Meeting:  Tuesday, April 7, 2010

Trail City Hall - Meeting Room No. 2

7:00 pm

Committee Members in Attendance:

Al Graham for Dieter Bogs, Chair, City of Trail

Brad McCandlish, BC Ministry of Environment

Steve Hilts, Teck Trail Operations

Marylynn Rakuson, Community Rep

Graham Kenyon, Community Rep.

Dr. Nelson Ames, former MHO & THEC member

Jacquie Johnson, Interior Health

Ron Joseph, Community rep

Others in Attendance:

Andrea McCormick, SNC-Lavalin Environment

Dr. Karin Goodison

Ruth Beck, Circle B Services

MEETING MINUTES:  Dated February 2, 2010

• Accepted as presented

REPORTS

Interior Health - Jacquie Johnson

• Winter blood lead clinic results:
• Total - 58 children invited, 56 successfully contacted, 44 came in, 79% attendance rate
• New Clients - 27 new clients were invited to the winter clinic - 17 attended, 2 had elevated blood lead levels, 63% attendance rate for new clients
• Case Management clients - 29 contacted/invited, 27 attended, 2 had increased blood lead levels (one by 4 and other by 5), 2 East Trail cases had blood lead levels come way down (paint issue)

Community Program Office

• Sampling soil for Case Management clients and vegetable gardens has started
• Home renovation support: 17 clients for the year to date (maintaining a level of at least 4 per month)

Teck Report (attached with minutes)

• Question: what were the air arsenic numbers that were used in the Human Health Risk Assessments? Answer: as shown on the chart - earlier assessments used data from about 1999 (0.017 µg/m³). Most recent assessment used data from about 2006 (very similar).
• Question: what would have caused an increase in lead in air in 2009 if the stack emissions actually got lower? Answer: unmeasured “fugitive” emissions from plant buildings or roadways or stockpiles.
• Question: What is the rationale for soil sampling at schools and parks at this time? Answer: People have been asking recently about soil quality on school grounds and in parks. These areas were last sampled in 1989-92. Ground cover conditions may have changed in some of these locations, so it was decided it would be wise to look at these again. Results will be discussed by a THEC working group to reach any recommendations.

Consultation Program Update

• February 2, 2010, THEC decided to go ahead with two-phase consultation
• March 1, 2010 - Letter from Ministry of Environment recommending deferral, pending release of Health Canada’s blood lead guidelines
• March 15, 2010 - Consultation Working Group recommended to go ahead on our timeline for Phase 1 in May and Phase 2 in the fall
  • Health Canada guidelines are not likely until at least the end of this year
  • We always monitor guidelines and act proactively
• We have had numerous meetings with stakeholder groups, growing awareness in community - need to get on with consultation
• Could modify Phase 2 if needed, to focus on our local goals and programs that people need to hear about

Media Release

• Brad will send latest revision of media release to Alyn and ask PAB contact to get in touch with Alyn

Review of Phase 1 of the 2 Phase Consultation Plan - Ruth Beck

• Dinner event at the Riverbelle, Tuesday, May 11, 2010
  • THEC members to identify 3 - 5 people who should be invited and contact them personally. Ruth will send a reminder e-mail.
• Website to be live April 29^th
  • thep.ca and thec.ca cross referenced, with “reciprocal launch pages”
  • including: survey, fact sheets, FAQ and program information
• Message: This is a chance to contribute to your community.
• Suggestion: Have table in the mall on a Saturday
• Consultation Working Group recommends that “possible goals” be presented as a “first look” at goals and the context in which they are being developed

DECISIONS

• Resolved that THEC proceed with Phase 1 in May and plan to move forward with Phase 2 in fall

Carried

• Resolved that THEC send another letter to the Ministry of Environment Land Remediation Section outlining the timeline for Phase 2 and the participation we are requesting of them

Carried.

• Resolved that THEC ask in writing for commitment from Ministry of Environment to get back to us re: legal review of options for flexibility - in order to communicate with local governments over summer

Carried.

NEXT MEETING

Tentatively July 6, 2010 - in order to (hopefully) have something from the Ministry of Environment LRS in terms of clarification of what we can expect re. possible approval mechanism

Trail Health & Environment Committee Chair, Mayor Dieter Bogs says the Committee is seeking residents’ input because public participation is the key to success. “It’s time to set new goals and update the program. We have an opportunity to utilize new scientific knowledge to set new blood lead levels for children, further reduce smelter emissions and fine tune program activities to best meet the community’s needs.”

