Gov't says it has to pony up $30M for SCI mill cleanup THE PROVINCIAL govy- ernment is defending a deal it quietly made with the buyers of Skeena Cel- lulose to pay up to $30 million to clean up the contaminated Prince Ru- pert pulp mill site, The arrangement to subsidize the environ- mental cleanup was not announced when the pro- vince sold Skeena to NWEC Timber and Pulp easly this spring and had been kept quiet until this month, when it was dis- closed by NWEC. Competition, science and enterprise minister Rick Thorpe said the pro- vince, when it took over majority ownership of the company as part of the NDP-led bailout of 1997, also inherited liability for the mill’s environmental legacy. Settling who would pick up the bill for the cleanup was a “huge issue” in ne- gotiations to sell Skeena Cellulose first to Mercer International and then to NWBC Timber and Pulp, he said, But he said he was al- ways aware that without a sale Victoria would be stuck with the cost. “The province had a re- sponsibility for the envir- onmental cleanup,” Thorpe said. “The province would have had to dis- charge it whether it sold Skeena Cellulose or not.” He said the negotiated solution in which Victoria pays up to $30 million over five years, followed by $15 million to be cov- ered by NWBC in subse- quent. years, is fair and should not be construed as a business subsidy. “| believe we were ful- filling our responsibilty to the environment,” Thorpe said. “That's how it should be seen. That’s how it is.” *NWHO*THhber “and Pulp is to prepare a work plan for the cleanup, which is then subject to approval by the province. Money would begin to flow after that. Most of the contamina- tion is the result of poly- chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from old electrical equipment that have leaked into the ground in parts of the mill, says North Coast MLA Bill Be- Isey, who formerly was Manager of maintenance and engineering at the pulp mill. He said there’s also old asbestos to be re- moved. The new revelation means the province lost even more on Skeena than Victoria previously admit- ted. NWEBEC paid $6 million to buy the operations from Tools, van are taken POLICE ARE looking for thieves who recently stole several tools from a log- ging work site near the Ex- stew River between Ter- face and Prince Rupert sometime during the long weekend of August 1 - 3, Stolen items include Several wrench sets, screwdrivers, hackles, a line saw, extension cord, hammers, rigging blocks, a toolbox, marlin spikes, a drive ratchet set, and sev- eral other pliers and chi- sels. — ; If you have any infor- mation regarding the crime please cail “Crime Stop- pers” at 635-TIPS or at 635-8477, EERE Prince Rupert RCMP are looking for help in sol- ving the theft of a blue 1993 Dodge Caravan from Terrace. Police recovered the vehicle on Scott Road in Prince Rupert where it had been abandoned between 6 p.m. on Aug. 21 and 8 am. on Aug, 22. The RCMP phone num- ger in Prince Rupert is 250-627-0700 and the Cri- nestoppers number there § 250-627-TIPS. the province and the TD bank. Provincial officials had previously pegged the cost of rescuing SCI at a total of $413.5 million. That in- cluded written off foans, guarantees, unpaid taxes, unpaid stumpage and other assistance, If unpaid property taxes are repaid by the compa- ny, that total would fall to $400 million. Unlike the contamina- tion bill, $23 million worth of silviculture liabilities were passed along to the new owners. Asked why the province had not announced the STANDARD 3210 Clinton Street, Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2 Rick Thorpe deal on environmental costs, Thorpe said: “It’s all Phone 638-7283 Fox 638-8432 part of the sales agreement.” However, Thorpe’s ministry has never re- leased the sale agreement, and continues to-refuse to release it. Reference to the envir- onmental cleanup was mide in a legislature vale earlier this year ‘on spend- ing $340 million on var- ious Skeena Celluose costs. That included the pay- out of loans guarantees, the writeoff of other loans and other Crown claims and “recognition of liabili- ties related to environ- mental remediation.” NEW EMAIL ADDRESS EFFECTIVE og __UMMEDIATELY newsroom @ terracestandard.com The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - A15 Ga. coast Mountains scHoo pistRICT 82 " DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL?. REALLY WANT TO GET YOUR SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA? You can’t quite get comfortable with the regular classroom/teacher driven approach? Need more choices or one-on-one help? The Coast Mountains School District 82 is offering an exciting new program for you in the Terrace Outreach Learning Centre. Get your upgrading and Secondary School Graduation in a flexible program that suits your needs. 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Come into our office located at 3210 Clinton Street and indicate the photo of your choice and size. A"x6" 5"y7" Other sizes available. __ Phone for pricing. Price includes printing fee from Northern Photo ond purchasing fes from the Terrace Standard. All photographs ore copyrighted to the Terrace Standard, ‘at. : “ateeN ». & wee : Gee (Note: 90% of photos taken are digital photos of high quality jpeg. Black ond white prints also available from black and white negatives. = a a TERRACE: STANDARD Ph: 638-7283 Fox: 638-8432 northern photo “Your Headquarters For Digital Cameras And Digital Imaging Services” 4:4736 tokelse Avenue IEEE Pg PE EEE WISE BUYERS READ THE LEGAL COPY:"0% purchage financing on most new In-stock 7002 Ford vehicles for 80 Jays to retail custornes, on approved ceadit. Altar thn $0 day paymant defarral eth Bee 1002 Ford Focus ‘Limited quantities. 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