While it may seem like a no-brainer that a proposed garbage incinerator would have to meet air pollution controls, the B.C. government is assuring concerned Fraser Valley residents that a proposed waste-to-energy project will indeed be subject to an environmental review.
Metro Vancouver is proposing a waste-to-energy project that would provide an alternative to landfilling municipal waste.
Neither a site nor an operator has been decided on yet, although Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster and the Tsawwassen First Nation have all expressed interest in hosting a waste-to-energy plant.
That has Fraser Valley residents concerned about air quality. Environment Minister Terry Lake issued assurances Monday that the proposal will be subject to a “full, mandatory environmental assessment” by the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO).
“We know air quality is a critical issue for citizens from Vancouver to Hope,” Lake said in a press release.
“Our government wants to assure them that any solid waste management project that burns municipal waste is subject to a full environmental assessment (EA), in addition to a number of authorizations, which can vary depending on the size and scale of the facility.”
Under the existing regulations, a new incinerator has to reach prescribed solid waste and energy thresholds to trigger an EA. But Lake said there will be an environmental review, regardless of the project’s scope.
Given the BCEAO’s track record, that may be small consolation for Fraser Valley residents who fear adding a second incinerator in the Greater Vancouver area, as Burnaby already has one.
According to a report by Vancouver-based environmental lawyer Mark Haddock, BCEAO has not rejected an application since 1995.
In addition to the environmental assessment, the province will also require that Metro Vancouver consult with Fraser Valley Regional District on any new facility or site.