Mayor Bogs points out approximately 90 per cent of Trail-area pre-school children have blood lead levels below the international ‘level of concern’, 10 micrograms per deciliter. When the Task Force began in 1989, fewer than 20 per cent of local pre-schoolers had blood leads below the level of concern.

The Trail Area Health & Environment Program is a comprehensive community-led program developed through collaboration between the local community, Teck, Interior Health and the BC Ministry of Environment. Mayor Bogs says the program is unique in North America as a partnership between a major industry, a community and government to protect people’s health due to the presence of smelter metals in the environment.

The program has been praised by Environment Minister Barry Penner. “The Trail Health & Environment Committee has led the way in community involvement with a major industry in pursuit of environmental responsibility,” he says. “I support the work of the committee as it engages the community in a public consultation process and works toward a renewed program.”

Trail-area residents are encouraged to read program fact sheets and fill in a public comment survey. The best ways to participate are:
• Visit the new website at www.thep.ca
• Drop in to the Community Program Office at 1319 Bay Avenue on weekdays and Saturday May 8
• Attend a free public focus group dinner at the Riverbelle on May 11, call (250) 368-3256 for tickets
• On Saturday May 22, visit Maglios or Columbia Valley Greenhouse from 9 a.m. to noon, or Home Hardware or Canadian Tire from noon to 3 p.m.
“This is a great way for residents to contribute to the community and participants may win a prize,” says consultation coordinator Ruth Beck. People completing the public comment survey can enter a prize draw to win one of four gift certificates for home and garden wares from local businesses.

For more information contact: www.thep.ca or (250) 364-1262

–Mayor Dieter Bogs, Chair

Trail City Hall - Meeting Room No. 2

7:00 pm

Committee Members:

Dieter Bogs, Chair, City of Trail Alternate: Councillor Al Graham

Jacquie Johnson, Interior Health Authority

Brad McCandlish, BC Ministry of Environment

Steve Hilts, Teck Trail Operations

Valerie Pitman, Interior Health Authority

Graham Kenyon, Community Rep.

John Crozier, Councillor, Village of Warfield

Ron Joseph, Community Rep.

Marylynn Rakuson, Community Rep.

Clare Dewitt, Community Rep.

Craig Adams, Community Rep.

Gord Menelaws, USWA Local 480

Invitees:

Griff Welsh, Mayor, Village of Montrose (or designate)

Libby Nelson, Mayor, Village of Fruitvale (or designate)

Greg Granstrom, Mayor, City of Rossland (or designate)

Ali Grieve, Director, RDKB Area A

Marie Christiansen, Director, RDKB Area B

Gordon Zaitsoff, Director, RDCK Area J

MEETING MINUTES:  Dated February 2, 2010

REPORTS

Interior Health

Program Office

Teck

Consultation Program

• Update
• Items from Property Issues Task Group
• Items from Consultation Working Group

NEXT MEETING

TBD

Interior Health (Jacquie Johnson - (250) 364-6223)

• Blood lead testing, focusing on children less than 3 years of age, living in Trail or Rivervale
• Counseling and services for families with children who have elevated or rising lead levels
• Community and early childhood education about preventing lead exposure
• Located at Kiro Wellness Centre, 1500 Columbia Avenue in East Trail

Trail Area Health & Environment Program Office (250) 368-3256

• Home Renovations Support Program
• Garden soil testing program
• Located at SNC Lavalin Environment office: 1319 Bay Avenue in downtown Trail

Trail City Hall - Meeting Room No. 2

7:00 pm

Committee Members in Attendance:

Dieter Bogs, Chair, City of Trail

Jacquie Johnson, Interior Health Authority

Brad McCandlish, BC Ministry of Environment

Steve Hilts, Teck Trail Operations

Valerie Pitman, Interior Health Authority

John Crozier, Councillor, Village of Warfield

Marylynn Rakuson, Community Rep.

