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March 6, 2010
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Advocacy group vows to test for formaldehyde
 Gordon Hoekstra Citizen staff
   A Prince George air quality advocacy group says it will be testing for formaldehyde emissions in the Millar Addition after it was revealed that earlier provincial testing had shown extremely high levels of formaldehyde in the city neighbourhood.
   As part of an odour testing project spearheaded by the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable, and largely funded by the B.C. Ministry of Environment, samples were collected in the summer of 2008. The results were first delivered in the spring of 2009, but neither the province, nor the air improvement roundtable publicly indicated any significant issues with the results.
   However, more recently, B.C. Environment Ministry information showed the formaldehyde readings were significantly higher than the province’s acceptable level of 65 micorgrams per cubic metre. Formaldehyde is considered toxic at high levels. The Ministry of Environment information showed that a sample taken on Aug. 6, 2008 at Patricia Boulevard hit nearly 1,200 micrograms per cubic metre, and a sample at 17th Avenue hit more than 900 micrograms per cubic metre.
   “One way or the other - whether the ministry chooses to sample or not - we’re going to test for formaldehyde,” Dave Fuller, the president of the People’s Action Committee for Healthy Air, said Thursday.
   Fuller said that as soon as they have testing results for formaldehyde they will release them.
   “We won’t be waiting 18 months,” said Fuller. (PACHA is a member of the air improvement roundtable).
   B.C. Environment officials in Prince George deferred questions to Victoria. Officials there would only respond by e-mail, saying the 2008 test results were inconsistent with what was known about formaldehyde levels in Prince George and raised questions about their accuracy. “Because the results were in doubt, ministry of environment employees in Prince George did not believe there was a clear public health risk in the community,” said the e-mail.
   The Victoria environment officials noted the results were available online to anyone interested at www.pgairquatity.com. The results, however, are not available on the website.
   NDP environment critic Rob Fleming attempted to question the Liberal government on the issue in the legislature on Thursday. However, the Liberals did not respond directly, only saying they’d take Fleming’s questions on notice.
   While the B.C. government and local industry were informed of the results, the community was not, over fear the results could cause panic and might not be accurate, said the environment official. The more-recent ministry of environment information - showing the formaldehyde samples significantly exceeded provincial standards - called for follow-up testing.
   The ministry e-mail noted that another round of testing, costing about $12,000, will start shortly.
   Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable president George Stedeford noted that the full analysis of the formaldehyde results were not known until recently. He said that the consensus at the roundtable was that more testing was needed to check the formaldehyde results from the two samples.
 Trial date set
  Citizen staff
   Facing charges in the death of a 13-year-old local youth, Lloyd William Cook will stand trial starting June 1.
   The date was set Friday at the Prince George court house.
   Cook faces charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, indignity to human remains and forcible confinement in connection to the death of 13-year-old Adam Williams-Dudoward. Williams-Dudoward was allegedly killed in January 2000 but the case was not brought to police attention until 2004 and Mounties subsequently began a secret investigation. It was not brought to public attention until just before charges were laid in 2009. Cook’s girlfriend at the time, Judy Elaina Williams, the youth’s mother, faces charges of failure to provide necessaries of life and indignity to human remains. She is next scheduled to appear in court on March 17.
YOUNG VIRTUOSO — Rannon Lamoureux plays Long, Long Ago on violin during the 59th annual Prince George & District Music Festival Showcase Recital at the Prince George Playhouse.Around 800 music students participated in this years festival.
Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
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RCMP take down a pair of grow ops
  Bernice Trick Citizen staff
   Wednesday was a red letter day for marijuana growers in Prince George as the RCMP took down a second large grow operation in the 9400 block of Edna Road.
   Police seized 1,520 marijuana plants in various stages of growth along with a large amount of grow equipment at a residence. Two adults known to be of Vietnamese extraction and residents of Surrey were arrested and taken into custody. The 36-year-old male and 45-year-old female will be charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance and theft of Hydro power.
   Just prior to this grow-op take down,
 police seized 1,670 marijuana plants and grow equipment on Haida Drive. In both cases, BC Hydro employees disconnected hydro by-passes. On Haida Drive police arrested a 42-year-old male of Vietnamese extraction who will also be charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance and theft of hydro power. Cst. Gary Godwin, RCMP media liaison, said police send “thanks to the public for being so vigilant and observant.”
   “We are acting on the information that is being supplied.”
   Anyone with information on grow operations or other criminal activity can call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
                                                                                                                                                                                      btrick@pgcitizen.ca
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