Kamloops Air Quality
Lower air quality would lead to more deaths
KAMLOOPS – Sitting at an average level of nine in 2.5 particulate matter levels Kamloops is below the maximum level the World Health Organization says is healthy but well above the standard the province has set. The doctors making up the Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment say studies show that PM 2.5, particles smaller...
More doctors are speaking out against Ajax
KAMLOOPS – Even more medical voices have joined the growing number of doctors, nurses and physicians questioning the proposed Ajax mine and the need for proper health impact assessments. Last week Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment released an email from Medical Health Officer Dr. Peter Barss from June 2012. “In my professional opinion the...
Air quality an issue for Kamloops
KAMLOOPS – For the next 24 hours, it’s going to be hard for some people in the city to breath. The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Environment canada have issued an air quality advisory for Kamloops because of high concentrations of fine particulates in the air. According to the advisory, people with chronic underlying medical...
Costs of air pollution latest in Ajax talks
KAMLOOPS — A local economics professor is set to talk about the possible economic impact the proposed Ajax Mine could have, including the way deteriorating air quality can affect the city's health and economic evaluation. Dr. Peter Tsigaris, an economics professor at Thompson Rivers University and Kamloops resident for more than 20 years, will look to...
Ajax would impact air quality, health: Doctors
KAMLOOPS - The city is already burdened by air quality issues and the addition of more particulate matter via an open pit mine would put the people of Kamloops at risk, according to local doctors opposing the mine. The Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment, which formed about a year ago, said Kamloops need not...
Hazy sky likely from northern fires
KAMLOOPS - It could just be a haze in the sky today but it is more likely smoke from more northern fires we are continuing to see fill our valley. B.C. Wildfire information officer Melissa Klassen says the smoke in the air could be attributed to the more than 15,000 hectares of fires north of...
Smoky skies advisory for Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Fires to the north of us are causing smoky conditions and the Ministry of Environment is now warning people to take additional precautions because of the smoke. A smoky skies advisory was issued today for the Thompson, Shuswap, Okanagan, Similkameen, Nicola, Boundary and Fraser Canyon areas. Similar advisories have also been issued for...
Smoky skies advisory ended
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The smoke from forest fires burning around the province has been blown away. The air quality advisory issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment due to wildfire smoke Thursday was ended for the South Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan regions Sunday afternoon. The air quality index is a two, or...
Smokey skies from fires in United States, northern B.C.
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Kamloops and Vernon residents woke up to the sight, smell and taste of smoke on Wednesday morning. Fire information officer Kayla Pepper says the smoke is coming from wildfires in the northern part of the United States and from the Prince George and Cariboo fire centres. Pepper says the smoke is currently trapped...
UPDATE: Smoky skies advisory ends
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After more than a week under a smoky sky advisory, the smoke has finally cleared. There have been more than 1,100 wildfires this year and more than 252,000 hectares have burned. Six of those fires have been more than 10,000 ha in size with the largest reaching more than 88,000 ha. Smoke from...
Doctors: Kamloops deserves same protection as Kitimat
KAMLOOPS - A local group of physicians say Kamloops has no more room for pollution and wants the province to provide more funding for air quality control in our city. Since the group formed in 2013, Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment have been questioning the level of fine particulate matter already in the air...
Experts in Kamloops to talk air pollution
KAMLOOPS - How to improve air quality and reduce health risks will be on the menu at an upcoming public forum on air pollution in Kamloops. Between several weeks with smoky skies because of forest fires this summer and constant concern being raised over the proposed Ajax mine and other industrial activity, air quality has been...
Air quality advisory for Kamloops
KAMLOOPS – An air quality advisory for the South Thompson region, including the City of Kamloops, has been issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment. High concentrations of fine particulate matter are expected to persist for the next few days. Smoke from open burning and wood burning appliances are likely the cause....
Hundreds seek clarity on environmental assessment process
MORE CURIOSITY THAN OPPOSITION FOR AJAX KAMLOOPS - More than 860 people attended information sessions this week and even though the proposed Ajax Mine was the topic there were no protests, picket lines or large groups gathering at the Coast Hotel. While many were seeking more information on the environmental assessment process many more were...
UPDATE: Input on information requirements for Ajax extended
KAMLOOPS - The public has been given a couple more days to comment and provide feedback on the proposed Ajax Mine and what information the company needs to submit in its application. After significant changes were made to the footprint of the proposed mine in the spring the provincial government decided there should be another...