The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The HBMS metallurgical complex in Flin Flon was the third-biggest air polluter in Canada in 2002, according to a new report. The report, released Wednesday by environmental watchdog PollutionWatch, states that the complex released 178.1 million kilograms of pollution into the air that year. "Hopefully it doesn't scare people," said PollutionWatch spokesperson Jennifer Foulds from her Toronto office. "That certainly wasn't our intention because the reality is, no matter where you live in this country, you are directly impacted by pollution. So hopefully it hasn't scared people, but we certainly hope it has informed people." In terms of air pollution nationwide, the Flin Flon metallurgical complex was behind only the Inco smelter in Copper Cliff, Ont. (239.3 million kilograms of pollution) and the Inco operations in Thompson (197.5 million kilograms), the report states. Foulds said a team of researchers, scientists and lawyers used public information from Environment Canada to compile the report, titled Shattering the Myth of Pollution Progress in Canada. The team did not have data from every Canadian operation. Those that use less than ten tonnes of particular chemicals annually or whose total workforce is on the job less than 20,000 hours per year are not required to report such data to the federal government, said Foulds. But Foulds said she can't imagine the list of top air polluters changing if companies not meeting those criteria were in fact included. HBMS spokesman Tom Goodman said the company has yet to see the report and is therefore not commenting on it at this time. Goodman did say that the company has been reducing its emissions "in a very substantial manner," having invested over $300 million since 1991 solely in environmental improvements. "We do operate under the guidelines that are set by the federal and provincial governments and are operating well under those guidelines," said Goodman. See 'Reduction' P.# Con't from P.# HBMS, Goodman said, continues to participate in an initiative with Environment Canada and other stakeholders to specifically deal with environmental issues. That's "led to quite aggressive reduction targets being set and met by HBMS," said Goodman. Goodman added that the company's Smelter Gas Handling Project, implemented in 2000 at a cost of over $25 million, "has reduced fugitive emissions that enter the community from the plant by over 90 per cent." Flin Flon MLA Gerard Jennissen said he hasn't seen the PollutionWatch report, but appreciates the concern it raises. Jennissen said HBMS should be commended for the money and effort it has invested into reducing pollution, making mention of the initiatives Goodman spoke of. "I've talked to the company and they're going to continue to work with stakeholders and the local community to do the best they can to mitigate the effects of pollution," said the MLA. Mayor Dennis Ballard said he wants to know more about PollutionWatch, including its legitimacy and information sources, before making a comment. A spokesman for Ontzinc Corp., the company set to purchase HBMS, did not feel it was appropriate to offer a comment because the sale has not been completed. Speaking about Canada as a whole, PollutionWatch's Foulds said there is no way to eliminate emissions from industry, but "it's not a given that we have to be producing as much pollution as we are producing." PollutionWatch is comprised of two not-for-profit groups based in Toronto, Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association. Its Web site is Pollutionwatch.org.
