Arctic Report Card 2016 points to increased Arctic warming

NUNATSIAQ NEWS Climate Change December 15, 2016 - 1:10 pm
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674arctic_report_card_2016_points_to_increased_warming/

NOAA has issued its Arctic Report Card every year since 2006.

You can read the 106-page report card here.

Petition fights to save BX Creek park

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Vernon posted Oct 5, 2016 at 8:00 AM

Greater Vernon residents are being urged to speak out against plans for a road in a wetland. The North Okanagan Naturalists Club has launched an online petition against the Ministry of Transportation’s plans to extend 20th Street through BX Creek Delta Park. “The roadbed, the road itself and sidewalks would reduce the wetland to little more than ditches,” states the petition. The ministry’s 20th Street extension is part of a proposal to improve safety conditions at Stickle Road and Highway 97. “People would loose a treasured greenspace which is very well used by walkers, runners, dog walkers, photographers, nature enthusiasts and commuters on foot or bike. It is an area filled with birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants. This is not the solution to Stickle Road,” says the club.” The club also makes a personal plea to Transportation Minister Todd Stone. “There is so little to be gained and so much to lose. Mr. Minister think long-term and think outside the box. It’s not worth losing another wetland for this,” it states. Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, supports the 20th Street extension but he doesn’t have a problem with the club’s petition. “They can certainly do that. It’s a free country,” he said. However, Foster insists significant work has been done by the ministries of environment and transportation while planning for the road. “There will be minimal impact on the wetland. There’s always been an intention to put a road in there,” he said. “We build roads every day and we have minimal impact.”

Fuel spill fouls beach

By Darren Handschuh - CASTANET Sep 25, 2016 / 3:00 pm

The stench of oil and gasoline wafted over Paddlwheel Park Sunday afternoon after a partially capsized boat began leaking hazardous fuels. Bob Montguire, with the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, was heading out onto Okanagan Lake from the Vernon Yacht Club with his partner at around 1 p.m. for their regular weekend patrol when they noticed the partially submerged red and white boat that was tied up to the dock. “We decided to check it out, and that's when we smelled the gasoline,” said Montguire from the scene. “A lot of dirty, mucky brown oil came out of it as well.” Montguire called the RCMP who responded along with Vernon Fire Rescue. Fire crews placed more than 100 feet of oil booms as well as absorbent material around the spill and called Ministry of Environment officials to help deal with the matter. VFR Chief Reinhard Mann said the oil slick extended from the yacht club to the far end of Paddlewheel Park. “We have contained the heavy oil and gas from around the boat,” said Mann. “It's leaking from the hull. We will try to absorb as much as we can, but pretty much the whole beach is contaminated. We're not sure how far out (into the lake) it extends.” The smell of gas is noticeable several meters from the water's edge. Mann said there is no way of knowing how much fuel was on the boat or how much has already leaked into the lake. Police will try and track down the owner of the boat. There is no word on how long the boat launch will be closed for or what all the clean up will involve.

Vernon Gets Charged Up

Posted on 9/23/2016 1:09 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

Vernon is the site of a significant milestone in BC's electric vehicle charging network. A BC Hydro pilot project to install 30 direct current fast charging stations throughout the province saw the final station, located on 31st Avenue near the Greyhound bus station in downtown Vernon, opened today. Energy Minister Bill Bennett told a news conference, BC has the largest charging infrastructure in Canada. "Transportation is responsible for about 30 to 35 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that we put into the atmosphere. Transportation is an area where we can really make a difference, and getting more electric vehicles on the road is obviously a positive thing," says Bennett, the Liberal MLA from Cranbrook, who is leaving provincial politics after 16 years next May. Fast charging stations can charge an electric vehicle battery to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. BC Hydro has been installing the stations since 2012 with support from all the levels of government. "This type of infrastructure doesn't happen without everybody being on side," Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster told the gathering. "That includes the folks from the electric car associations who have lobbied throughout Canada, but certainly here in BC. We lead the country, not only in electric cars, but in all the climate action files, and we're very proud of that." “BC Hydro is focused on removing barriers for our customers who want to own an electric vehicle,” says Keith Anderson, BC Hydro's vice president, Customer Service. “Electric vehicles can help British Columbians save money. Our electricity rates are among the lowest in North America, which means by switching to an electric vehicle you could save 75 per cent on fuel costs.” The 30 fast charging stations, which currently can be used free of charge, connect drivers from the Lower Mainland to Merritt and Kamloops, up to Whistler, Vancouver Island and the Southern Interior. "This is another clean, green initiative for our community, and communities all around BC. Environment is important," said Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund, who took a ride in an electric vehicle and couldn't believe how quiet it was.

