Ss But opinions differ on local uali Clean air effort underway By SARAH GLEN TERRACE IS one of 33 B.C. communities chal- lenged to clean up its air by a new David Suzuki Foundation and British Columbia Medical Asso- ciation (BCMA) cam- paign, Pamphlets and posters outlining the health risks associated with poor air quality hit doctors offices last week. The campaign stems from a 1998 environment ministry report that found 24 out of 33 air-quality monitored B.C. communi- lies, including Terrace, | had such high air quality: levels they posed a serious heaith risk to people. “We're launching this project to help save lives by protecting our air and climate,” said Dr. Jim Lane, chair of the BCMA’s council on health promotion. Poor air quality can cause lung damage, asth- ma, bronchitis, chest pain, premature aging and death in small children and se- niors. By telling people the health risks they face breathing in polluted air, the BCMA hopes to chal- lenge communities to find solutions to clean up the air, said Lane. According to the envir- onment ministry report, Terrace recorded poor air quality levels nine per cent of the time in 1998. Air quality is gauged in fine particulate levels, which are measured be- tween 0 and 100 micro- grams per cubic meter (m3), These levels be- come dangerous if they surge past 50m3, said Helen Joseph, air quality technician with the envir- onment ministry in Ter- race. If particulate, levels move above 50m? Joseph issues a community, ait. quality advisory | notike;. warning people with itée-~ spiratory problems, such: as asthma, young children and seniors to stop physi- cal activity and to stay in- doors. But in Terrace, a warn- ing like thal doesn’t hap- pen very often, said Jo- seph. “Normally Terrace has good air quality,” said Joseph. Despite the local branch of the environment ministry deeming Terrace as a communily with good air. quality, the Suzuki Foundation and the BCMA campaign still found Ter- race’s air a risk to peapte’s health. This is because the campaign is using figures that find communities with particulate !evel readings over 25 m*_ unhealthy — not over 50m”. Dr. Geoff Appleton, a local doctor and board member of the BCMA, is a bit skeplical that Terrace should make the list at all. “For god's sake, there’s no place in the world that has better air than we do,” said Appleton. “I don’t want people to panic be- cause figures in them- selves don’t show the overall picture.” Appleton also notes that Terrace doesn’t have an industry that pollutes the atmosphere, which often leads to poor air quality. “I'm not sure if Terrace {air quality], specifically, is a problem [for people’s health],” said Appleton, He also hasn’t seen an in- crease in patients wilh re- spiratory problems. Most of the hazardous air particles in this area come from slash, grass and backyard burning, car ex- haust and diesel emission, said Frank Rhebergen, the assistant regional waste manager with the environ- ment ministry out of Smi- thers. Some industrial pollu- tion from Alcan, Eurocan and Methanex in Kitimat blows, over thezmountains, but:ot enough: fo seriously affect ‘Terrace’s» particulate levéls, said Joseph. The Ministry of the En- vironment doesn’t actively Helen Joseph, an air quality technician with the environment ministry in Ter- race, shows off a part of the ministry's air particulate monitor. The glass jar cal- lects 17 litres of air off the roof of the B.C. Access Centre. The air is then fun- neled inside where three litres of the 17 are tested for their particulate levels. monitor Kitimat’s particu- late levels. It leaves that job up to Alcan, Eurocan ;and, Methanex as part of their ‘operation permit agreements with the pro- vince, said Joseph. No par- ticulate levels were avail- interview Date: Time: Location: YOu EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE! ss gelection Proce preparation Forests/Transportation & Highways Tuesday, June 14, 2000 9;00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Northwest Community College, Room 1101 Please register by calling: (250) 638-5145, Joan Renaud, Ministry of Forests Up to “@@ OFFS SCHKHBHOHRHSHSHSHEHEHBAHRHHOAOHOGCHeCSCHB AOS H OBESE SORBHHHE EFS ETH FETHEH8 8S O 6646668 eoeeeeee CTORY DIRE SPRING CLEARANCE SALE ON NOW! 0% second grade product ALSO #1 PRODUCTS ON SALE NATURALCOLORED PAVERS ...ssecrenesssernr «5 €0 8 X16 PATIO SLAB.....:..00. 99 ea 16 X16 PATIO SLAB......... 2.99 ea _ 24 X 24 PATIO SLAB........ 8.49 ea 10 mm REBAR X 6 m....... 3.59 ea _ TYPE 10 CEMENT (bag).... 9.49 ea LANDSCAPING MATERIAL AVAILABLE WASHED DRAIN ROCK, — TOP SOIL, ROAD CRUSH able from Kitimat. In comparison to the -other communities that made the list, Terrace’s nine per cent didn’t rank too badly. Golden, measured the worst, having particulate levels above 25 m> over GO per cent of the time. _ And closer to home, Smi-: thers. measured,leveis over. 25.m3-19 per cent of the time. Earn TRIPLE AIR MILES° ay reward miles on Goodyear and £ ga Dunlop tires for your car, Bf pickup, minivan or SUV... Be ous TRIPLE AIR MILES® BA on all Mechanical Service Purchases but only until June 30, 2000! tof valid in conjunction with any other offer. °39 Summer Gar Gare 1, Change cil, replace oil filter, and lubricate 2. Top up all fluids,” including brake, windshield, differential, transmission, - fadiator and power steering * 3. Rotate and inspect alt four tires and adjust air pressure Fountain tire The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 7, 2000 - A3 News In Brief Mini museum visits A PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT exhibit marking the millennium will be stopping in Terrace, June 16. The B.C, 2000 exhibit tour features a traveling mini-museum displaying moments in B,C,’s history. Most displays are interactive, giving visitors a chance fo reenact the past. The exhibit will set up at Canadian Tire on Hwy 16 and be open from 10 am to 5 pm. Terrace is just one of the 41 communities visited by the tour. Prince Rupert, Smithers and Dawson Creek are other northern communities scheduled to be visited by the tour, ‘For more information, check out the B.C. 2000 web site, www, 8C2000.g0v. be.ca Paving contract given A $1 MILLION contract has been awarded to a 150 Mile House company as part of a $2.3 million pro- ject to improve and pave a 29km stretch of High- way 37 North. The project is one of several planned this year for the highway which runs north to the Yukon bor- er. Other work includes resealing an 80km section from Boya Lake to the Yukon border. Liberals to meet THE B.C. LIBERALS are inviting people from across the north to Smithers Junel7-18 for the party’s second north-based policy conference. “We need strong voices fram northern communi- ties in a B.C. Liberal government,” leader Gordon Campbell said. Policies developed in the north at the Northern Directions conference then go to the party’s B.C,- wide policy conference. “People from the north want to break away from the pattern of one-size-fits-all solutions, imposed from Victoria,” Campbell said. He said improving the health care system, re- turning a fair share of resource revenues to com- munities that generate them, and stimulating eco- nomic growth and jobs are expected to be high on the list of priorities. “The prosperity of every British Columbian de- pends on the north reaching its full potential,” Campbell said. “We can creale a new era of northern opportun- ity,” he said. “This conference provides us with the roadmap we need to follow to accomplish these goals.” Jackpine Flats paved RESIDENTS OF Jackpine Flats are getting their gravel roads paved thanks to the ministry of Trans- portation and Highways. Terrace Paving Ltd. has been awarded a $539,970 contract to prepare roads in the Jackpine Flats area for first-time hard-surfacing. The con- _.lractor will grade, shape and compact the roads — before spraying an asphalt primer on-the surface... Paving began on Monday and should be com- pleted by the end of June. 4, Tighten all drive belts 5. Provide a 4 liter jug of windshield washer fluid. 6, Analyze battery charge and clean as required 7. Inspect front and rear brakes 8. Electrical charging system analysis 9, Inspection of cooling system "Toa maximum ol 4 litre. Valid fof most cars, minivans, pickups and SUN's. Environmentat charges may apply. GBMS Code: 077238 "Earn TRIFLE AIR EAILES® reward a Mites on al: Goodyear and Ouniop meer a Bland passenger and tant tock et a ws al pavhcipeling retafers lam june 1-30. 2000. Sce eetaiter for complate doiatls Tam AIR MILES: reward miles oa Guodyea Band tes, selected Cunlopard Star Grand tres. and mechanka! sarices, at Fovritain Tire 2 Trademarks ol AIR MILES Inlamnatonal i Hokhng HV Usod under license by The Loyetly Croup : www.fountaintire.com _5130-A Highway 16 West Terrace, BC V8G 586 (250) 635-4344 4641 Keith Avenue Terrace, BC V8G 1K4 (250) 635-5576