Application No. 107251 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE Application for a Permit Under the Provisions of the Environmental Management Act I, Michael Rutherford, on behalf of UNBC (Environmental Science Program, University of Northern B.C., 3333 University Way, Prince George, B.C., V2N 4Z9), intend to submit this application to the Director to authorize the discharge of wood ash from the combustion of clean wood in bioenergy and boiler facilities. The sources of discharge are the UNBC Bioenergy Gasifier and Canfor PG Pulp Boiler #2 (which produce heat at UNBC and Canfor PG Pulp, respectively). The requested permit will allow UNBC researchers to investigate the value-added utilization of wood ash as a soil amendment. Nutrients removed from ecosystems through biomass harvesting operations can be replaced through the responsible application of ash back to ecosystems; the current practice of landfilling wood ash is not sustainable or environmentally responsible. The land upon which the ash will be applied is the Aleza Lake Research Forest (ALRF) located approximately 60 km NE of Prince George, off of the Upper Fraser Road (Lot 9999, Cariboo Land District; 54.06 latitude; 122.07 longitude; Special Use Permit (SUP) 23615 issued by BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations). We would like to put the entire ALRF under the permit, but we will only apply limited amounts of ash to limited areas of the ALRF per year. The maximum rate of ash application will be 5 tonnes per hectare (dry weight basis). A maximum of 60 tonnes will be applied per day, seven days per week for two weeks of the year (between April and November); a maximum of 168 hectares will be treated per year (applications will typically be much less than this maximum, at around 10-50 hectares per year). The wood ash will be bottom ash, fly ash or a combination of bottom and fly ash from the above facilities. Contaminant concentrations in ash will not exceed limits indicated in the current B.C. Soil Amendment Code of Practice. Any person who may be adversely affected by the proposed discharge of wood ash and who wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days after the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, send written comments to the applicant, with a copy to the Director, Environmental Protection, Ministry of Environment at NorthernAuthorizations@gov.bc.ca. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record. Dated this 4th day of May, 2016 Contact person: Dr. Michael Rutherford Telephone No: 250-960-5885
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