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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 10, 2010 · 4 Chamber president says bylaw creates climate of uncertainty Continued from page 3 NPRI has listed Jempak GK Inc as the town's largest emitter of sulfur dioxide with 3.1 tonnes produced per year. "I deal with the federal and provincial people on the environment and our numbers are well within the means of their scopes. We have only one chemical, sulfur dioxide, to worry about and even that is well below the threshold for the federal and provincial requirements," said Taylor. "We are going to try to comply with this one. I've talked to our company and we do have scrubber systems and other pollution devices in place and our goal is to comply. We want to be good neighbours here. We have had a couple of open houses and invited our neighbours in here to see exactly what we make and what we do." Like Con-Cast Pipe Inc., Taylor said things have changed at Jempak GK Inc. since the NPRI released its 2008 report with new emissionsreducing modifications in place. A production decrease due to the recession may also help Jempak GK Inc. meet the Town's threshold, said Taylor. Laurie Tardif, of the landing gear/flight control systems manufacturer Goodrich Aerospace Canada Ltd., said there are many aspects of the air quality bylaw that require further clarification, but said the company would work with the Town to better understand how the bylaw will be implemented. The NPRI report lists Goodrich's Oakville facility as producing 1.3 tonnes of PM 10 per year, 435 kilograms of PM 2.5 per year and 20 tonnes of VOC per year. TRYING TO COMPLY: Con-Cast Pipe Inc. is taking measures to reduce the emissions from its Oakville facility. In a 2004 survey conducted by the Clarkson Airshed Study, it was found that industrial sources contributed 2370 tonnes of PM 10, 1770 tonnes of PM 2.5, 15960 tonnes of nitrogen oxide and 6504 tonnes of VOC to the airshed over the course of the year. It should also be pointed out that the same survey found vehicular emissions contributed 5,464 tonnes of PM 10, 1,751 tonnes of PM 2.5, 9,847 tonnes of nitrogen oxide and 4,591 tonnes of VOC to the airshed during the same period. Oakville Chamber of Commerce President John Sawyer said the greatest problem with the bylaw is the uncertainty it creates for businesses. "We all breathe the same air. It is very important to us that we have clean air. We strongly support the effective regulation of toxins where it is shown they have a negative impact on human health," said Sawyer. "What the bylaw does is even if you go through that whole (municipal approval) process there is no certainty you will be approved. What has happened is, what should be a scientific, fact-based process is becoming subjective and politicized. That's the major concern, you go through all this and it is still up to council whether you can operate." Sawyer also voiced concerns about the issue of who actually is a major emitter and the cost of finding out. The Town has stated businesses that emit FPM, or other pollutants that cause FPM, will be required to make a one-time report of emission levels to the Town. The Town has said there will be no charge for the reporting, however, Sawyer said determining those emissions levels could cost a company as much as $50,000. Sawyer also has a problem with the fee, which could run as high as $25,000, major emitters must pay to go through a municipal approval process they may not even win. Burton sees the amount as reasonable. "My belief is any major emitter of FPM, whose business would be put at risk over a $25,000 fee probably doesn't have much of a future anywhere," he said. Whoever is right, the importance of the issues surrounding the air quality bylaw cannot be underestimated. The Town's Director of Environmental Policy Cindy Toth has said that based on an annual concentration of 10 microgram/m3, there will be 80 premature deaths in Oakville attributable to PM 2.5 pollution every year. On the other hand, eight of the 14 industries on the NPRI's list are also on the Town of Oakville's Top 100 Employers list. Other facilities on the NPRI's list included the General Electric Canada Oakville Lamp Plant, which the Province put on the list producing 27 tonnes of VOC and 370 kilograms of PM 2.5 per year. Last summer however, the plant announced its Oakville production would be transferred to other plants by summer 2010. Greif Oakville was singled out with an annual emission of 25 tonnes of VOC, Procor for 13 tonnes of VOC, Vicwest Corporation for 13 tonnes of VOC, Tate ASP Access Floors Inc., for 19 tonnes of VOC, Royal Ready Mix Inc., for 955 kilograms of PM 10, Mancor Industries Winston Churchill Road facility for 614 kilograms of PM 10 and 489 kilograms of PM 2.5 and finally the Mancor Industries Royal Windsor Drive facility for 818 kilograms of PM 10 and 671 kilograms of PM 2.5. A spokesperson from Royal Ready Mix Inc., stated the company's emissions have decreased since 2008 due to a reduction in production and improvements to machinery. Includes: > Electric power hose > Power head > 9 piece tool set $ FOR ONLY 399 Giggles & Grub Dinner, comedy and live auction in support of the Halton Down Syndrome Association, breast cancer support service. 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