"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.