Domtar's Kamloops, British Columbia, pulp mill passes quarterly emissions test, improves from near-fail on its Q2 test results

Kendall Sinclair

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia , November 3, 2011 (Kamloops This Week) – It appears Domtar is back on track with efforts to improve air quality, as the pulp mill has passed its quarterly emissions test.

The test results, provided by Domtar to the Ministry of Environment, show the mill discharged 175.8 milligrams of particulate matter per cubic metre during a late-August test.

That amount is less than the 200 milligrams allowed under its permit and an improvement on the near-fail from the previous test.

Tests in July showed the mill was emitting 198.8 milligrams of particulate.

However, a company spokesperson in July blamed the second-quarter results on two factors, noting the operating conditions at the mill weren’t as stable at the time of the test and officials discovered minor problems with the suction on air-testing equipment.

As part of an amended permit handed out by the ministry in 2009, the mill is subject to emissions testing every three months.

The mill was discharging 158 milligrams of particulate matter in the spring, well below its permit limit.

The average score in 2010 for Domtar was 151 milligrams of particulate matter.

Domtar spokeswoman Bonny Skene said the company is pleased with results of the tests, adding it confirmed what the mill expected.

She said Domtar still anticipates meeting the targets set out in the mill’s air-quality permit.

In September, the mill installed equipment to help clean particulate out of emissions before they are released into the air.

The upgrade, once tests are completed by next March, is expected to help the mill reduce emissions by 38 per cent.

By 2012, a full year earlier than the amended permit intended, emissions must be reduced to 180 milligrams.

By 2013, the two proposed double power-boiler stacks must be in place, with a 50-milligram limit.

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