
The Georgia Strait pulp and paper mill that helped inspire my fictional environmental mystery has been permanently closed. Contact with a local environmental group tells me that demands for paper products has been reduced making the production in the mill uneconomic. Local environmental groups applied pressure on the mill owners that spurred on the closure.
My novel cannot receive credit for this result as the closure came a bit before the publication of Long Reach. However, the news underscores pride in community action and attitudes wished for in my imagination.
The effort needs to continue. A letter from The Georgia Strait Alliance included a 1996 report which lists pollution details: “Air discharges from pulp mills contain hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals, such as chlorinated phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and VOCs. BC’s coastal pulp mills are the largest provincial source of airborne dioxins and furans, which are among the most carcinogenic substances known.”
Management of water effluent and waste fiber handling have similar results.
After a review of recommended improvement techniques, the report concludes: “Totally chlorine-free, zero-discharge pulp mills, which produce no liquid effluent and minimize the quantity and toxicity of air pollution and solid waste, are a desirable and achievable goal.”
Mill closure consequences: It should be noted that 200 people lost their jobs in this mill’s closure. A news article implies that clean air and water has brought in additional jobs like fishing and tourism, as well as overall health benefits in the community.