Local Man receives Climate Change Innovator Award

2015 ANNUAL REPORT  (p.22)

Burst sewer line under repair in Vernon

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Dec 21, 2015 at 9:00 AM
The City of Vernon has experienced a failure on a pipe along Commonage Road, southwest of Allen Brooks Nature Centre.The pipe discharges from the sewer treatment plant on 25th Avenue to McKay Reservoir as part of the spray irrigation program, and the material is stored in the reservoir during the winter."The irrigation water does not contain any chlorine and poses no environmental concerns, nor does it affect services to the general public," said Tanya Laing Gahr, with the city."At this time, city crews are currently on-site working to complete the repair as quick as possible." Traffic disruption along Commonage Road can be expected during the construction. It's not known how long repairs could take.

Pellet plant air quality results prove positive

by Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star posted Dec 18, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Lavington’s pellet plant is providing evidence of being a good environmental neighbour. McCall Environmental was hired to conduct air emission testing on the dryers and stacks at Pinnacle Pellet Plant, which took place Nov. 11 and 12, 2015. “We’ve reduced emissions by 83.1 per cent,” said Leroy Reitsma, Pinnacle president. Test results show the combined emissions of the pellet plant and Tolko planer mill is .75 grams/second. That represents 16.9 per cent of the previously permitted emissions of the planer mill. “It’s a huge improvement to the local air shed,” said Reitsma. “We hope that this sets the community at ease.” Particulate matter has been a major source of resident concerns, with fear that the new plant would only exasperate the issue. “They think that there’s particulate matter in it (steam coming from stacks) and that’s why we test,” said Reitsma. The results show that all sources are operating well below permitted levels, which were set at the highest standards in the province for new pellet plants. The guideline for dryers is 50, while Pinnacle applied for a permit of 15 and tests show they are operating at less than half that, 6.81. The other stacks must be under the provincial guideline of 115, but were only permitted to be 15 and are actually much lower at 4.91 and 2.5. “I just hope that people can understand the results and they can see that we’re well below the promised levels,” said Reitsma. The findings have been presented to Coldstream council and the full report is available online at www.pinnaclepellet.com/pdfs/PP_pdf_Tolko-Q4-CF13-Stack-Test.pdf

It’s a “good news story” for the community, says Trevor Seibel, Coldstream’s chief administrative officer. “The total emissions now between Tolko and Pinnacle are significantly lower,” said Seibel. The testing, which was done by an independent third party, will continue annually with additional testing taking place on the dryers every three months for the next three quarters. Pinnacle has also taken steps to reduce the level of noise from the plant and believes its efforts are working. “I have not been hearing from the neighbours,” said Reitsma. Production at the plant is going well, with the first two months exceeding plans. The plant produced 370 metric tonnes of wood pellets per day in October (it budgeted for 318) and 575 in November (exceeding the 388 budget). The target is to reach 700.

Area director worried about lack of consultation for cutblock near Vernon

By Charlotte Helston INFO-TEL.CA November 25, 2015 - 8:00 PM
VERNON - A local politician has concerns about a proposed cutblock near Vernon — primarily that he wasn’t even notified about it. Electoral area C director Mike Macnabb says he wasn’t consulted about four proposed cutblocks covering a total of 261 acres on Vernon Mountain, even though the land is in area C. Macnabb has learned B.C. Timber Sales sent letters to local government officials in other electoral areas, but due to ‘an oversight’ didn’t notify him of the project, or the opportunity to provide input, which is due by Nov. 28. “The lack of due diligence in making sure the right people are contacted worries me,” Macnabb says. “In my view, if it was an oversight we can rectify that for the future and that’s good. At the same time, I have a feeling there’s perhaps a level of arrogance in some of the provincial ministries to just go ahead and do what they want without full consultation with the public and taking their view into consideration.” That lack of consultation was seen in the Cherry Creek logging project in Cherryville, he says, and also with a controversial transportation plan to reconfigure the Stickle Road and Highway 97 intersection. “I don’t think they would do something maliciously, but I do believe they have an obligation to involve the public. They have to be open and transparent,” Macnabb says. Macnabb will be requesting an extension of the Nov. 28 input deadline and requesting more details about the project. “My concern would be this is very close to a community, a fairly large community,” he says. “(The City of Vernon) is worried about the viewscapes, I’m more worried about the impact on adjacent landowners, people downstream that might be affected.” He says an area on Vernon Mountain used to be used as a forestry demonstration area, but that signage appears to be gone now. “People took great pride in showing off the best forestry practices,” Macnabb says. The City of Vernon is also requesting more information about the project.
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REFERRAL ON PROPOSED BCTS CUTBLOCKS IN THE OKANAGAN TIMBER SUPPLY AREA  (P.58 Vernon Agenda Package)

