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Dust complaints in Prince Rupert being misdirected

Airborne dust complaints in Prince Rupert aren't the city's responsibility.

Airborne dust complaints occurring recently in Prince Rupert aren't the city's responsibility.

Council and city staff said they are receiving complaints about higher levels of dust from the waterfront road owned by CN.

The dust issue was raised at the Aug. 19 city council meeting. Council was told the increased levels of dust is due to construction of the Pinnacle Renewable Energy pellet terminal.

Coun. Joy Thorkelson asked what the city could do about dust, and if there were tools to deal with concerns. Council was told if the city feels the responsible agencies are not doing enough to address concerns, it can turn to a nuisance bylaw or other regulations the city has in respect to industrial behaviours.

But it is not the city's responsibility to ensure the dust problem is dealt with.

While the Westview Terminal is situated on Prince Rupert Port Authority land, the roadway itself belongs to CN.

Emily Hamer, from CN's public and government affairs section, said CN has only received one complaint, and the company is "reviewing the situation with our customer on the road where some construction is being done".

Hamer did not immediately respond to requests for further comment by The Northern View.

Michael Gurney, manager of corporate communications for the Prince Rupert Port Authority, said the port doesn't have a record of any complaints made directly to them about increased dust in the air because of construction of the pellet terminal, nor has the city forwarded any complaints to the port.

Gurney said if people have dust complaints they would like to bring forward, they are encouraged to call the port's community information line.

"We will address the issue with Pinnacle Renewable Energy group and or with CN as the situation demands," he said.

Leroy Reitsma, president and chief operating officer of Pinnacle Renewable Energy, said the port has warned the company and all other groups that use the road to be careful with speed of vehicles.

"It's not a Pinnacle issue per se, it's more one that we're aware of and we've been making sure that the contractors we're utilizing to construct the facility have an increased enforcement level there," he said.