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THE PROVESCE, Thursday, Marvel 20, 1975

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by TONY EGERTS
Some Pert Coquitlam residents think

exhaust from a fibreglass plant is making.

them ill, Plant officials say it isn’t so.
And it may take a year of more for offi-
cialdom to decide the issue

‘The muin problem seems to be that the
complaining residents live to close Lo the
industrial area that includes the Murine
Plastics’ (1968) Ltd., plant. Similiw opper-
ations: ins areas with more unoccupied
space around them have drawn no crili-
cism.

Accurding ty Larry: Parish, whose home
is only about a block from the plant, said
Wednesday that his wile and at least one

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neighbor have developed skin irritations -

since fibregalss product manufacturing
began last summer.. .
~ parish claimed the air emissions from
the plant also smell bad. cause sore cyes
and made one of his dogs so sick the ani-

_mal had to be destroyed.

Last year and early this year, Parish
and at Jeast one neighbor filed complaints

with provincial pollution control auihori-

lies, provincial department of health and
the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

Because air emission control falls under
regional control. action on the complaints
was referred to the GVRD.

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

“The company complied. and about
mid-February applied to us for a permit.”
Mills said. “Meanwhile, we advised Par-
ish and fl least one other resident to ot fi-
cially register their complaints so they
become ‘qualified objectors.’

“The next step is to draw up and issuc

the permit, which will set out what the

company need du te comply wih local sir
emission standards, We generally allow
about four months fur issue of the per-
mit.”

During the four months, Mills said,
GVRD ispectors will visit the plant and
the compeny will be required to make
tests to prove whal is being emitted and
in what quantity, expressed in paris: per
milion,

if it is determined that the plum must
uperade iy air pelition control system,
GVRD will allay “reasonable fine for
carmpany >) aluckils fu determing \etiat
equipment is needed, chuuse iy ship ab
aad install it, .

This, said Malls. may be done ina few
Mertis Gr cathl eke as boing as a year
or tnore, dependins on the size of the Ha
ix cod att the leciaology renimed to
Raia it work,

The styrene gas being emitted by the |
plant has a strong and unpleusant Ocus.
Mills added, and cun be detected at very |
low fevels of cuncentration, like sous |
pulp mill gases. :

Simitar plants are eperating in North |
Vancouver and other parts ol BG. ane |
haven't even been required to take oot -
pollution permits because no one has coi :
Wained about them. :

There's an ironig note to the issue—the
Port Coquitlam plant is minulactunisl
canopy feps fur railway sondokt care. |
pardy te avedd the air pollution eiuscd in |
duet trom coal and ore concentrales: Gare
ing shipment, :