Shuswap boat ban proposal remains afloat

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Oct 11, 2015 at 1:00 AM— updated Oct 11, 2015 at 7:01 AM
No quick decision is expected on a proposed boat ban on sections of the Shuswap River. It could be January or February before the Regional District of North Okanagan has a firm direction on possibly pursuing restrictions on motorized vessels from south Mabel Lake upstream to Shuswap Falls and from Trinity Valley Road upstream to the eastern end of Skookumchuck Rapids Park. “We’re waiting for the outcome of the public questionnaires to decide where we will go with this,” said Herman Halvorson, director. “Absolutely no decision has been made. We have to finish off the process and that may take some time.” While some sections of the river could see motorized boats banned, it’s proposed that there be a vessel engine size limit of 10 horsepower from Mara Lake upstream to Trinity Valley Road. The ultimate decision on restrictions would be made by Transport Canada if the regional district decides to pursue the matter further. “The development of the Shuswap River watershed sustainability plan and subsequent consideration of boating regulations were in response to concerns regarding the Shuswap River watershed that have been raised within the community and with the regional board over the last 22 years,” said Anna Page, sustainability co-ordinator, in a report. “The SRWSP reflects the values, concerns and areas of interest of community members who participated in the planning process, one of which was the impact of motorized boats on land owners, other users and the natural environment.” As part of the process, more than 2,000 surveys have been received from the public about boat regulations. “Staff and a consultant are in the process of reviewing and analyzing this feedback and will endeavour to provide a summary and options moving forward in the coming months,” said Page. The potential future actions by the RDNO board include applying to Transport Canada for boat regulations, considering alternative regulations and not applying to Transport Canada. The current process covers from Shuswap Falls to Mara Lake, but there is always the possibility of a phase two in the future.“There are a number of residents from the dam to Sugar Lake who believe they should have been part of the process and want action,” said Bob Fleming, Electoral Area Advisory Committee chairperson.

Lavington pellet plant up and running

by Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star posted Oct 11, 2015 at 1:00 AM

Frustrations are being aired over a lack of air quality monitoring with Lavington’s new pellet plant up and running. Many Lavington residents are concerned about potential air quality impacts in the area with the newly constructed Pinnacle pellet plant. “I am in absolute shock and disgust at what has been spewing out into the air since Pinnacle started up their plant,” said Jennifer Brown, a Lavington resident who has filed complaints over air quality and noise. But Pinnacle president and COO Leroy Reitsma assures residents that there are significant air quality improvements being made with the new plant in place versus the old system of collecting shavings. “It’s night and day better than what it used to be,” said Reitsma, of the plant which started up Sept. 30 but just started producing pellets last week. “I haven’t seen anything that causes me any concern, but we are still making adjustments. “The emissions level that we’re seeing looks really good.” He does admit that there are louder than promised noise levels, which will be fixed. “We are working on a plan to quickly address those,” said Reitsma. One direct neighbour is pleased with the plant, saying, “it looks like it’s fairly clean burning.” Robyn Dalziel has lived next to the site for 25 years and says whatever is coming from the stacks is steam, not smoke. And she is looking forward to not having an inch of sawdust covering her fields every spring. “I think this (new plant) has helped rather than hurt,” said Dalziel. The frustration some other residents have is that promises were made long ago to put an air quality monitoring station in, but nothing has transpired. Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick says there are still plans to get the station installed, whether it be at the fire hall, elementary school or another location. “We did meet with the minister (Mary Polak, environment) and talked about the monitoring at the pellet plant,” said Garlick. “We discussed the monitoring of the plant and additional monitoring in the region. MoE supports monitoring the plant and plans to have the monitor in place by the end of November.” But Brown questions how residents are supposed to compare air quality when the station wasn’t installed before the new plant started up. Others share similar frustrations. “The citizens of Lavington have been more than patient on this matter,” said resident Tom Coape-Arnold. “Despite numerous public promises made by the MoE (Ministry of Environment) director of the time, (Coldstream’s) resolution that there be ambient air quality monitoring, and the inclusion of air quality monitoring as a requirement of the permit issued to Pinnacle, we have a facility that has commenced operations and no air quality monitoring going on.”

