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14 RIK THE PROVINCE,

Tharsday, Mareh 20, 1975

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By TONY EGERTS

Some Port Coquitlam residents think
exhaust from a fibreglass plant is taking. .
them ill, Plant officials Say it isn’t so. |
And it may takea year of more for offi-
cialdom to decide the issue: .

The mein problem seems to be that the
complaining residents live teo close to the
industrial area that includes the. Marine .
Plastics: (1968) Lid., plant. Similar opper-
ations in areas with more unoceupied
Space: aruund thei have drawn no criti-
cism.

Acvurding to Larry Parish, whose home
fs only about « block from the plant, said
Wednesday that his wite and at least one

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neighbor have developed skin irritations
since fibregalss preduct manufacturing

- began last summer.

Parish ‘claimed the air emissions from
the plant also smel! bad. cause sore eyes
and made one of his dogs so sick the ani-

- mal had to be destroyed,

Last year and early this year, Parish
and at least one neighbor fited complaints
with provincial pollution control authori-
lies, provincial department of health and
the Greater Vancouvér Regional District.

Because air emission control falls under
regional control, ection on the complaints
vas referred to the GVRD,

Barry Mills of GVRD's air emission
section said Wednesday that as a result of
the complaints, Marine Plastics was re-
quested to apply for a permit ta cover ex-
haust from the plant.

“The company complied. and about
mid-February applicd to us for a permit.”
Mills said. “Meanwhile, we advised Pa
ish and at least one other resident to otfi-
cially register their complaints so they

_ become *quatilied objectors.’

“The next step is to draw up and issue

“the permit, which will set out what the

company need du te comply with local sic
emission standards, We generally alluw
about tuur months for issue of the per-
mit.”

During the four months, Mills. said,
GVRD. ispeetors will visit the plant and
the company will be required to make
fests fo prove what is being emitted and
in what quantily, expressed in parts per
million,

itis determined that the plant must
Upgrade its air poilacion coatrof system,
GVERD will ailaw creasonuble Gere’ for
companys Olieitls fa determine vwiiat
equipment is tesded, chuuse it, sap it
and instal i,

This, said Milly. may be done ia few
Munths wr Rocoult tebe as dois as ae sere
or tore, depordin.s on Cie size af the ‘aly
Ws cot Gd the technology retared ly
hee it work,

. The styrene gas being emitted by the”
plant has a strong and uspleasant odor. :
Mills added. and can be detected at verr |
low levels of concentiation, Hike some |

pulp mill gases. -

Sime plants are operating in’ Nort
Vancouver and other partis ob BGs an!

haven't even been required to tke oc

poilution perintis beewise nu one has com

pained about them,

There’s an ironicg note to the ixsue—ths |

Port Coquitlam plait is minutuctucn

1

canepy tops fer railway vondota ears. |

portly to avoid the gir poilution eaused is
tee

dunt trom coal and ore concentrates: Gur
igs taprnent,