West Coast Olefins Ltd. (WCOL) is proposing to build a natural gas liquids extraction plant near Prince George, but the plan has received some backlash from different communities in the area.
The most recent discussion on the plant will be held tomorrow (Monday) night during Prince George’s City Council Meeting.
Dr Annie Booth and Dr Marie Hay will be presenting a letter to the council voicing their concerns for the potential industrial site, as well as a letter from the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria.
“The PG Bowl will become significantly more polluted than it already is. Not just with the
Ethylene Project and all the extra rail and truck/car traffic but also from the increased
refining of the oil condensate at Tidewater (if this occurs),” said the letter from Dr Annie Booth and Dr Marie Hay.
“In PG there will soon likely be other polluting industries contributing to the worsening of
the Prince George airshed……like the proposed expansion of Tidewater (Husky) to
refine biofuel, and the proposed Arbios/Sustane project, in partnership with Canfor.”
The letter from the Environmental Law Centre went into detail about the possible concerns about the WCOL plant:
- The project could undermine air quality.
- Occupational health concerns are raised from chemical exposure.
- Potential fire and explosion risks.
- Impacts to the water and fish in the area.
- The site is too close to residential areas, green spaces, the Fraser River, and agricultural land.
- The social impacts associated with temporary construction camps.
Other items on the City Council agenda include an update on the Prince George Playhouse, a rezoning application for Tidewater Midstream, and a new Cannabis License Application for Cosmic Cannabis.