is February 29, 1992 for 1991 Contributions. iS) Your Community Financial Centre 601-18thSt. Hwy. 6 Castlegar Slocan Park 365-3368 226-7212 Announcement Mister Tire Sales is pleased to present CRAIG JEWELL The New Manager of Mister Tire Sales GOODS YEAR 480 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. 365-7145 INCLUDES: up to 5 litres of 10W30 oil, lube & filter, for many cars. & light trucks We Will Also Check the Following: V 4 Wheel Alignment V 4 Wheel Brake Check V All Belts, Hoses, Fluid Levels, Antifreeze, transmission, Differential, CV Boots, Shocks, Drive Line, Wheel Bearings, Air Filter, PCV Valve, Axle Seals, etc. es... ALL THE ABOVE WITHA FREE ESTIMATE FOR ANY WORK YOU MAY NEED ON $4 8% YOUR VEHICLE FOR JUST PLUS TAXES GOOD SYEAR | MISTER TIRE SALES 480 Columbia Ave., Castlegar - 365-7145 CASTLEGAR SAVINGS CREDIT UNION @ Wednesday, February 19, 1992 Mi Road maintenance workers accept deal Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER After rejecting an earlier tentative agreement, Emcon Services employees have vot- ed to accept a new three-year contract. Emcon workers ratify new pact “This is the lowest ratifi- cation number in the province to date (for a priva- tized highway sector),” he said. : Fox said one of the rea- sons for the low acceptance vote was the uneasy rela- tionship the members have with their employer. ‘In my mind, their success will be tied to how positively they can do business with their employees.’ — BCGEU’s Jeff Fox The 380 highway services workers walked off the job in the early morning of Jan. 20 and took to the picket lines. Representatives from Emcon and the B.C. Govern- ment Employees Union sub- sequently met in Kelowna, and reached a tentative set- tlement five days later. But the employees voted 75 per cent to reject that agreement and staged a tar- get strike on Feb.5, which forced both sides back to the bargaining table. This time the negotiations the employees voting to ac- cept the new three-year pact. Fox said that, although the vote exceeded the needed 50 per cent plus one, the result is deceiving. paid off, with 70 per cent of Union spokesman Jeff He said that meant it was up to Emcon to make the deal work. “In my mind, their success will be tied to how positively they can do business with their employees,” he said. In addition to improve- ments in job security lan- guage, vacations and hours of work provisions, the con- tract will increase hourly wages $3.30 over three years. Fox said'although the em- ployees have accepted the contract, representatives from both sides still have to sign it. “There is a formal signing process that has yet to be un- dertaken,” he said, adding that it will take place in Mer- ritt within three weeks. BLUEBERRY CREEK RECREATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Feb. 20 7:00 p.m. Blueberry School ~ ANNOUNCEMENT The Central Kootenay Union Board of Health is pleased to announce that a grant in the amount of $15,000 has been received from the Ministry of Health. The grant is aimed at developing projects within a community in regard to the Ministry of Health "Strengthening the Family Initiative Program”. The purpose of this program is to build healthy individuals and strong families in caring communities, by enabling community participation in developing local programs. A committee has been appointed to facilitate the distribution of the funds. It is the intent of the committee to Provide support to projects aimed at individual locally developed programs or to develop a project which will benefit all areas covered by the Central Kootenay Union Board of Health. We invite applications from community groups or individuals for consideration of funding. - Further information can be obtained from Marguerite Rotvold, Grants Committee, 449-2642. Please note that the deadline is March 23, 1992. There's something for everyone! 365-2212 $30 io 1O Q MAYTAG ASHERS ° DRYERS *- DISHWASHERS ¢ REFRIGERATORS’ ¢ STACKED WASHER/DRYER : Mammography van coming to Castlegar NEWS STAFF One in nine women in Canada will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. But according to Sheila eee “it doesn’t have to be fa- “Early detection is the key,” the adminstrator of the B.C. Mammography Program says. The screening program was instituted by the provincial government to serve about 42,500 women in the Koote- nays. Working from a privately donated van, the program will provide free breast examina- tions to all women over 40. Women under 40 who would like to receive the po- tentially life-saving test must have a doctor’s referral. The screening mammogra- phy program will be in Castle- gar March 11,12,13, and 16. STAY TUNED ‘ CASTLEGAR i mazpa 713-17th St., Castlegar DL. 7956 CALL NOW COLLECT 365-7241 MAZDA—IT JUST FEELS RIGHT! Oi Genuine Mazda Parts & Accessories 6 Specialized Mazda you WE SURROUND Service WITH SATISFACTION FREE DELIVERY - 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH NELSON HOME FURNITURE HAS IT’S OWN IN-STORE FINANCING MAYTAG Until March 31, 1992 - [REFRIGERATORS | SAVE NOW! $75-5100) REBATE HOME Vir FURNITURE 352-6432