Capital Power has announced it will no longer receive creosote-soaked rail tie chips at its Williams Lake facility.

The City says that during the past number of weeks, members of the public have raised concerns with respect to the chipping and storage of creosote rail ties adjacent to the downtown core and the subsequent burning of the chipped material at the Capital Power Plant.

CN Rail has been storing and chipping rail ties directly behind the Station House Gallery at the foot of Oliver Street for a number of years.

However, the volume of chips stored on the site has a seen a significant increase in recent months.

Concerns with respect to the CN rail tie disposal activities include: potential health risks from airborne creosote and associated chemicals resulting from the chipping and storage of chops in proximity to the downtown, potential for fire and associated smoke hazards due to the volume and location of the chip piles, and potential health threats associated with the burning of creosote soaked wood in the Power Plant.

City staff have been investigating the concerns and have been in communication with the Ministry of Environment, which permits emissions and monitors air quality; BC Rail which, owns the property on which the ties are chipped and stored; and Capital Power, which is burning the chips in their co-generation power plant.

In response to the concerns raised by members of the community, Capital Power has announced it will immediately stop receiving creosote-soaked rail tie chips in its Williams Lake facility.

The chips in question account for approximately 4 per cent of its fibre supply so there is no impact to Capital Power’s operation as a result of this decision.

The Williams Lake Fire Department has identified BC Fire Code non-compliance in relation to the location of the chip piles on the site near Station House Gallery and will be taking appropriate action.

Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett, Mayor Kerry Cook and the City’s chief administrative officer Brian Carruthers toured the Capital Power Plant on March 18 to better understand the operation and the impact of burning chipped rail ties.

“We had a very informative tour of their operation and I feel that Capital Power has taken a responsible approach to this issue,” Cook says.