Is pellet plant a polluter?

Photo: Contributed

Is the new Pinnacle wood pellet plant in Lavington polluting the air or not?

Some area residents have approached Coldstream council with complaints that is does, but other reports disagree.

Mayor Jim Garlick wants to find out exactly what's going on.

“The Ministry of Environment has been out there a few times, and they say it is working properly, but the best thing is to get the air monitoring station out there,” said Garlick. “That way, we actually have some data.”

A permanent monitoring station could provide data 24/7.

“I just want to confirm is it OK or is it not? Sometimes, it looks fine and we will have pictures sent to us and it does not look fine,” said Garlick. “We have had people calling in and complaining and sending pictures in. I have been out there daily since it opened, and what I saw in the picture and what I saw when I was out there, it didn't match up.”

Garlick said it's possible the pictures were taken at a different time of day than when he received them, and that's why he's seeking a permanent air-quality station.

“It would be nice to have something that is a little more trustworthy as far as the data we have coming in. Air quality is an unknown. That's something that has to be proven through the monitoring.”

The ministry is looking at possible locations for a monitoring station, but Garlick said no timeline has been given for when it will begin operating.

The municipality has also received noise complaints about the hammer mill at the plant.

However, Garlick said Pinnacle is taking steps to reduce the noise.

“Pinnacle, to their credit, have ben very proactive in going out to residents who have complained about it,” said Garlick. “They measured sound and are doing what they can to bring noise level down.”

The $47-million plant, located next to the Tolko planer mill, produces pellets for use in home wood stoves. It employs 25 people and operates around the clock.