UN unveils 20-page negotiating text for Paris

5 October 2015, source edie newsroom

The United Nations (UN) has today (5 October) released a streamlined version of the negotiating text that will be used at the COP21 Paris Climate Conference in December.

The new document, drawn up by two co-chairs for the talks - Algerian diplomat Ahmed Djoghlaf and US counterpart Dan Reifsnyder - has been cut down from 89 to 20 pages, in a bid to provide a more succinct starting point for final round of pre-Summit talks in Bonn, Germany, later this month.

Paris 2015- 20 page draft agreement

Candidates, Minus One, Tackle Green Issues

Posted on 9/24/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Environmental issues were front and centre at the latest federal election forum in Vernon. About 150 people came out for the event Thursday, put on by the group SENS, the Sustainable Environment Network Society. Candidates Jacqui Gingras of the NDP, Chris George of the Greens, and Liberal Cindy Derkaz all said they -- and their parties -- were big environmental supporters, and one of the more enlightening questions was how their policies actually differ. The missing part of the debate was the Conservatives as candidate Mel Arnold opted not to attend. Other topics included how to stop blasting on Middleton Mountain, labelling for genetically modified food, climate change, making the local food system sustainable, recycling disposal fees, selling Canada's fresh water, pollution of waterways with mico-beads, and fracking. When asked about the environmental record of current Conservative MP Colin Mayes, George called it "a disaster," Derkaz gave him "a failing grade," and Gingras gave Mayes an F minus. The candidates take part in a forum at Okanagan College Friday night at 6 pm.

Giant goldfish multiplying in Alberta ponds Province launches campaign to curb invasive pet species

CBC News Posted: Jun 23, 2015 5:42 PM MT

The province is launching a campaign this summer to stop people from releasing their pet fish into the wild. Goldfish, some the size of dinner plates, are being found from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray, the province says. "It's quite a surprise how large we're finding them and the sheer number," said Kate Wilson, aquatic invasive species coordinator at Alberta Environment and Parks. In one case, the municipality of Wood Buffalo pulled 40 of the domestic fish species from a storm water pond. "That's really scary because it means they're reproducing in the wild, they are getting quite large and they are surviving the winters that far north," said Wilson. (more)

Local Communities Get Green Grants

Posted on 4/22/2015 by Ron Manz 107.5 KISSFM
The provincial government is providing 180-thousand dollars to eight North Okanagan communities to help reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Vernon leads the list getting over 88-thousand from the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program. Salmon Arm gets just under 50-thousand. Spallumcheen will receive 13-thousand and Coldstream just over 10-thousand. Communities reporting publicly on their progress toward meeting climate action goals are eligible to get 100 percent of the carbon tax they pay directly. 96 percent of BC communities have signed the Climate Action Charter.
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http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2013-2017/2015CSCD0020-000548.htm
http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/CARIP_Backgrounder_March_2015_02.pdf
Armstrong 2,700
Coldstream 10,463
Enderby 5,056
Lumby* 7,264
Spallumcheen 13,454
Vernon 88,481
North Okanagan* 14,588
Salmon Arm 49,938

Arctic apple approved

by Wayne Moore CASTANET - Mar 20, 2015 / 2:25 pm

The Summerland produced Arctic apple is safe for consumption in Canada. That's the conclusion of both Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which on Friday approved the apple for commercial sale in Canada following review of the product. The announcement comes just five weeks after the Arctic apple was approved for sale in the United States. In a letter sent to Okanagan Specialty Fruit, the producer of the apple, CFIA concluded Arctic apples "are as safe and nutritious as traditional apple varieties." The official decision document will become publicly available on its website at a future date. Health Canada concluded the apple "is safe for consumption, still has all its nutritional value and therefore does not differ from other apples available on the market." Friday's announcement concludes more than three years of review since Okanagan Specialty Fruits first initiated the government deregulation process in Canada. "Arctic apples' non-browning trait creates a wide array of benefits that offer value to the entire supply chain, especially consumers," said company president Neal Carter. "Arctic apples have been planted for 12 years and have completed review processes with the USDA, FDA, CFIA and Health Canada." The apple does not brown when bitten, sliced or bruised, which helps reduce food waste and improves its fresh-cut suitability, according to Carter. He expects the Arctic apple will be made available in small, test-market quantities in late 2016. Increasing amounts of fruit will become available in each successive year. Since being granted approval in the U.S., Okanagan Specialty Fruits was sold to Intrexon Corp. for $41 million.

