WHEREAS agricultural bio-mass or wood-fired boilers are a significant and rapidly increasing potential source of air pollution, especially Particulate Matter PM emissions, in various community airsheds in the province; AND WHEREAS current available emission control technology for these boilers already permits the attainment of a standard of 20 mgm3, and using this standard could lessen the impact on local air quality by reducing PM emissions: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to reconsider its proposed standard of 50 mgm3, as presented in the Agricultural Waste Control Regulation - Wood Fired Boilers Policy Intentions Paper, and replace it with the higher standard, that will protect clean air and public health, of 20 mgm3 for all boilers regardless of size, or re-post an intentions paper with the higher standard for boilers regardless of size for review by all stakeholders; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province be requested to substantially increase monitoring and enforcement of air emissions throughout British Columbia.
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT An intentions paper has been posted, input has been received and Ministry of Environment is in the process of preparing amendments.