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"PGAIR is committed to researching, monitoring, recommending and implementing air quality improvements and promoting public awareness and education in the Prince George airshed, with the goal of improving the air quality in the community."
The Society
PGAIR is a multi-stakeholder, community based, non-profit society that includes representatives from the general public, business, industry, community groups, government, UNBC, and Northern Health. The group was originally formed in 1998 as the Prince George Air Implementation Committee, following the completion of the Prince George Air Quality Management Plan - Phase One [2007], developed jointly by the City of Prince George, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, UNBC, Northern Health and the Ministry of Environment. PGAIR became a non-profit society in August 2008 and is committed to researching, monitoring, recommending and implementing air quality improvements and to promoting public awareness and education in the Prince George airshed, with the goal of improving the air quality in the community.
The Plan
Phase One of the Plan identified measures to improve air quality in the Prince George airshed, in particular to achieve acceptable levels of fine particulate matter known as PM10. It contained 28 recommendations for actions to reduce and manage pollutant sources, including:
- industrial emissions,
- road dust and vehicle emissions, and
- residential sources such as open burning and wood stoves.
Achievements
Many of the original 28 recommendations have been completed while the remainder are still being implemented (See Phase One Progress Report). Significant achievements of PGAIR since its inception include:
- As a result of the Environment Ministry's phaseout of the use of beehive burners, all burners in the Prince George area have been shut down. Upgrading of some pollution control equipment at area pulp mills has also contributed to some industrial emissions reductions.
- The City of Prince George has brought in a new Clean Air Bylaw that includes:
- a ban on open burning in the Bowl area,
- stringent new requirements to reduce emissions from sanding, sweeping and paving, and
- a ban on non-essential residential and commercial woodburning during air quality advisories.
- The Industrial Land Use Study was completed. It will be used as a tool to help select locations for new industrial activity that will have the least impact on air quality within the Prince George airshed. (In addition, Phase Two of the Air Quality Management Plan has identified a need for the Industrial Land Use Study to be updated.)
More Work to be Done
Phase One of the Air Quality Management Plan achieved results in a number of areas. However, despite significant measures being taken, levels of the most critical pollutant, PM2.5, have not dropped in the downtown area. That tells us that, in order to run an effective air quality improvement program, better information is needed on exactly where the pollutants are coming from.
A Plan of Action: Phase Two
During Phase Two, the Research Working Group of PGAIR is conducting research (the Source Apportionment Study, the Speciation Study, and the Dust Characterization Study) to:
- complete an emission inventory suitable for modeling the contributions from all potentially significant pollution sources;
- determine the effectiveness of alternative emission reduction measures; and,
- conduct a cost/benefit analysis of source reductions.
Meanwhile, as research continues, there are a number of actions that will be taken to improve air quality or prevent further deterioration. They are included as recommendations in Phase Two of the Plan. Some major recommendations include:
- continue to work at reducing particulate emissions, while putting a renewed focus on total reduced sulphur (TRS) and other odorous emissions;
- build air quality improvement into all aspects of community and regional planning;
- review and update the 2002 Industrial Land Use Study to support better land use planning;
- expand current sanding, sweeping and paving programs to further reduce emissions from our roads;
- further strengthen bylaws governing open burning within city limits.
- develop management measures for new and expanded emission sources in the airshed.
Once the Source Modeling Study and other research is completed, PGAIR can move forward with air quality improvement plans based on sound research.
Society & Membership
The Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable [PGAIR] membership and directors include representatives from government, industry, First Nations, community groups, the general public, Northern Health and the University of Northern BC.
Air Quality Management Plan
The fundamental motivation for creating the Prince George Air Quality Management Plan in 1998 was increasing evidence that poor air quality was negatively affecting the health and quality of life of residents.
Prince George Air Quality Management Plan - Phase One (1998)
Phase One of the Plan identifies measures to improve air quality in the Prince George Airshed, in particular to achieve acceptable levels of fine particulate matter. It contains 28 recommendations for actions to reduce and manage pollutant sources, including industrial emissions, road dust, and residential sources such as open burning and woodstoves. The Plan also addresses land use planning issues, poor air quality episode management, and the monitoring and research required to measure progress and to identify future management needs.
Prince George Air Quality Management Plan - Phase One Progress Report (2004)
The Progress Report of the Air Quality Management Plan was prepared by the Prince George Air Quality Implementation Committee in 2004. It was based on input and information gathered during the previous five years. The Progress Report identifies the Phase One recommendations that had been completed to that date, as well as further work that needed to be done. It also provides a review of air quality trends and other monitoring results available at the time.
Prince George Air Quality Management Plan - Phase Two (2006)
Phase Two of the Plan brings forward recommendations that have been identified as ongoing in the Phase One Progress Report, as well as a number of new recommendations that have been identified. During Phase Two, the Research Working Group of PGAIR is also conducting research (the Source Apportionment Study, Speciation Study, and the Airshed Boundary Study). Once the research is completed, PGAIR can move forward with air quality improvement plans that are based on sound research and that accurately target pollutant sources within the Prince George airshed.