Others in Attendance:

Libby Nelson, Mayor, Village of Fruitvale

Dr. Nelson Ames, former MHO & THEC member

Mike Martin, Teck Trail Operations

Cheryl Yates, Interior Health

Andrea McCormick, SNC-Lavalin Environment

Ruth Beck, Circle B Services

MEETING MINUTES:  Dated September 10, 2009

• Accepted as presented

REPORTS

Interior Health

• Fall 2009 children’s blood lead testing clinic results
  • Presentation of participation rates and blood lead results by Jacquie Johnson
  • Presentation is attached to minutes, and in “Reports” section on www.thec.ca

1.     Steve commented that the clinic participation rates (overall participation of 74%, with 83% of target age group participating from the higher risk areas near the smelter) continue to be outstanding, compared with those in similar programs in other communities. Steve commended Jacquie for increasing participation rates over 2008.

2.     Steve commented that the results of the survey on the Home Renovation Support Program show that it is worth making increased efforts to expand awareness of the program, as the percentage of home renovators who reported using program was high (74%) among those who said they were aware of the program.

3.     Ruth noted comments made by Dr. Ames recently that the program should be improved to ensure that all renovators follow the program, because it seems that every year, there are children who are exposed unnecessarily to construction/renovation dust.

4.     Nelson noted that it is important to emphasize that slide 13, which shows the numbers of children in various blood lead ranges, includes all children tested this fall, not just the target age group/area, so the denominator is 144, not 100.

5.     Nelson remarked that the number of children older than 36 months who participated seems high, given that they weren’t specifically invited for testing unless they had previously been in the Case Management group.  Jacquie replied that many of those older children had been tested in the last two years, when the target age range include children up to 60 months, and their parents just wanted them to come in again.

o   Presentation of comparison with other sites, time trend analysis for Trail blood lead data, quality control data and environmental data by Steve Hilts (included in same Powerpoint presentation)

1.     Steve noted that Trail continues to be at the forefront in terms of reduced lead exposure among smelter sites, but that the average blood lead level in Trail pre-school children has been essentially steady over the past six years. Trail’s average of 5.6 µg/dL is higher than the U.S. national average (most recently measured at 1.7 µg/dL) and the average level found in Hamilton, Ontario (3.0 µg/dL, based on results reported for 41 children tested).

Teck

• Presentation of report (attached)
• Home renovations support program:
  • Ruth noted that it appears that a high proportion of people using the HRSP are also participants in the blood lead testing program, based on a comparison of the data for HRSP use from Mar-Nov 2009 (22 users) and the data from the survey during the clinic (17 users between Sept 2008 and Sept 2009).
• Soil assessment and yard remediation/assistance:
  • Dieter asked whether Teck would be doing follow-up monitoring of clean, replaced soils. Andrea responded that follow-up monitoring would be started in 2010 and would continue for some 3-5 year, or more, depending on results.
• Lower Columbia Ecosystem Management Plan
  • Omitted from report (summary handout attached to minutes)
  • Steve indicated that timing of stakeholder consultation for LCEMP is uncertain
  • Nelson asked whether the establishment of the Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area and an endowment fund for its management, is an example of the kinds of actions that to come out of LCEMP. Steve replied that the Fort Shepherd is a good example - something that Teck went ahead with ahead of development of the plan and which the company hopes will be recognized as an ecological off-setting action.
• Air quality
  • Update as per attached report

Consultation Working Group

• Consultation planning and discussions with Ministry of Environment
  • Ruth summarized that the “pre-consultation” with key stakeholders had led to a tentative conclusion that the “Wide Area Site” approach to formal approval of a “remediation plan” for Trail was preferred overall, there remained some concerns. Subsequently, the Ministry of Environment has indicated a willingness to seriously explore whether the approach might be modified, through changes to the Act and Regulation in 2011, in order to retain the positive aspects of the current Wide Area approach, while minimizing any negative aspects.
• Recommended next steps towards public consultation
  • The Consultation Working Group recommends proceeding with the public consultation in spring 2010, with the scope to include a review of programs and goals and update and discussion on the mechanism(s) for formal provincial approval.
  • Recommended next steps:

1.     Write up a summary of the November 16^th meeting, to send to the MoE for review/agreement:

• What was agreed to at the meeting
• Steps the THEC will be taking to continue with consultation
• Outstanding issues and who is responsible for follow-up on each

2.     Develop clear and succinct information to use in reconnecting with all the people with whom we connected during the “pre-consultation”.

o   Mike Martin asked what exactly is meant when we refer to “the approval” and Ruth replied that there are three facets:

