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Technical Volume 7
Local Air Quality Impact
Technical Volume 16
Regional Air Quality Impact
Technical Volume 7 is an assessment of potential effects of the South Fraser Perimeter Road project on air quality, and human health related changes in air quality. Technical Volume 16 is a review of the effects of all the Gateway program projects collectively and is intended to compliment Volume 7.
Both of these volumes come to the same basic conclusion that elevated cancer risks are found primarily along the major roadways; "Levels of cancer risk in 2003 on existing roads, primarily on major cross roads (Ladner Trunk Road, Highway 99, and the Alex Fraser and Pattullo Bridges) exceed the generally accepted risk threshold"...... While, in general, the modeling predicts future improvements due to cleaner fuels and better engine design, some areas are predicted to continue to experience elevated cancer risks. Those areas include the residential parts of Ladner, North Delta east of the Alex Fraser Bridge and in Surrey near the Pattullo and Port Mann Bridges.
These conclusions state that people and communities along this corridor would be at greater risk of exposure to Carcinogens produced by diesel particulate. It is clear from a review of these documents that close proximity to the proposed SFPR will directly and significantly impact the health of area residents.
The GVRD board received some reports about diesel emissions in April 䴋 specifically aimed at reducing emissions from municipal fleets and buses. However, the board also passed a motion to ask the provincial and federal governments to develop programs and regulations to address emissions from existing diesel vehicles (there are new emission standards for on-road diesel vehicles start with model year 2007) and asking the province to consider AirCare for heavy duty diesel vehicles. "Recent studies indicate that every $ 1 invested in diesel emission reduction provides up to $13 in public health benefits."
Interestingly, the same minutes report that the province arbitrarily extended the AirCare exemption another 2 years beyond what the GVRD, FVRD, and GVTA was willing to extend it to - which the GVTA estimates will reduce the effectiveness of AirCare by 2-3%.
Relevance to SFPR:
Like Gateway, the GVRD is also predicting improved air quality by 2020 (although they are predicting the increased number and activity of heavy-duty diesel vehicles to increase greenhouse gas emissions by 35% between 2000 and 2020). This assumption is based on the new HDDV emission standards/fleet turnover and the use of ultra low sulphur diesel fuel (which may become available late 2006 - voluntary purchase only???).
However, because of the long service-life of diesel engines and the growing evidence of the impact of diesel exhaust on human health, the GVRD thinks the provincial and federal governments are not doing enough... "especially for those who live in the vicinity of the heavy-duty diesel emission sources".
Reference locations in the document and the applied reasoning that resulted in this review summary will be coming soon
Other reports: