Edmundston provides comments on Twin Rivers Paper Company's air quality operating approval renewal

Apr 4, 2023

As part of the public participation process for the renewal of the Twin Rivers Paper Company's air quality accreditation, the City of Edmundston submits, as requested by the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Governement, comments and a series of questions. At the same time, the City of Edmundston encourages citizens to submit their comments individually.

The comments submitted by the City of Edmundston follow the recent municipal environmental survey in which 60% of respondents indicated that they were dissatisfied with air quality and that foul odours were one of the biggest environmental challenges in Edmundston.

"As part of this process, and following feedback received in the recent survey, we are asking the Department of Environment and Local Government to address once and for all the issue of foul odours created by the plant's operations. This question comes up again and again because citizens have serious concerns about the environment, the well-being of the population and the quality of life in our city. Council is therefore asking for concrete actions by the Department of the Environment and Local Governement for Twin Rivers in the renewal of the accreditation," explained the Mayor of Edmundston, Mr. Eric Marquis.

In addition to comments, the City of Edmundston is also submitting a series of questions on air quality standards and foul odours. "The population is asking us to take action at this level. Twin Rivers is an important economic and community partner. Our intervention in the accreditation renewal process aims to share the concerns of the population regarding foul odours," explained Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis.

Questions to the Department of the Environment and Local Governement include:

1. How are air quality standards set and how often are they revised?

2. Can olfactory concepts be included in the accreditation process?

3. When were the last changes made to air quality standards?

4. If we feel that the standards are not high enough, can we ask for a review?

5. Are air quality standards for paper mills at the provincial and national levels the same?

Note that the review process was initiated on January 26, 2023 and will end on May 26, 2023.

To provide comments, please contact Susan Tao, Senior Certification Engineer, Department of Environment and Local Government, P.O. Box 6000 Marysville Place, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5H1, telephone: 506-453-7945, email: Susan.Tao@gnb.ca

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CONTACT: Mr. Eric Marquis, Mayor of Edmundston, 506.739.2115