1.     Legal approval by the MoE of elements of THE Program which the Ministry would have authority to approve,

2.     Overall approval of THE Program by THEC and implementing parties

3.     The “sign-off” or “endorsement” by the community.

NEXT MEETING

• Feb. 2, 2010

Teck Report

Home Renovation Support Program

• Being renamed to Home Renovation Support to better reflect the majority of program use.
• Newpick up location for safety supplies at Century Vallen - 1608 Bay Avenue
• Storefront set up at SNC Lavalin for the Community Programs Office - 1319 Bay Avenue
  • reception area
  • worktable
  • computer station
• Waiting on final logo design to order brochures and window decals
• HRSPrequests for Fall 2009 - 8
  • September - 2
  • October - 5
  • November - 1
• Total requests in 2009 - 22

Soil Assessment and Yard Work

• Assessment
  • Garden Sampling:

§  44 requests in 2009

o  Shallow Yard Assessment (Case Management):

§  3 properties tested following results of fall blood testing

§  No results available yet

o  Deeper Yard Assessment (Tadanac)

§  8 properties sampled this fall

§  Looking for “historical buried residue”, found previously on portions of 2 properties

• Remediation
  • Gardens - 7 properties
  • Yards (Case Management) - 6 properties
  • Soil and Sod Delivery (Prevention) - 10 properties
  • Yards (Tadanac) -wrappedupwork on the 4 properties started in 2008

Air Quality/Emissions Update

• Data charts in Powerpoint Presentation
• Lead:
  • unusually high lead in ambient (community) air in first three quarters of 2009 - approximately 0.5 µg/m³ (WHO guideline level). Still well below BC Objective.
  • return to typical levels so far in Q4 2009 - approximately 0.3 µg/m³
  • no increase in stack releases this year (in fact, continuing to decrease)
  • Trail smelter’s releases of lead to air are lowest in industry.
  • cause of increase in 2009 not positively determined, but most likely related to Copper Drossing Furnance baghouse performance (recently replaced all bags and seals) and a new, drier lead concentrate
• Arsenic:
  • Unusually high arsenic in ambient (community) air from late 2006 through mid 2009 - approximately 0.06 µg/m³. Still well below BC objective.
  • Return to typical levels so far in Q4 2009 (approximately 0.03 µg/m³)
  • Stack emissions of arsenic were higher in 2007, 2008, 2009. Main source is refinery scrubber stack, which has several processes feeding into it. This area has been, and will continue to be next year, main focus for arsenic emission reductions.
  • Trail smelter’s releases of arsenic to air are amongst lowest in industry.

Trail City Hall - Meeting Room No. 2

7:00 pm

Committee Members:

Dieter Bogs, Chair, City of Trail Alternate: Councillor Al Graham

Jacquie Johnson, Interior Health Authority

Brad McCandlish, BC Ministry of Environment

Steve Hilts, Teck Trail Operations

Valerie Pitman, Interior Health Authority

Graham Kenyon, Community Rep.

John Crozier, Councillor, Village of Warfield

Ron Joseph, Community Rep.

Marylynn Rakuson, Community Rep.

Clare Dewitt, Community Rep.

Craig Adams, Community Rep.

Gord Menelaws, USWA Local 480

Additional invitees:

Griff Welsh, Mayor, Village of Montrose (or designate)

Libby Nelson, Mayor, Village of Fruitvale (or designate)

Greg Granstrom, Mayor, City of Rossland (or designate)

Ali Grieve, Director, RDKB Area A

Marie Christiansen, Director, RDKB Area B

MEETING MINUTES:  Dated September 10, 2009

REPORTS

Teck

• Home renovations support program
• Lower Columbia Ecosystem Management Plan
• Air quality

Consultation Working Group

• Consultation planning and discussions with Ministry of Environment
• Recommended next steps towards public consultation

Interior Health

• Fall 2009 children’s blood lead testing clinic results

NEXT MEETING

• Feb. 2, 2010?

Trail City Hall - Meeting Room No. 2

7:00 pm

Committee Members in Attendance:

Dieter Bogs, Chair, City of Trail

Jacquie Johnson, Interior Health Authority

Brad McCandlish, BC Ministry of Environment

Steve Hilts, Teck Trail Operations

Valerie Pitman, Interior Health Authority

Graham Kenyon, Community Rep.

Clare Dewitt, Community Rep.

Craig Adams, Community Rep.

Others in Attendance:

Andrea McCormick & Mark Stromberg, SNC-Lavalin Environment

Mike Martin & Darin Cooper, Teck Trail Operations

Chris Stroich, BC Ministry of Environment

Ruth Beck, Circle B Services

Alyn Edwards, Peak Communicators (by phone for portion of meeting)

MEETING MINUTES:  Dated May 20, 2009

• Accepted as presented

REPORTS

Interior Health

• Jacquie reported that IH identified a total of 177 children to contact for blood lead testing this fall. This includes all children aged 6 to 36 months living in the target neighbourhoods (all City of Trail, plus Rivervale), plus children aged 36-60 months whose previous results warrant continued follow-up, plus children aged 37-60 months, new to the target area.
• Steve noted that this is a notably increase in the number of children invited, from 143 in 2008.
• Jacquie reported that approximately 70% of appointments have been booked, and noted that some of the parents whose children are at lower risk, based on previous results, are electing to bring their kids back in for testing.

Teck

• Steve distributed a brief report (attached).
• Dieter asked about availability of the Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment reports. Steve replied that the Eco RA reports are on www.teck.com and the Human Health RA summary report is on www.thec.ca. In addition, the reports are provided to the Trail Public Library. Dieter asked that the final summary reports be provided to City Hall in hard copy.
• Darin reported that special testing was conducted at the refinery last week to confirm that whether the proposed improvements being considered for the refinery scrubber will be effective.
• Dieter asked about the status of the “fingerprinting” equipment for air emissions and ambient air monitoring. Darin reported that the equipment is functioning fine, and data analysis is progressing, but the “fingerprinting” of sources and matching them up to measurements in the community is proving to be more difficult than hoped, due to the degree of variability in emissions and weather conditions.

Communications Update for the Consultation Program

• Alyn Edwards gave a summary and progress report on the communications plan and draft materials for the consultation. The new video was previewed by the committee and Alyn noted that the very fact that the committee had produced this video might be newsworthy in itself. A key communications piece to prepare next is the community newsletter, which should flow quite easily from the Fact Sheets and FAQs that have already been drafted.

Property Issues Task Group

• Recommendation regarding approach to formalizing the Trail Area Health and Environment Program
  • That the THEC proceed with seeking formal Ministry of Environment approval for the Trail Area Health and Environment Program and designation of a Community Program Area (Wide Area Site), subject to support/endorsement from the affected municipalities and rural areas.
• This recommendation was adopted by consensus by the THEC. The precise form or expression of support/endorsement from the affected communities is to be determined. Dieter indicated that it is most likely that City support will consist of receipt by Council of a report from the THEC at the conclusion of the public consultation, as this is the procedure followed in all undertakings by the THEC.

Consultation Working Group

• Recommendations regarding 2009 Public Consultation Program
  • That Brad coordinate the further review/revision of draft media release number one through the Land Remediation Section of MoE, the Public Affairs Bureau and Minister’s Office
  • That Nelson Ames look into the possibility of the Provincial Health Officer providing a quote about the Program hitting all of its goals for children’s blood lead levels.
  • That the public consultation proceed, with media releases on October 6 and October 8, consultation launch October 8, and the main public open house event on October 20.
  • That the evaluation plan for the consultation proceed as presented, without polling, and with additional questions tracking the representativeness of consultation participants, and their level of support for THE Program

DECISIONS

• Proceeding with Consultation Plan, as per latest schedule (above).
  • Supported by consensus
• New goals to be proposed for THE Program:
  • Blood lead:

§  For children aged 6-36 months living in the blood lead testing area, the average blood lead level will be 4 ug/dL or lower by 2015.  This average corresponds approximately with 95% of children having blood lead levels less than 10 ug/dL (the international level of concern).

o   Air quality:

§  For lead and arsenic in community air, to return to, then surpass the industry-leading performance levels of recent years in Trail.  New standards for lead (0.20 µg/m³ in Ontario) and arsenic (0.006 µg/m³ in the European Union) are proposed as longer term targets for Trail. (Levels of lead and arsenic in community air are below applicable objectives for British Columbia. Stack emissions from the smelter are below permit limits and among the very lowest in Canada for the sector.  However, in the past several years, concentrations have risen slightly from the lowest levels that were achieved in the 2001-2005 period.)

