The Pinnacle Pellet plant east of 亚洲天堂 Lake continues to fail to meet provincial stack emission permit requirements. But that failure should not immediately be taken to represent a general air quality concern, says the B.C. Ministry of Environment.

The persistent difficulties faced by Pinnacle Pellet in bringing smoke stack emissions to within provincially regulated guidelines have been well documented.

Emissions from the two driers at the plant were tested in late February and April, 2013. Emission flow rates and particulate matter concentrations are measured against B.C. ministry of environment permit levels.

The plant operates two drier units each with its own smoke stack. Samples were taken at both stacks, on two separate dates, and measured against two separate provincial guidelines.

The first drier unit had mixed results, exceeding particulate matter content by 30 per cent on one test while holding proper flow rates. The second test had particulate emissions below permit levels, but at a flow rate that exceeded permit levels by approximately 27 per cent.

The second drier unit failed particulate matter emission standards on both dates, but came within flow-rate permit requirements on the first test. In one test, the total particulate matter measured at stack two exceeded permit levels by 100 per cent.

But particulate matter concentrations in stack emissions represent only one factor among many that contribute to air quality, or its absence.

According to Mark Love, head of environmental management based in Smithers, there is no direct correlation between stack emission test results and human health.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a combination of emissions plus the specific meteorology of the day that ultimately results in the potential for impact,鈥� Love explained.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not only the air quality from the stack perspective, but whether the air is moving or the emissions are accumulating in any significant amount.鈥�

The accumulation of particulate matter in the air is measured by the kind of ambient air quality monitor station that has been operating west of the plant in the Sheraton subdivision since April 24, 2013.

Pinnacle Pellet purchased the equipment and had it installed as part of a compliance agreement with the ministry of environment.

It continuously measures the level of fine particulate matter in the air (defined as matter 2.5 microns or smaller) downwind of the plant.

鈥淲e get a result every 10 minutes,鈥� said Love. 鈥淲e have not been concerned with the concentrations we have been seeing there and we have not received any complaints.鈥�

Provincially established standards for fine particulate matter are based on a 24 hour concentration level.

鈥淭hat value has never been exceeded at that station, we鈥檙e nowhere near that [threshold],鈥� Love said.

Love pointed out that there are no provincial standards for short-term exposure to high emission levels. For example, there are no standards regarding short-term increase in concentrations of fine particulate matter.

Stack emission permit requirements are not based on a health criterion. Permit requirements are based on what the province has determined can be realistically attained through the use of the best available air scrubbing technology.

As such, permit requirements are a starting point, but not a guarantee of good air quality. It is easy to imagine a scenario where permit requirements are met, but air quality is still adversely affected.

鈥淚f the meteorology and the topography of an area were such that the air didn鈥檛 go anywhere - disperse or dilute - you could have an accumulation of emissions that could exceed some threshold of acceptability,鈥� Love explained.

This  means that taking the success or failure of a stack emissions test to directly correlate to air quality is a mistake.

鈥淭here鈥檚 little to no relationship [between stack emissions and ambient air quality],鈥� Love said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a number of factors that could potentially conspire to give poor air quality, ambient-wise.鈥�

鈥淭he emissions of the plant, including those tested on those dates, have not resulted in air quality concerns west of the plant,鈥� Love explained.

Despite Lakes District 亚洲天堂 having received recent complaints regarding air quality concerns associated with the plant鈥檚 stack emissions, Love said that the ministry hasn鈥檛 received any public complaints since March 26, 2013.

Pinnacle Pellet and the province continue to work to bring stack emission to within permit requirements. According to Love, the story of emissions at the plant has been one of continuous improvement.

鈥淭hey have been implementing ongoing and continuous improvements,鈥� Love explained. 鈥淲e continue to work with them on upgrading [scrubber] works. We are optimistic that they will be able to meet requirements.鈥