FRANCAIS

August 29, 2006

Manitoba Conservation has received a proposal under the Environment Act from OlyWest for the construction and operation of a new 45,000-hog-per-week processing plant within the city of Winnipeg, setting in motion a full, public review by the Clean Environment Commission (CEC), Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

“I have directed the CEC conduct a complete, public review into the proposed facility,” said Struthers. “This public review will then lead to a recommendation to government by the CEC on whether or not this proposal should be licensed.”

The province also announced today the CEC hearing’s terms of reference, which require the CEC to make specific recommendations to address:

• any environmental and community impacts respecting odours, noise, aesthetics, dust and increases in truck traffic;

• the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the proposed new hog processing plant on the environment including surface water, groundwater, wildlife and dust;

• the incremental environmental impacts of the additional pre-treated waste water on the quality of the water and the downstream uses of the Red River and Lake Winnipeg; and

• socio-economic, social, cultural and health impacts directly related to the environmental impacts of the proposal.

Struthers noted that Manitobans interested in participating in the CEC hearings will have access up to $100,000 in funding support to assist with presentations. The next step will see the CEC set up the hearing and the participant funding process.

The CEC public hearing will review the proposal and receive and consider public comments and concerns. After the hearing, the CEC will provide a report with recommendations to the minister of conservation. The CEC will recommend whether a licence should be granted or not and, if so, under what terms and conditions.

The company is proposing to build a $200-million hog plant in the St. Boniface Industrial Park. The proposed plant may create up to 1,100 new jobs and a new market for finished Manitoba hogs.

An advice document prepared by Manitoba Conservation for Olywest that lays out the environmental assessment and licensing process and provides advice for the preparation of the proposal and the Environmental Impact Statement can be viewed at:

The CEC is a provincial agency that facilitates public involvement in environmental matters and offers advice and recommendations to the minister of conservation regarding environmental issues, project approvals and environmental licences.

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If the CEC recommends an Environment Act licence be issued, the terms of reference set out that additional recommendations will address:

• the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the proposed new hog processing plant on the biological and physical environment;
• the potential environmental impacts from a sludge and solids management program associated with the waste-water pre-treatment and rendering processes;
• the incremental environmental impacts of the additional pre-treated waste water that would be sent to the City of Winnipeg’s North End Pollution Control Centre, plus additional releases of waste water from affected combined sewer overflows on the quality of the water and the downstream uses of the Red River and Lake Winnipeg;
• the measures proposed by the City of Winnipeg to ensure that pre-treated waste water from OlyWest will allow the North End Pollution Control Centre to remain in compliance with the Environment Act licence and the interim nutrient reduction targets for phosphorus and nitrogen will be met;
• the environmental impacts of odours, noise, esthetics, dust and increases in truck traffic;
• socio-economic, social, cultural and health impacts directly related to the environmental impacts of the proposal;
• measures proposed by OlyWest to mitigate any adverse impacts resulting from the proposal and to manage any residual adverse effects; and
• monitoring programs and future research that may be proposed by OlyWest or as may otherwise be deemed appropriate.