6 FACT SHEET
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Revised November 2010
How THE Program Works We are setting new goals to try and improve the situation even further and the challenge will be to meet those goals as a community. I think the mayor and the members of the community are really committed to doing that and so is Teck. – Dr. Nelson Ames, retired Medical Health Officer, Kootenays
What is THE Program? The Trail Area Health and Environment Program, or THE Program, is a comprehensive integrated program designed to safeguard health and the environment related to smelter metals in the Trail area. The program includes five components, as shown in the diagram.
FAMILY HEALTH Blood lead testing, education, and support for families to reduce lead exposure
AIR QUALITY SMELTER EMISSION REDUCTIONS: Identifying the main sources, prioritizing projects, and reducing metals in the air DUST CONTROL: Preventing windblown dust AIR MONITORING: Continuous testing and reporting of air quality levels
HOME & GARDEN HOME RENOVATION SUPPORT: Advice and equipment for renovation projects
PARKS & WILDLANDS 2010 & BEYOND
Creating a Healthy Environment
GARDEN & YARD SOILS: Soil testing and prioritized soil replacement or covering
COMMUNITY GREENING: Covering areas of bare soil ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT: Projects to assess, restore, conserve and enhance ecosystems
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Procedures to manage risks from smelter metals when developing or redeveloping lands
Revised November 2010 - Trail Area Health & Environment Program 2010
Who is in charge of THE Program? The Trail Health & Environment Committee (THEC, or “the Committee”) oversees THE Program. The Committee introduces new program components to meet evolving community needs, and monitors progress towards goals. The Committee is a partnership between the local community, Teck, the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health. Chaired by the Mayor of Trail, the Committee meets 4 to 5 times per year and currently has the following members: Dieter Bogs, Mayor (Chair) Jacquie Johnson Steve Hilts Gordon Menelaws John Crozier, Councillor Brad McCandlish Ron Joseph Clare Dewitt Craig Adams Graham Kenyon Marylynn Rakuson
City of Trail Interior Health, Public Health Nursing Teck Metals Ltd. United Steelworkers Local 480 Village of Warfield B.C. Ministry of Environment Community member Community member Community member Community member Community member
What’s the history of community involvement? In 1990, the Trail Community Lead Task Force was formed as a community, company, government partnership to reduce children’s blood lead levels. From the start, the Task Force established community priorities and adopted a community-driven approach that has been supported by the company and the provincial government. For 10 years, the Task Force was staffed by public health and environment professionals operating out of an office in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary building in Trail. After achieving significant reductions in blood lead levels, the Task Force sponsored a public consultation in 2000 to set new goals and restructure the program. In 2001, the Trail Health & Environment Committee was formed with similar leadership and representation from the community, Teck, the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health. Trail’s community-led approach has been recognized internationally as an
Revised November 2010 - Trail Area Health & Environment Program 2010
effective collaborative model for safeguarding health and the environment. In 2010, the Committee sponsored another public consultation to get input on new health and environment goals and programs for Family Health, Home & Garden, and Air Quality. The public strongly endorsed the blood lead and air quality goals as well as proposed programming. The consultation revealed a low level of awareness of the program, particularly the home renovation support program. The Committee has new plans underway to expand program promotion and link with sectors of the community that support young families, home renovators and other target groups.
How is the public included & informed? There are 5 community members-at-large participating on the Committee. Meetings of the Committee are open to the general public and the media. The meetings include updates on program activities and progress toward goals. The agendas and minutes are published on the Committee’s web site, www.thec.ca. Every six months, the Committee publishes a newsletter that gets delivered to every household in Trail and Rivervale. Changes to programs are announced on the web site and are typically reported by the local media. Community consultations took place in 2000 and 2010. These broad public engagement processes include outreach to residents and forums to learn about issues, discuss proposed changes to program activities, and give input into the future direction of THE Program.
Who is responsible for providing program services? Different program activities are provided by different agencies. Interior Health provides blood lead testing and family health services. Teck provides emissions control and monitoring. The BC Ministry of Environment oversees Teck’s emissions reduction and monitoring. The City of Trail conducts street sweeping. SNC-Lavalin Environment (under contract with Teck) coordinates home renovation support and garden & yard soils programs. The home renovation and soils programs are offered out of THE Community Program Office located at 1319 Bay Avenue in Trail. Program coordination and support is provided on contract to the Committee.
Revised November 2010 - Trail Area Health & Environment Program 2010
How can I get more information? For more information, please visit the website at www.thep.ca. If you have questions about THE Program, please contact the Community Program Office at (250)368-3256, programs@thec.ca, or drop by 1319 Bay Ave. The Committee is always open to improving how information is communicated to the public. Please contact us at any time to let us know what information you’d like to receive and the best way for us to get it to you. Fact Sheets available: Family Health
Home & Garden
Air Quality
How THE Program Works
Revised November 2010 - Trail Area Health & Environment Program 2010