Teck Trail GM speaks to health concerns in Trail and Northport
By Contributor
Dear Editor,
For over 100 years Trail Operations has operated as a world class refinery and smelter in the West Kootenays of British Columbia. Our facility refines and recycles everything from metal concentrates to used batteries into metals and fertilizers that we all rely on. Over our 100-year history we have grown in lockstep with the city of Trail and surrounding communities. Our people live, work and raise their families in this community. I can say with certainty that no one cares more about the health and safety of people in this region than those of us who live here.
We are supportive of the efforts of residents of Northport, Washington, a community south of Trail, to determine what is causing any unusual rates of illness in their community. It is important to note that we have not seen similar rates of illness in Trail. Further, a 2004 human health study relating to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) by the United States Department of Health found no link between the rate of IBD in Northport and in other counties in northeast Washington and Trail Operations. And, a recent study by the BC Centre for Disease Control found rates of IBD in Trail were far lower and not comparable to those reported in Northport.
We take our commitment to supporting the health and safety of residents very seriously. We have invested more than $1.5 billion at Trail Operations to modernize the facility and improve its environmental performance. As a result, Trail Operations has seen a 95% decrease in emissions of metals to air and water since the mid-1990s. We are committed to continuing to improve our performance and ensuring the West Kootenay region remains a great place to live and work.
Greg Belland
General Manager, Teck Trail Operations
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