Trail Health & Environment Committee - Background 

If you were around Trail from 1990 to 2000, there’s a good chance that you heard about the Trail Community Lead Task Force more than a few times. The Lead Task Force was a committee with representatives from the City of Trail, the BC Ministries of Health and Environment, Teck and the community in general. The Task Force was a very successful example of industry/community/government cooperation that achieved international recognition as it worked to address concerns about lead and other metals in the Trail environment.  

Due to a combination of the Task Force’s programs, the start-up of the new lead smelter and other environmental improvements at Teck, the Task Force’s short-term goals for children’s blood lead levels were reached. Nonetheless, the Task Force wrapped up its term by setting new goals for the community and recommending that Teck, the City and Interior Health continue to monitor and improve local environmental conditions. 

In its final year, the Task Force consulted the community in developing its final recommendations. Many people told the Task Force that although they were very pleased with the improvements that had occurred through the 1990’s, they felt that a working group would still be needed to ensure that the Task Force’s recommendations would be followed and progress would be made toward long-term goals. 

The Task Force therefore recommended that a new committee of the City of Trail be formed to monitor the implementation of the Task Force’s recommendations and assist with public communication on progress made. The Trail Health & Environment Committee was formed in July 2001 and meets about four times per year. The mayor of Trail chairs the committee and some of the committee members also served on the Lead Task Force. Teck is a keen participant on the committee and is committed to doing its part to ensure that the goals are met. 

The Trail Health and Environment Committee produces a newsletter called “Reaching Out”. If you live in Trail, watch for this in your mail once or twice per year. You can also access current and archived newsletters here at www.thec.ca