Climate change to have a new foe in city hall

Posted: Monday, March 2, 2015 8:48 pm Ron Seymour Kelowna Daily Courier
Fighting climate change is good for employment at Kelowna City Hall. A new position, that of energy saving co-ordinator, will be created in the municipal bureaucracy this year, council heard Monday. The new staffer will provide recommendations on the ways in which greenhouse gas emissions from civic operations can be further reduced as the city moves toward its government-mandated, long-term goal of carbon neutrality. “The energy specialist is going to be very important,” Coun. Ryan Donn said after council received its annual briefing from staff on current and planned activities by the city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Those initiatives ranged from multi-million dollar transit improvements, including new bus routes and transit shelters, down to installation of high-efficiency lights at arenas and swimming pools. Other transportation measures included creating new cycling paths, building more sidewalks, and offering secure bike-storage lockers. “These all make it easier to get around Kelowna without a car,” said sustainability co-ordinator Tracy Guidi, who delivered the report to council. One particular energy-saving measure mentioned by Guidi includes deploying city sidewalk inspectors, who look for broken or cracked pavement that needs fixing, on bicycles. Standard practice has been for the staffers to be driven to an area, walk around for a while, then get picked up again and file their report. As they ride around on bikes, the inspectors can now use a GPS system to upload the precise location of sidewalks that need attention. “It’s instantaneous information,” Guidi said. Coun. Luke Stack said: “Very cool.” Mayor Colin Basran said the city had not only a legal, but a social responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible in the hope of sparking similarly responsible behaviour from private businesses and individuals. “I’m quite proud of the work we’re doing,” Basran said. “If we’re going to talk the talk, we have to walk the walk.”

The city has to provide the province with an annual report on all its GHG-reducing strategies to qualify for a refund of the carbon taxes paid by the municipality. In 2015, the city expects to get back about $234,000 in refunded carbon taxes, some of which will go to pay the salary of the new energy saving co-ordinator. Between 2007 and 2013, GHG emissions from all city-owned sources dropped by three per cent, from 8,017 tonnes of carbon dioxide to 7,781 tonnes. But measured against all GHG emissions produced in Kelowna, the city’s efforts are negligible. Through all its buildings, vehicle fleet and other civic operations, such as the wastewater treatment plant, the City of Kelowna generates just one per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions produced within the municipality. Emissions from private vehicles account for about two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions in Kelowna, with most of the rest coming from private homes and buildings. And total GHG emissions from all sources in Kelowna actually rose 5.5 per cent between 2007 and 2010, climbing from 698,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide to 736,000 tonnes.

Okanagan orchardists upset over genetically modified apples

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Feb 13, 2015 at 2:00 PM

Okanagan orchardists vow to fight a genetically modified apple despite U.S. approval. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to deregulate Arctic apple varieties developed by Summerland’s Okanagan Speciality Fruits. When cut, the apple does not brown. “We regret that the U.S. is approving the Arctic Granny Smith and Arctic golden delicious,” said Fred Steele, B.C. Fruit Producers Association pfresident. “The apple is considered a pure, unadulterated product, similar to milk. In a 2012 national survey of consumers, 71 per cent said they agreed that there should be categories of food that should not be genetically engineered. Our members would like the apple market to remain free of GM apples.” The BCFGA, representing 520 commercial tree fruit growers in the Okanagan, has opposed the approval of GM apples in Canada due to possible market backlash that could impact all apple sales. While the U.S. government has deregulated the Arctic apple, the product is not approved in Canada at this time. “If consumers want to be perfectly assured that they are not eating a GMO apple, then avoid purchase of U.S. Granny Smith and golden delicious apples,” said Steele. “We will advise the public when the product is approved in Canada, and seek to isolate any damage that the apple will cause in the marketplace by advising consumers how to continue purchasing apples while avoiding the Arctic apple, if they so desire. We would prefer if the Canadian government would place a moratorium on the Arctic apple, until we see the result of the market experiment in the U.S.” Officials with Okanagan Speciality Fruits says the U.S. decision has been two decades in the making. “For our fellow growers, this means that Arctic trees can now be purchased and grown just like any other apple trees,” said OSF’s Neal Carter in a blog. “For consumers, it means that we will be working hard to get as many trees in the ground as possible so that you’ll be able to purchase Arctic apples in stores within the next few years.” Carter says that because it takes apple trees a number of years to produce significant amounts of fruit, it will likely be 2016 before any Arctic apples are available for small, test-markets. “Following that, we expect increasing amounts of fruit each year, including additional non-browning varieties like Arctic gala and Arctic Fuji. “The supply-chain can feel confident knowing that Arctic apples are likely the most tested apples in existence. Rigorously reviewed by multiple regulatory bodies, all evaluations reach the same conclusion – Arctic apples present no unique risks and are just as safe and healthful as any other apple.”

