Has the final draft version of the Lower Athabasca Integrated Regional Plan fallen off your radar? Why should you care when you have more than enough to worry about as it is?
For your own sake, and for your friends and family who need to breathe clean air, let us give you one more thing to think about right now. And not just think, but act as well.
The Minnie Lake Conservation Society (MLCS) is asking area residents to take a look at the Discussion Guide (really the public feedback workbook), page 26 and also page 52 of the Draft Plan. These are online at www.landuse.alberta.ca. Many parts of the plan seem very positive, but this is not one of them. See for yourself that only two compounds are listed for monitoring as triggers and limits in the air quality framework that is being proposed in the draft plan.
Just these two compounds, after all this time? After so many citizens have continually been asking for more and better air shed monitoring over the last several years, definitely not less! It is very hard to believe that even though the draft plan recognizes that the entire region is to be increasingly affected by heavy oil development, there are only nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide being proposed as air quality triggers and limits. We can’t help but wonder if the air emissions and health experts in Alberta have been officially asked for their opinions?
We all need and deserve to be asking for a much better plan for air quality monitoring.
To give the full picture, contaminants monitored and used as triggers and limits must include the actual compounds and other contaminants that arise due to heavy oil development. A booklet published just last year by the provincial Land Use Secretariat does cover a full general list of the main air contaminants that need to be monitored. The Profile of the Lower Athabasca Region, released in August 2010, contains a full list of the types of compounds that are of concern when considering human and environmental health in this region (pages 58-61).
It is well known globally that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s), volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) as well as ground level ozone (O3) are some of the main contaminants related to heavy oil development. Of course, other human activities may cause these as well, but the heavy oil industry is a very large and widespread source of these throughout the region.
A representative at a public session held recently in Glendon noted that public input and requests could still result in changes to the draft plan.
The public (you and your friends and family) can still create a positive change. Complete one or all of the workbook sections and send it in or submit the online version. Or write or call your government representatives with your concern. If you are interested in having regional air monitored properly, insist that the full range of contaminants from the Profile document be included in the air quality framework.
Then forget all about this issue ... except when you breathe.
Sincerely,
Coralee Beaulieu, Minnie Lake
Conservation Society
