1 reply to this topic

[Giordano Bruno]

The BC Ministry of Environment put out a paper in 2011 titled "A Smoke Management Framework for BC".  In it they describe...

"...a cross-government approach to reduce human exposure to smoke from biomass burning (e.g. wood smoke)....The overall goal of smoke management in B.C. is to reduce health risks by minimizing human exposure to smoke from biomass burning..."

http://www.bcairqual...rk-20110722.pdf

The BC Ministry of Environment is changing the "Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation".  As they state...

 

"...what was once considered a harmless or entirely beneficial practice is now recognized as a significant source of air pollution and a health risk...".

Among their goals are to...

1. "Lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality...bar none."
2. "Lead the way in North America in healthy living..."

http://www.env.gov.b..._intentions.pdf

Where I live (Metchosin), residents can do "open burns" seven days a week from 8 am to 6 pm and there is frequent illegal burning.  From what I understand, the draft of a new Metchosin burning bylaw will remove restrictions in the current bylaw and allow even more burning.

Here are photos of just some of the open burning in my area...

http://www.smokedoutbc.com/photos.htm

Where is the CRD?  They are adopting a region-wide bylaw to protect me from cigarette smoke in parks.  They have adopted a region-wide bylaw to protect me from exhaust from idling vehicles.

The entire valley where I live is often flooded with smoke from open burning.  When will the CRD recognize the health hazards of smoke from open burning and take action?  When will the CRD do its part to further the provincial goal to have "the best air quality bar none"?  Other districts (e.g., Okanagan-Similkameen, Cowichan Valley) have enacted region-wide burning regulations.  Where is the CRD?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, consider the first photo of smoke from multiple land clearing burns or the second photo of just one open burn.

http://www.smokedoutbc.com/photo16.htm

http://www.smokedoutbc.com/photo13.htm
 

[Sparky]

Welcome to vibrantvictoria GB.