Louisiana Pacific Oriented Strandboard Plant Air Emissions

Updated October 6, 2009.

On March 26, 2009 the Minister of Conservation requested the Clean Environment Commission conduct an investigation and provide advice and recommendations regarding a request from Louisiana Pacific to alter the operating  license to allow increased emission limits and the permanent suspension of the operation of the dryer press regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) at the Swan Valley Oriented Strandboard (OSB) Plant. 

Terms of Reference

Louisiana Pacific's application for an alteration to the licence is available at http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/eal/registries/3741lp/index.html.

The Panel members for this investigation will include Edwin Yee as Chair, Patricia MacKay, Ken Gibbons and Ken Wait.  Click here to find their bios.

The Review Process

A report, North American Oriented Strand Board Industry Review, commissioned by the review Panel summarizes the current regulatory environment and pollution control standards in the industry in North America.

Summary of emission changes.  A summary of the proposed changes to the air emission levels that are being evaluated by the Commission are available by clicking here.

Public Meetings

Share Your Views

As instructed by the Minister of Conservation the Clean Environment Commission is hosting public meetings in the affected community.  Public meetings will be held in Swan River at the following times and location.

July 28  Westwood Inn     473 Westwood Dr.      9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
                                                                              7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
July 29                                                                   1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
                                                                              7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
July 30 (if required)                                               9:00 a.m.-noon

The public meetings, called as part of the investigation, are only part of the information gathering process and are not the end of the investigation.  Preparation leading up to the public meetings has taken many months and will continue after the meetings until the Panel is satisfied it has the necessary information to make an informed recommendation. At the public meetings the Panel expects that it will hear a summary of the company’s proposal, public opinions, suggestions for reference materials, other studies or experts that may have more or specific information, topics or questions that the public wishes to be addressed and perhaps even expert testimony.   Some background information is available in other sections of this webpage.

Following the public meetings there will be an opportunity to send in further comments or information until September 1, 2009.

Based on what we hear from you and the results from our own investigation, the Commission will prepare a report for Manitoba’s Minister of Conservation. This report will contain the Commission’s recommendations concerning potential health and environmental effects of the proposed new levels of air emissions from the Swan Valley OSB plant.

Schedule

Preliminary agendas for the public meeting are now available.  July 28  July 29  The agenda is subject to change and will be updated as required.

If you have not yet registered, on-site registration will also  be available where time allows.

Transcripts

Transcripts of daily proceedings from the public sessions are available on-line by clicking on Transcripts. Printed copies are available from Reid Reporting Services, 30-360 Main St., 13-B Suite 317, Winnipeg, R3C 3Z8. 204-947-9774 at your cost.

Exhibits

The public meetings have been completed and copies of the presentations are now available.  Please click here to view the presentations and written submissions.

Written Submissions

If you cannot or do not wish to make an oral presentation to the Panel, you may send in a written submission.  Wherever possible we would like to receive these documents in electronic form, PDF format preferred.  The deadline for written submissions is September 1, 2009.  Written submissions can be viewed by clicking here.

Please send your submissions to cec.gov.mb.ca or to the address at the bottom of the page.


As the investigation proceeds, updated information will be posted as it becomes available.

If you wish to receive automatic updates and announcements delivered to your e-mail please sign up by inserting your e-mail address in the space at the bottom right on the Home Page.