Judge orders environment board to reconsider hearings on human health effects of smelter expansion

KITIMAT, BC, Sept. 11, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor has succeeded in forcing the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) to take responsibility for investigating the impact of plans for a dramatic increase of sulphur dioxide (SO2) at the Rio Tinto smelter in Kitimat. The BC Supreme Court has sided with Unifor in a judicial review involving the Ministry of Transportation's approval of the smelter's expansion without a SO2 "scrubber".

The project will increase SO2 emissions from 27 tonnes per day to 42 tonnes per day.

"Expanding the smelter without a scrubber is a terrible health risk to my community," said Sean O'Driscoll, Unifor Local 2301 President. "We're very pleased that Rio Tinto's proposal will have to go through an environmental assessment. It's a shame that it takes a Supreme Court Judge to force the BC Liberal government to do the right thing."

The decision to approve the smelter expansion without scrubbers will now be sent back to the EAB.

Airborne sulphur dioxide is a well-known cause of respiratory ailments. Excessive SO2 levels in Kitimat are likely already impacting human health. In July 2012 a Community Health Synopsis study published by Northern Health concluded that the incidence of death from bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma is 60 per cent higher in Kitimat than the British Columbian average. Expert evidence known to the Minister of the Environment reveals that increased SO2 can cause serious health problems, including fatal respiratory failure.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at 778-903-6549 (cell) or [email protected]