A Delta-based company has been charged more than $50,000 for discharging air contaminants.
A B.C. Provincial Court judge recently imposed a $52,000 fine on Silver City Galvanizing, a hot dip galvanizing operation on Annacis Island, relating to an air discharge on Jan. 7 and 8, 2010.
On those days, the operation discharged gases and fine particles into the air that caused, or were capable of causing, material physical discomfort and interfered, or were capable of interfering, with visibility - which is a violation of a Metro Vancouver air quality bylaw.
Galvanizing is an industrial process used to protect steel from corrosion. It involves immersing steel objects in a bath of molten zinc.
In an agreed statement of facts, the company admitted that unknown quantities of air contaminants were discharged into the air from its galvanizing facility on Cliveden Avenue through large open loading doors, other doors and vent fans.
The contaminants included fine particles of: sodium hydroxide solution, sulphuric acid solution, zinc ammonium chloride solution, solid zinc and zinc compounds and the gases of ammonia and hydrochloric acid.
Inhalation of high concentrations of fine particles of zinc oxide, such as that emitted in a mist from hot dip galvanizing may cause metal fume fever in humans.
Employees of a business across the street from Silver City Galvanizing reported a cloud coming from the facility that caused burning and stinging sensations, irritation to the eyes and a foul taste in the mouth.
An investigation was launched, charges were laid and late last month the company pleaded guilty to two counts of discharging air contaminants.
In September 2010 Silver City Galvanizing began upgrading its pollution control equipment and spent close to $300,000 on equipment to collect and treat emissions.
In July, Metro Vancouver issued an air emissions permit to the company.
Metro Vancouver publishes air quality permit compliance information on its website at www.metrovancouver.org/services/permits/Pages/search.aspx.
