Manitoba Forest Companies

The LP request was for the six year extension to 2019. This is based on the recent extension of the forest management licence agreement (FMLA) between Manitoba and LP, also to 2019. Prior to these decisions LP was operating on one year extensions due to the need to have a public review of its upgraded long term forest management plan.

The company made a commitment to update its Forest Management Plan based on a new moose strategy. This western Manitoba FMU is in the region of the province where moose are in the most trouble, and where the hunt has been closed. Conditions have been placed on this LP extension, but they are weak. It could be noted that the dramatic decrease in moose population in the region coincides with the time period since LP began operations in the region.

The long term forest management plan and operating plans for LP have not had thorough public review, or been subject to public hearings since 1997. In fact, no logging plan in Manitoba has gone to public review in a hearing since then. In 2010 all steps for Guidelines for an EIS for a new twenty year forest management plan for the LP operations were reviewed and posted. No environmental statement (EIS) for that new twenty year plan has been provided by the company. The EIS review is usually the basis for review, and decisions about extending the license.

In 2010 the Manitoba government allowed LP to turn off its pollution abatement equipment, which needed to be upgraded.

Appeals of that licence change under the Environment Act were rejected. The Swan Valley Forest Management website, maintained by LP includes a 2006 – 2026 forest management plan for logging activities to provide fiber to the LP Oriented Strand Board mill in Minotonas, in western Manitoba.

The status of government consultations with affected First Nations regarding: the extension of the legal agreement, extension of the forest management licence, or the moose strategy is not know at this time.

View Louisiana Pacific page in the Environment Act Public Registry
View Swan Valley Forest Management Plan Website
View Summary on Louisiana Pacific Oriented Strand Board Mill licence alteration
View Guidelines for Louisiana Pacific EIS for new long term forest management licence
View August 2010 Clean Environment Commission report

Due to reaction from the community living around the mill, the minister asked Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission (CEC) to conduct an investigation and make recommendations as to whether permanent shut down of the pollution abatement equipment (called "regenerative thermal oxidizers" or RTOs) should be permitted. In the mid 1990's, with a different government in Manitoba, public pressure resulted in RTO equipment being installed at the OSB plant. The NDP, as Official Opposition, lobbied for the RTOs, siding with the community.

LP says it will save $3M a year in operating costs, and $10M by not having to replace the RTOs – and that these savings are key factors in decision to continue to operate the mill. LP holds a legal agreement with the Manitoba government, a licence for operation of the OSB mill, and a separate license for access to fibre. It is overdue to file a twenty-year forest management plan and undergo public review and hearings for renewal of its various licenses.

The CEC will be producing a report on the investigation that includes recommendations for the Minister of Conservation.

The CEC was directed by Manitoba's Minister of Conservation to hold meetings as part of its investigation to consider LP's request to permanently decommission its regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) (see above for additional information). RTOs are pollution control equipment that help to reduce air emissions from the OSB plant.

The two days of meetings in Swan River included presentations from the Concerned Citizens of the Valley, nearby Reeves and Mayors, private citizens, local union representatives, a local forestry company, among others.

For more background information,
Visit Environmental Assessment and Licensing Branch online registry for
Louisiana-Pacific's Oriented Strandboard Plant Air Emissions proposal

• narrowness of scope for the CEC's investigation
  View the CEC Terms of Reference for its investigation into LP's air emissions (PDF)
• credibility of information provided by LP – in particular its study related to human health impacts, implementation of LP's monitoring program, and questionable handling of technical information provided by third party consultants
• LP's claims regarding reduced greenhouse gas emissions resulting from decommissioning of RTOs.

The final report from the CEC was due 90 days after the last date for written submissions, September 1 2009. But the CEC decided that it needed more information from LP before making any recommendations.

The CEC report on its investigation will include recommendations for the Minister of Conservation as to whether LP's request to permanently decommission the RTOs should be granted.

However, the CEC report also represents an opportunity for the CEC to recommend strengthening air emissions standards and to recommend companies be required to report publicly regarding operation of their emissions control equipment.

Public interest groups that participated in the CEC investigation hope the CEC uses the opportunity to recommend strengthening air emissions standards, keeping the RTOs in operation, and to recommend companies be required to report publicly regarding operation of their emissions control equipment.

The CEC requested that LP submit health risk assessment modeling that conformed to Manitoba's Guidelines for Air Dispersion Modelling on October 8, 2009.

On April 30, 2010 LP submitted its updated report, Response to the Clean Environment Commission, and the report was posted on the CEC webpage on May 11, 2010.

The report showed that the previous data supplied by LP had been "inadvertently based on only one pair of dryers", and that acrolein emissions exceeded dispersion modeling guidelines.

In response to LP's April 2010 report the Concerned Citizen's of the Swan Valley submitted a written response to the CEC on August 13, 2010. The letter which further expressed doubt about the validity of the data provided by LP and the impact of decommissioning the RTOs.

"We accept the CEC's recommendation the plant be permanently granted an amended licence and Manitoba Conservation officials will be working to thoroughly review the recommendations as a part of the licensing process, " says Bill Blaikie, Minister of Conservation in Manitoba.

The CEC also recommends the new licence require additional air monitoring, a community-health study and a review of the mandate of the Community Liaison Committee. A decision on the licence will be concluded in the next few months.

"The commission has concluded that increased emissions associated with a decision to operate the plant as proposed would not present a significant risk to human or environmental health," said Edwin Yee, chair of the CEC Louisiana Pacific air emissions investigation.

Louisiana Pacific's Swan River plant is the only OSB plant in Canada which uses regenerative thermal oxidizers. Minister Stan Struthers approved shut down of the plant RTOs in early 2009. Due to reaction from the surrounding community, the minister requested the CEC conduct a review and make recommendations as to permanent shut down of the RTOs. During the CEC's 19-month review, the commission received 15 presentations and 17 written submissions from the public as part of the public consultation process.

Hearing presentations and materials from community participants, not posted by the CEC or government below: