Wednesday, JANUARY 29, 2014 13
Chetwynd Echo
Taylor reaches community agreement with BC Hydro on Site C BY MIKE CARTER
Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– TAYLOR – The District of Taylor announced on Wednesday, Jan. 22 that it had reached a community agreement with BC Hydro for the construction and operation of the proposed Site C dam. A tentative agreement was announced late last year, but was not finalized until last week Under the terms of the agreement, BC Hydro commits to specific mitigation measures proposed by the town, includ-
ing $155,000 to implement an enhanced water supply monitoring program prior to the start of construction, update the town’s emergency preparedness and response plan and support the town’s role in road rescue services during the projects construction. “We’ve worked very hard to reach an agreement with BC Hydro that addresses our concerns should the project proceed,” said Taylor Mayor, Fred Jarvis. “The agreement includes transportation improvements, enhancements to recreation and key
measures to address water security and safety.” In addition to the $155,000, BC Hydro will implement funds to counteract any adverse effects on Taylor’s water supply caused by the dam’s construction, bring in measures to protect the water treatment plant and pump house from potential shoreline erosion, fund the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to install continuous street lighting along Highway 97 through Taylor, and install changeable message sign and a Drive BC highway webcam to provide advance notifica-
tion of weather and road conditions. BC Hydro has also agreed to fund the development of 20 new, long-stay, serviced RV spaces and parking at Peace Island Park. The park currently has 39 sites on the island and 60 serviced sites in a new expansion area. $37,500 will also be provided to support Taylor’s participation in the formation of a community liaison committee during the construction phase of the project. A previously announced $100,000 per year fund to support non-profit organizations in
the north and south peace during construction will also benefit the town. These funds will be administered through the United Way of Northern BC. “We are pleased to have an agreement with the District of Taylor related to the construction and operation of Site C,” said Site C executive vice president Susan Yurkovich. “We have had very constructive and collaborative discussions with Taylor about how to leave the community better off as a result of the Site C project and we believe this agreement achieves that.”
Babine mill rejects WorksafeBCʼs findings on explosion
Vancouver Sun –––––––––––––– BURNS LAKE – The company that owns a Burns Lake sawmill that exploded in 2012 disagrees with conclusions by government agencies that put the blame on the company. In a written statement Wednesday, Babine Forest Products says it could not have known about the possibility of a wood-dust explosion because nobody in the industry knew at the time that dry, fine wood dust from beetle-killed timber was explosive. The Jan. 20, 2012 explosion and fire fuelled by wood dust at the northern B.C. mill killed workers Robert Luggi Jr., 45, and Carl Charlie, 42. The ex-
plosion also injured 20 workers, leaving some with severe burns. "What happened at Babine was a tragic accident, for which we will always be sorry," said the mill's statement. "Most accidents are preventable when viewed with the benefit of hindsight and knowledge gained after the fact. Had Babine foreseen the hazard, the company would have taken immediate steps to address the risk, and never have exposed our employees to that risk in operating the facility." WorkSafeBC concluded the explosion was preventable and that "effective" actions should have been taken to control the airborne wood dust and excessive accumulations
on floors. The B.C. Safety Authority concluded the cause of the explosion was a failure to recognize and manage the explosive risks of wood dust. Representatives at Hampton Affiliates said Wednesday that company officials would not give interviews, in part, because WorkSafeBC is considering administrative penalties. Hampton is the majority owner of Babine; the Burns Lake Native Development Corp. holds a minority stake. Babine agreed the underlying cause of the explosion was fine sawdust from beetle-killed wood, but said they only learned of its explosive nature from industry testing after the explosion.
to w e N d n y w Chet
Most accidents are preventable when viewed with the benefit of hindsight...
In its statement, the company added that to its knowledge no regulator had issued wood-dust explosion warnings to any sawmill. Babine also pointed to Crown counsel's recent decision not to lay charges in the incident, in which it said the Crown had noted
that when Work-SafeBC called for testing of wood dust in the fall of 2011 it didn't raise a concern about the risk of an explosion. WorkSafeBC raised concerns about wood dust as a problem for workers' lungs at Babine, but had not explicitly raised the issue of wood dust as an explosive hazard, according to 2007 to 2012 inspection records posted by WorkSafeBC on its website. However, WorkSafeBC records suggest it had told other sawmills in B.C. that wood dust was an explosive hazard. Inspection records from 2007-11 showed that 10 times, sawmills in Elkford, Grand Forks, Merritt, Quesnel and Fort St. John were warned of
wood dust's explosive capacity. In its statement two weeks ago refusing to proceed with charges, Crown counsel said it could be shown that Babine could have foreseen spot fires and relatively small explosions from dust around equipment. However, Crown said Babine would likely be able to establish "it did not foresee and could not reasonably have foreseen that sawdust could cause a catastrophic explosion of the nature that occurred on Jan. 20, 2012." Babine said it has learned lessons from the incident and is incorporating state-of-the-art dust-collection equipment at its rebuilt mill in Burns Lake.
Pay Les Welding & Safety Supply Store
Authorized Linde Bottle Depot C02 refills for paint guns Much more!
Open Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm 3794 Old Hart Wabi Road Across from Tumbler Ridge Turnoff Phone: 250-788-3376
LIONS RECYCLING DEPOT HOURS OF OPERATION
THIS SPOT COULD BE YOURS !!! INCLUDES HALF
Please be advised that the hours of operation for the Recycling Depot are as follows: Sunday - Closed Monday 10 am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday - 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 4pm
PAGE ADVERTORIAL TO RUN IN ROTATION ...
CALL
ECHO DETAILS !
THE
FOR
Pay Les Welding & Safety Supply Store
• Authorized Linde Bottle Depot • C02 refills for paint guns • Much more!
Open Mon. to Frii. 8 am to 6 pm 3794 Old Hart Wabi Road Across from Tumbler Ridge Turnoff
Phone: 250-788-3376
788-1111
NORTH COUNTRY AUTOMOTIVE
• Preventative Maintenance • Winterization • Licence B.C. Inspection • Full vehicle servicing P: 788-9599 F: 788-7930
NOBODY DOES IT BETTER!