o   Participation:

§  For children aged 6-36 months living in the blood lead testing, to achieve at least a 75% participation rate in annual fall testing clinics

§  To find ways to measure and increase participation in the Home Renovation Support program within the next year.

o   All supported by consensus

• Letters to formally advise BC MoE of proposed THE Program and consultation plan, and of desired future amendments to the Regulation
  • Supported by consensus

NEXT MEETING

o   Review blood lead testing and public consultation results:            Wednesday, November 25^th

Postscript to Minutes as of November 5, 2009:

• The Public Consultation has been postponed, due to an identified need to continue positive discussions about the options for formal approval of the program, with the Ministry of Environment and with the City of Trail and other local governments. A new schedule for public consultation has not yet been set, but it is now most likely to occur in spring 2010.

MEETING MINUTES: Dated May 20, 2009

REPORTS

Interior Health

Teck

Communications Update for the Consultation Program

• Communications plan and draft materials

Property Issues Task Group

• Recommendations regarding 2009 Public Consultation Program

Consultation Working Group   

• Recommendations regarding 2009 Public Consultation Program

DECISIONS

• Proceeding with Consultation Plan, as per latest schedule
• Proposed new goals for THE Program
• Letter to formally advise BC MoE of preferred approach

NEXT MEETINGS

• To review consultation presentation/materials?:               Sept, Oct ?
• To review Fall 2009 blood lead testing results:                Nov 17?

Meeting: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Trail City Hall – Meeting Room No. 2
7:00 pm

Committee Members Present:

Dieter Bogs, Chair, City of Trail Alternate: Councillor Al Graham
Dr. Nelson Ames, Interior Health Authority
Brad McCandlish, BC Ministry of Environment
Steve Hilts, Teck Trail Operations
Valerie Pitman, Interior Health Authority
Graham Kenyon, Community Rep.
John Crozier, Councillor, Village of Warfield
Marylynn Rakuson, Community Rep.
Craig Adams, Community Rep.

Others in Attendance:

Andrea McCormick, SNC Lavalin Environment
Darin Cooper, Mike Martin – Teck Trail Operations
Chris Stroich, BC Ministry of Environment

PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:  Dated March 3, 2009 – accepted as presented.

REPORTS

Interior Health (Valerie Pitman)

• Valerie reported that she has accepted a new position as Team Leader for the public health nurses with IH, but that she will remain involved with the THEC and the public consultation program, at least through the remainder of 2009.
• Over the past 1.5 months or so, Valerie has noted an increase in the number of new families requesting home visits.  Some of these families are new to the area, while others have lived here for a while, but have not previously participated.  She speculated that the interest may have arisen due to the soil testing program or advertisements about the Work Project Assistance Program.  The home visits allow Valerie to familiarize the families with the program and to invite them to participate in the fall blood testing clinic for pre-school aged children.

