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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE: Application No. 422158 and 422130

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Application for an Approval Amendment Under the Provisions of the Environmental Management Act

We, Stella-Jones Inc., are a Canada-based manufacturer of pressure-treated wood products. The facility in Galloway has been operated locally since 1992 and produces pressure-treated wood utility poles for critical infrastructure providers, including electrical utilities and telecommunication companies. Due to a recent Canada-wide federal regulation change in phasing out of the wood treatment preservative, pentachlorophenol (Penta), we are required to change the operational process at our Galloway facility located at 7400 Galloway Mill Road, Galloway, BC V0B 1P0. Therefore, we intend to submit this amendment application to BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) to amend our existing Operating Permits 107036 and 2818, issued February 9, 2018 and February 8, 2018, respectively, which authorize the discharge of stormwater effluent and air emissions from the Galloway facility. The land upon which the facility is situated, and the discharge occurs, is Lot A, Plan NEP67524, District Lot 3062, PID:024-854-140, Kootenay Land District.

The amendment requests that the following conditions be changed from using Penta as a wood preservative to using creosote, chromated copper arsenate (CCA) and/or 4,5-Dichloro-2-N-Octyl-4-Isothiazolin-3-One (DCOI) as a wood preservative. To this end, modest operational adjustments on site are expected, including the addition of a dry kiln and three working solution tanks. These are the only proposed process and facility infrastructure changes. No process effluent is created during the wood treatment process at the Galloway facility. Stormwater runoff in contact with treated wood poles, which are temporarily stored at the Galloway facility prior to shipment, has been and will continue to be collected and treated to meet the amended permit requirements prior to discharge. A thorough technical evaluation of potential air emissions from the updated facility operation was completed by a third-party environmental consultant and shows full conformance to the applicable government air and water quality criteria. Our technical evaluation reports regarding environmental protection pertaining to the changes are part of the permit amendment application to ENV.

Any person who may be interested in the proposed amendment and wishes to provide relevant comments may, within thirty (30) days after the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, send written comments to the applicant at the contact information provided below, with a copy to the Regional Director, Environmental Protection of ENV at 401-333 Victoria Street, Nelson, BC, V1L 4K3 ((250) 354-6333, servicebc@gov.bc.ca). The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record.

Dated this 23rd day of July, 2024

Contact person: Petri Nieminen

Mailing Address: 7400 Galloway Mill Rd, Galloway, BC V0B 1T2

Email address: epn@stella-jones.com | Phone: 250-429-3493 x1202



About the Author: Black Press Media Staff

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