All proposed waste to energy (WTE) recovery facilities in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley will be subject to a full, mandatory environmental assessment in accordance with an amended and strengthened regulation under the Environmental Assessment Act, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced.

"We know air quality is a critical issue for citizens from Vancouver to Hope," said Lake. "Our government wants to assure them that any solid waste management project that burns municipal waste is subject to a full environmental assessment (EA) in addition to a number of authorizations, which can vary depending on the size and scale of the facility."

The reviewable projects regulation, under section 5 of the act, will be amended to ensure all WTE projects in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, regardless of scope and size, will be subject to a full and objective environmental assessment. Under the existing regulation, a WTE facility has to reach prescribed solid waste and energy thresholds to trigger an EA.

All proposed waste to energy proposals must first be part of a regional district's solid waste management plan, which in turn must be approved by the Minister of Environment. WTE facilities still need to adhere to B.C.'s emissions standards, which are among the most stringent in the world and maintain a high degree of energy recovery consistent with European standards. Municipalities must also target a 70 per cent reduction in waste through reducing, reusing and recycling before being allowed by the ministry to pursue a WTE option as an alternative to landfilling.

Approved last July, Metro Vancouver's Solid Waste Management Plan, including its WTE proposal, will be subject to the new regulation slated to take effect before the end of the month.

The plan must also follow a number of extra conditions, such as undertaking a competitive process for WTE facility construction or landfill options inside or outside of Metro Vancouver. In recognition of the shared airshed, the Fraser Valley Regional District must be consulted on any WTE facility that is considered.

Government actions, to date, aimed at protecting air quality include:

• A special direction to end BC Hydro's reliance on the Burrard Thermal Generating Facility.
• Creation of Airshed Management Plans for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
• Adoption of California tailpipe standards for vehicle emissions and reduction of idling through the Provincial Idle-Reduction Initiative.
• Launch of the Clean Energy Vehicle program and the addition of more funding to the Scrap-it program to green B.C.'s vehicle fleet.
• Support for greener ports and marine vessels, through the Green Ports and Marine Vessels Emissions Reduction Project.
• Providing $200,000 in 2011 to the BC Lung Association to continue and expand the successful wood stove exchange program into 2012.

Contact:

Karen Johnston
Communications Director
Ministry of Environment
250 812-0495 (cell)