Refinery in Burnaby, B.C., warns of flaring, odours and smoke after 7-week closure
Parkland fuel refinery to resume operations Sunday, after "unplanned issue" sent fumes across region
The Parkland fuel refinery in Metro Vancouver is set to resume operations Sunday, seven weeks after an "unplanned issue" forced it to shut down.
A statement on Parkland's website says crews will begin the process by turning on the main air blower for the heat system at the facility in Burnaby, B.C.
The company says this "essential step" is expected to produce "periods of elevated flaring, and some potential for odours, noise and smoke."
The company said in a statement it will bring its equipment "safely online" after what it called a "thorough inspection, cleaning, and routine maintenance."
Once the facility is up and running, Parkland says it will move into the next phase of its operations by starting to feed crude oil into the refinery.
The company says it's working closely with the community and regulatory bodies, and there will be continuous, independent air monitoring during the restart process.
The unplanned incident on Jan. 21 blanketed parts of Metro Vancouver with a heavy stench and caused more than 100 complaints from local residents.
Nine Parkland Refining workers sought medical attention for injuries after the incident that day, according to a WorkSafeBC report.
Parkland had issued an advisory on its website two days beforehand, saying people who live nearby may notice noise and "higher-than-usual flare" from the facility.
Metro Vancouver monitors emissions of particulates, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide from the Parkland refinery, and the district told the public that air quality objectives for the contaminants were not exceeded during the incident.
The regional authority told CBC News it requires the Parkland refinery to monitor its emissions continuously, in particular from its fluid catalytic cracker, and its sulphur recovery unit. It also must have quarterly or annual testing of "air contaminants" by a third party, a Metro Vancouver spokesperson said.
"There are several ambient air quality monitors operated by Metro Vancouver intentionally located in proximity to the refinery," the spokesperson said in an email, "to measure ground-level concentrations of the air contaminants."