Teck

• Steve reported that Georgio Akiki, Environmental Engineer, will be leaving Teck to pursue a masters degree in environmental management in Europe.
• Work Project Assistance Program (WPAP - Andrea)
  • Program is being accessed through new location – SNC Lavalin Environment office on Bay Avenue - signage/sandwich board in place.
  • The office has received many inquiries about the program, with people walking in off the street because they have noticed the sandwich board or heard the ads.  The number of people actually utilizing the program has been one to four per month.
  • Ron Joseph provided two copies of the WPAP CD for any committee members who are interested in viewing the overview/training presentation.
• Case Management Program - “yard services” (Steve and Andrea)
  • Teck has now relieved Interior Health staff of the responsibility for arranging and overseeing yard repair/remediation services for families of children with elevated or rising blood lead levels.  Valerie still conducts the initial home visits, which include an assessment of whether bare soil areas in the yard may need to be addressed.  Teck’s consultant, SNC Lavalin Environment, takes care of sampling/analysis and works with Valerie and a contractor to carry out work such as lawn repair, small areas of patio block, small areas of soil replacement, etc.
  • John, a relative ‘newcomer’ to the committee, asked whether Teck analyzes samples only for lead - what about other smelter-related elements, such as arsenic.  Steve replied that although the main emphasis is on lead, samples are generally analyzed for a full suite of metals.  A great deal of testing has been done for other metals in the environment over the past ten years or so.  The assessment of that data has shown that arsenic in air soil and dust, and cadmium in soil and dust are the other elements of potential concern, although the risk of adverse health effects after even a lifetime of exposure to these elements in the Trail environment is low.  The second priority currently, after continuing to prevent exposure to lead by pre-school aged children, is to further reduce emissions of arsenic to air from the smelter.
• Air issues update (Steve and Darin)
  • Steve and Darin presented an update on investigations and actions to address arsenic emissions from the plants (attached to paper copy of minutes).
  • In summary, Teck is still working toward having an emission reduction plan for the “Lead North” (Refineries) area for presentation to the BC Ministry of Environment by the end of June.  The target is to reduce arsenic emissions from the Refinery Scrubber Stack by 80%.  Over the past several years, the measured arsenic emissions from the Refinery Scrubber Stack have made up about 80% or more of the measured emissions from the site.  Action taken to reduce arsenic emissions at the Refineries will also result in reduced lead emissions.  Over the past several years, measured lead emissions from the Refinery Scrubber Stack have been roughly equal to those measured from the #2 Slag Fuming Furnace (Dracco baghouse) stack.
  • Teck is continuing to investigate all possible sources of arsenic emissions, both from stacks and ‘fugitives’, to build a better understanding of other contributing sources and to evaluate options for other actions.
• Other issues:
  • Dieter mentioned that there had been ‘white spots’ observed on vehicles in downtown Trail several weeks earlier.  Darin noted that there was an issue with a cooling tower (source of gypsum) at the end of April, which was repaired, and asked that anyone observing ‘white spots’ contact Teck right away if it happens again.
  • Valerie mentioned that several residents of Rivervale had asked her about the slag pile above their neighbourhood.  Steve replied that the slag stored near Stoney Ck, upslope from the south end of Rivervale, is treate slag that is ‘on spec’ for sale to the cement industry as ‘ferrous granules’.  The stockpile accumulates over winter due to the seasonal nature of the cement/concrete industry.  The metal content of the granules is quite low, and the bioavailibility of that metal is low.  The coarse particle size makes this material fairly resistant against wind transport, but Teck has been testing several different dust binder products that can be applied to the granules to minimize dusting.

Consultation Working Group (Steve Hilts)

Steve reported that the Property Issues Task Group has met three times since April and has made considerable progress in its discussions and research on the best way to achieve Provincial approval for the Trail Health and Environment Program. There are still some questions/options to be investigated further, and the Task Group is continuing to work on these.

The Working Group now feels that the property issues should be integrated with the health and environmental issues in one overall consultation program, rather than handled separately. There will still be opportunities for those who are more interested in one particular issue set to obtain more information and provide more detailed input.

The Working Group also feels it will be very important to consult with and involve the other local area governments (Montrose, Area A, Area B at a minimum) prior to the consultation launch. Dr. Ames stated that, in his opinion, it will be important for there to be political involvement/support from the City of Trail and Warfield in order for the committee/Teck to succeed in engaging the other community leaders. Dieter agreed to provide support as needed and requested that an ‘action plan’ be developed, as well as a letter from the THEC to invite and encourage the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary to come back to the THEC table. He also recommended that the process of re-engaging other local governments should go step-by-step, as there is a lot of information to retain and understand.

The sub-committee recommended the following revised schedule for the public communication/consultation program:

Pre-launch planning: April-August
THEC meeting Sept 9^{th
Consultation launch: Sept 15th}
Introductory Presentations to Groups: Sept 16-30
Open House & Working Meetings: October
Evaluation: November
Reporting: December

Regardless of whether a preferred approach to regulatory acceptance is agreed upon, the consultation on THE Program could be launched Sept 15^th as long as all key elements of the program are prepared and the other local governments have been briefed. If this is not achieved by the Sept 9^th meeting of THEC, the consultation would be deferred again.

In other words:

Plan A = Approach to achieving regulatory acceptance is agreed upon - proceed with entire consultation program,

Plan B = Approach to achieving regulatory acceptance not yet agreed – proceed with consultation on the other program elements, or

Plan C = Further defer the consultation if appropriate/necessary at the time

NEXT MEETING

“Farewell event for Dr. Ames”: September 1^st – Tuesday – details to follow

Regular meeting: September 9th – Wednesday – 7:00 pm – Trail City Hall