A Salmon Arm residentB次元官网网址檚 quest to keep coal dust from escaping passing trains is gaining steam.
A proactive approach and plenty of research has helped Marijke Dake garner the support of residents, as well as local governments, in asking CP Rail to consider placing a spray facility east of the Shuswap so as to B次元官网网址渞educe the negative effects of coal dusting on peopleB次元官网网址檚 health, property and the environment.B次元官网网址�
And Dake says CP appears to be listening.
During a presentation last week to the Columbia Shuswap Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 (CSRD) board of directors, Dake said sheB次元官网网址檇 met with CP Director of Government Affairs Mike LoVecchio and had received a follow-up email from him saying the company and its customer (mining company Teck Resources Ltd.) had met to discuss DakeB次元官网网址檚 concerns and were going to look at either using a stronger holding spray on coal cars or possibly even install another re-spray station.
B次元官网网址淗e said thereB次元官网网址檚 no commitment at this time,B次元官网网址� said Dake. B次元官网网址淗e said weB次元官网网址檙e going to put some testing processes in placeB次元官网网址� it was a very positive email.B次元官网网址�
Dake also received a very positive response from the CSRD board, which agreed to offer her a letter of support. In addition, Revelstoke Mayor Mark McKee and Sicamous Mayor Terry Rysz said they would be seeking letters of support from their own municipal councils.
The City of Salmon ArmB次元官网网址檚 Environmental Advisory Committee is also supporting Dake and is recommending city council do the same (Dake will be presenting at Salmon Arm councilB次元官网网址檚 Jan. 29 meeting).
DakeB次元官网网址檚 quest began one beautiful sunny day last July. She had been out for a walk on the foreshore trail and, while waiting at a railroad crossing for a train to pass, she saw something that made her jaw drop: fine black debris billowing out the passing rail cars.
Seeing the escaping coal dust set wheels in motion for Dake. She began talking to people and found many werenB次元官网网址檛 happy about it but chose to live with it.
B次元官网网址淚 think what was clear to me was people have been observing this for many years and have just gotten used to it,B次元官网网址� Dake told the B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淧eople along HarbourfrontB次元官网网址� have said to me they will not open their windows, they cannot go out on their patiosB次元官网网址� So this affects their quality of life.B次元官网网址�
Another person Dake spoke with, who has since become an ally, was The Hive owner Karla Ferster. Back before renovating the Canoe restaurant/coffee roaster, Ferster recalls having Mexican food take-out on the buildingB次元官网网址檚 patio.
B次元官网网址淚t had sour cream on it and the train went by and it was just disheartening because the sour cream wasnB次元官网网址檛 white anymore,B次元官网网址� said Ferster. This resulted in the decision not to use the patio for food service. The soot problem from passing trains also played a factor in the colour that was used to repaint the buildingB次元官网网址檚 exterior.
B次元官网网址淲e painted the building a dark blue just to disguise it, because we do have to pressure wash just exclusively for the soot. ItB次元官网网址檚 great for buying time when youB次元官网网址檝e got a dark blue building.B次元官网网址�
Deciding to research the issue, Dake learned the coal cars originate from the Elk Valley where Teck mines metallurgical coal. There, the loaded train cars are sprayed with a polymer that holds the coal in place. However, in speaking with CP employees, Dake also found out the coating is lost during the ventilation processes trains are subjected to while passing through the 14.7 kilometre Mount Macdonald Tunnel in the Rogers Pass.
Coal cars arenB次元官网网址檛 resprayed until they reach a second spray station in Tappen.
Dake noted Transport Canada does not consider metallurgical coal, used in making steel, to be a dangerous or hazardous good, and therefore train cars used to haul it do not require covers. However, TeckB次元官网网址檚 own safety documentation regarding metallurgical coal includes the following warnings, B次元官网网址淢ay cause damage to the respiratory system through prolonged or repeated inhalation of dust; Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects; Do not breathe dust; and avoid release into the environment.B次元官网网址�
Dake said medical professionals agree long-term exposure to coal dust is of particular concern. This is supported by TeckB次元官网网址檚 own safety information, which states, B次元官网网址淐hronic exposure to coal just can cause chronic bronchitis, emphysema, coal workerB次元官网网址檚 pneumoconiosis and massive pulmonary fibrosis. This coal contains approximately 8.5 per cent silica. Respirable crystalline silica has been identified by various agencies as a carcinogen.B次元官网网址�
As for potential environmental damage, while bituminous coal is unlikely hazardous, according to Teck, decomposition frees compounds that can become B次元官网网址渟ignificant toxicants to aquatic and terrestrial organisms.B次元官网网址�
Dake noted in her CSRD presentation that Transport Canada is not responsible for coal dust monitoring. ItB次元官网网址檚 up to product owners to mitigate environmental risks associated with transport.
B次元官网网址淪o we brought that to Mike LoVecchioB次元官网网址檚 attention as wellB次元官网网址� He answered a lot of questions, one of them was how is it monitored, how do you monitor coal dusk?,B次元官网网址� said Dake. B次元官网网址淎gain, my jaw dropped when I heard, a crew member sticks their head out the window when a train is going around a bend and, if thereB次元官网网址檚 coal dust, theyB次元官网网址檙e supposed to slow the train down. Well, we just chuckled and he said, B次元官网网址業 know, that sounds very old-fashioned.B次元官网网址� But thatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 in place all the way from Sparwood to Vancouver.B次元官网网址�
Dake is encouraged by all the support she has received so far, including the 145 signatories of a petition (available to sign at The Hive and Pink Cherry) asking that coal cars be re-sprayed east of Salmon Arm. She is especially encouraged by CP and LoVecchio and is optimistic that something will be done.
B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檙e taking concrete steps,B次元官网网址� said Dake of CP. B次元官网网址淣ow that itB次元官网网址檚 elevated to the municipal levels hereB次元官网网址� They have to respond to them, not just to me. I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want to jump ahead and say thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be an additional re-spray station. ThatB次元官网网址檚 clearly not been said or going to happen at this point. TheyB次元官网网址檙e looking into options and testing.B次元官网网址�
lachlan@saobserver.net
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