Evaluating the cumulative impacts of air pollution in northeast British Columbia ...

• Main Author: Krzyzanowski, Judi
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2010
• Subjects: Canada; British Columbia; First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0069961; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0069961

This research examined the potential cumulative impacts of air pollution in northeast British Columbia (BC). It was part of a larger project to develop tools for assessing the cumulative impacts of development in BC’s Treaty 8 traditional territory. Although this study was framed from a First Nations perspective, it has relevance to all residents of the region. The focus is on Criteria Air Contaminants (CAC); whose reporting in Canada is required based on contributions to acid rain, ozone and poor regional air quality. Air pollution in northeast BC is dominated by the upstream oil and gas (UOG) sector. An analysis of official emissions data and reporting policies showed that inventories severely underestimate UOG emission sources. Industry-based emission estimates were combined with a conventional government-based emissions inventory to give a more comprehensive dataset for the region. When CAC sources were considered inclusively and cumulatively across the region’s landscape, emissions of the CAC sulphur ...