The Quebec government has charged Noranda Minerals with three counts of violating provincial air pollution laws. The charges allege that the company’s Horne copper smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Que., emitted “high concentrations” of acid-rain- causing sulphur dioxide last August.
The 60-year-old smelter is said to be the largest single source of acid-rain-causing emissions in the province. (Also, federal studies show that it is the second largest source in North America, second only to Inco’s nickel smelter in Sudbury, Ont.)
Under provicial regulation, the level of sulphur dioxide in the air to which residents are exposed is not to exceed an average of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) per hour. Allegedly, emisions from the smelter averaged 2.85 ppm over an hour last Aug 14.
In 1987, Noranda signed an agreement with the federal and provincial governments to cut its emissions in half by 1990. The agreement called for the construction of a $125-million sulphuric acid plant for the recycling of sulphur dioxide.
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