Lavington pellet plant passes another hurdle

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 13, 2015 at 5:00 AM
A controversial proposal for a pellet plan in Lavington has overcome another hurdle. On Monday, Coldstream council voted 3-2 (Coun. Richard Enns was away) to issue a development permit for a pellet plant adjacent to Tolko Industries' mill on School Road. "The permit simply looks at the esthetics of the building, and does it meet the (district's) guidelines," said Mike Reiley, director of development services. One of the issues covered by the permit is landscaping. Many residents in Lavington are concerned that a pellet plant may impact air quality and create issues around noise, traffic and fire. "The development permit does not related to Agricultural Land Reserve land or if the Ministry of Environment has issued a permit to operate the facility. It's not related to emissions," said Reiley. Pinnacle Renewable Energy has received Agricultural Land Commission and Ministry of Environment approval for its proposal.

Tools to fight invasive species

by Bill Everitt CASTANET- Dec 5, 2014 / 2:30 pm

MPs Ron Cannan and Dan Albas were in Kelowna Friday to announce proposed regulations to battle invasive aquatic species. The regulatory framework would give provinces and territories new tools to prevent the introduction of these types of species to Canada, from other countries or within provinces and regions. "From an educational perspective, we are aware of the issue of invasive species coming into our community," Ron Cannan said. "Whether it's through a float plane or a boat, intentional or unintentional, the fact is that we want to ensure the health and productivity of all our water systems." The Department of Fisheries and Oceans currently has a $14-million budget to battle invasive aquatic species. If the new regulations are approved, any rollout costs would come from that pool of money until new funding initiatives come online. "Once in place, these regulations will help prevent species like Asian carp from establishing in Canadian waters and most importantly, give us new tools to battle them if they are introduced," said Dan Albas. "The proposed AIS regulations will ensure that the import, transport, possession and release of specific aquatic invasive species, including all species of Asian Carp and zebra and quagga mussels, are strictly prohibited." Currently, compliance with provincial rules regulating the movement of aquatic invasive species is voluntary. Albas said that the proposed regulations will give Canadian Border Service agents the authority to compel a person to comply with provincial and national regulations, a power they currently do not have. Tom Therriault, a research scientist with the DFO said there is "no silver bullet" for eradicating invasive species once they establish themselves in our waterways. "It's a species-specific response typically. But prevention is always the key," he said. The announcement coincided with a roundtable discussion with local stakeholders at the Kelowna Yacht Club. The new regulations will be published Dec. 6 in the Canada Gazette, Part I for a 30-day public comment period.

Province To Review Pellet Plant Soon

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 26 September 2014 06:00
BC's Environment Ministry has yet to start reviewing the plan for a wood pellet plant in Lavington. The ministry says they are still waiting for an updated proposal from Pinnacle Renewable Energy, including a new air dispersion modelling report, expected by the end of this month. Once they have all the information, ministry staff will assess the application and make a recommendation to the Director who will either grant a permit to discharge with conditions, refuse the application, or ask for more information. The plant -- planned for land near Tolko's mill and the elementary school -- has created opposition from residents over air quality and other issues. Pinnacle and Tolko have said the technology used will negate health hazards. The ministry has the final say on the proposal after Coldstream council gave it rezoning approval and the Agricultural Land Commission approved non farm use for the site.