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Trains major source of local pollution, study finds |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 25 September 2008 |
A new significant source -- diesel locomotive emissions -- has emerged as a contributor to the smallest fine particulate air pollution in downtown Prince George, according to the preliminary findings of a long-awaited study obtained by The Citizen.
The complex computer-modelling exercise -- outlined in a more than 300-page technical report that is now undergoing review -- predicts that permitted industries like pulp mills and sawmills account for 30 per cent of the fine particles 2.5 microns or smaller at the Plaza monitoring site downtown. The small particles are about 1/20 the width of a human hair, and are more commonly known as PM2.5.
The forestry sector has been a factor in previous emission inventories, and the pulp sector was named as a significant source of fine particulate downtown in a separate study earlier this year.
However, the predicted 28-per-cent contribution from locomotives downtown is a new finding.
The report notes that while Canfor does operate a pair of switcher locomotives at its Northwood pulp yard, the bulk of the locomotive emissions are attributed to the only railway company operating in the Prince George area, CN.
Also on the list as contributors to PM2.5 downtown in the preliminary findings of the modelling study are commercial sources (10 per cent), on-road dust (9 per cent), secondary formation (7 per cent), residential sources (6 per cent), wind-blown particulates (5 per cent), on-road mobile sources (3 per cent) and open burning (3 per cent).
The modelling, using an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-endorsed program called CALPUFF, shows that wind-blown fine particles and on-road dust play a bigger role in the contribution to particles 10 microns and smaller, called PM10. That's true downtown, at the BCR industrial site and in College Heights. However, industrial sources and locomotives continue to play a role in these areas as well.
The study -- three years in the making, and a year behind schedule already -- includes cautions on its findings.
The report's conclusion calls the study's inventory, modelling system and modelling results adequate at best.
The report noted that many sources had been characterized, but too many have uncertainty. It is expected that some sources probably have not been identified.
The report also noted that constant updates are necessary, pointing out that the emission inventory, in the year 2008, is already falling out of date.
Officials responsible for the study stressed that despite its uncertainties, the findings will lead to an air pollution reduction plan. In particular, the findings will address a critical gap in the contribution of point sources, says Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable chair Mellissa Winfield-Lesk.
Point sources largely come from industry.
"I would hate anybody to come away from this thinking, 'Oh, all these uncertainties that were identified in this report, now it's useless.' It's not. It will definitely be used and applied," said Winfield-Lesk.
The report also makes 30 recommendations with a focus on upgrading the modelling system and improving the emission inventory for further study. Winfield-Lesk stressed that any call for further studying will not stop the roundtable from acting on the latest findings.
The study was spearheaded by the Prince George Air Quality Implementation Committee, recently renamed the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable. It has representatives from the province, city, industry, Northern Health and the public, many of which contributed to the $210,000 cost of the study.
Roundtable officials -- after consulting with other committee members -- declined to comment on the specific content of the report because its review is not complete. A third-party reviewer is to be hired with a report due at the end of November.
Following the modelling study's completion, an updated report, although not necessarily in its full, technical form, will be presented to the air quality roundtable.
However, it will likely push the release of the report for public consumption and the creation of the next stage in a fine particulate pollution reduction plan into 2009.
Daniela Fisher, the recently-hired air quality co-ordinator for the roundtable, said the delay is unfortunate, but it was important to get the study right.
The new findings will also be weighed against previous research, said the officials.
A study released in April used chemical signatures to determine the source of particulates collected on filters at the downtown monitoring site. That study by California-based Sonoma Technologies Inc. found pulp mill emissions, mobile sources (particularly from diesel trucks and gas cars) and wood burning were the major contributors. It didn't single out diesel locomotives.
The Prince George advocacy group, the People's Action Committee for Healthy Air (PACHA), has been pushing for a greater focus on industry air pollution reductions. PACHA president Dave Fuller says despite continuing studies, he see little evidence of action. "The only source that consistently ranks in these studies is industry -- pulp mills and sawmills -- but we've never seen any real movement by industry," said Fuller, who has not seen the report.
He said he believes there will be no change unless the provincial government sets reduction targets.
A Citizen investigation, published last fall, found that little urgency had been applied to improving air quality in Prince George in the past decade.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 September 2008 )
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