Citizens' group questions shellfish plant's odour report
Richibucto residents say odour evaluation for Coastal Shell Products was "not scientific"
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A citizens’ group is questioning the validity of an odour report from a shell-processing plant in Richibucto.
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Maisie Rae McNaughton, who is a member of the Kent Clean Air Action Committee, said her committee had obtained the results of an odour evaluation performed for Coastal Shell Products, which has been emitting a foul smell prompting complaints from Richibucto residents.
At first, McNaughton was looking forward to reading the results, but was shocked at what she saw.
Jamie Goguen, general manager of Coastal Shell, said in an email that Coastal Shell commissioned St. Croix Sensory – a Minnesota-based company – to perform the evaluation, to test the effectiveness of emission mitigation equipment called a thermal oxidiser, and to determine the odour concentration of the emissions at full operating capacity.
The company originally commissioned Prelam Solutions to conduct the study, but its facility did not have an environment that conformed to standards. A company called Stantec was contacted to perform the extraction of the samples.
“A strict protocol was developed in order to comply,” said Goguen, noting compliance with environmental standards was “critical.”
Goguen said the protocol for the study included taking untreated samples directly from the exhaust stack, and taking several other samples after treatment through a “demonstrator sized” thermal oxidiser.
Treated samples were taken using various oxidiser parameters – such as temperature and residence time – to determine the best settings to achieve the optimal results, which was a “mitigation of odour and visible plume.”
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The oxidiser was provided, installed and operated completely by engineers from InProHeat, he said.
The date of sample collection was Oct. 1. McNaughton said that day, she saw a Department of Environment and Climate Change employee near Coastal Shell Products, and was told samples were being collected. She observed the plant was operating, but no smell was coming from it.
Laboratory director Thomas Vallarino said in an email he is unable to speak about the results of an odour evaluation, but said odour samples are evaluated to determine their odour concentration following the principles described in what is known as European Standard for Olfactometry 13725.
Other properties are evaluated such as intensity, hedonic tone, and odour character.
Samples are presented to a group called an “odour panel” using a machine called an olfactometer which can present odours at accurate dilution levels. The device has a “sniff port” to provide uniform face velocity and allow the panelist to easily sniff from the presentation port without the sample being diluted by ambient air.
St. Croix maintains a pool of “screened, trained people” from the local community who demonstrate a normal sense of smell. The evaluations are done in the company’s laboratory facility, which a specialized room to provide an odour free environment to generate “accurate and reliable measurements,” said Vallarino.
According to the results obtained by the citizens’ group and provided to Brunswick News, the odour panel was given a list of descriptors, and were asked to choose which words would best describe the samples.
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The most common words the odour panel used to describe the smell was “plastic, or chemical.” Only four of the 18 samples were described as “fish or sea.” In all four of those cases, it was one person out of eight.
There were also people who described it as a floral or fruity smell.
The panel was also asked to rate the smell on a scale of “pleasantness,” with –10 being the least pleasant, zero being neutral and 10 being the most pleasant. The average of the 18 samples were between –1.9 and –5.
McNaughton said her “jaw hit the floor” when she saw some members of the panel determined the samples had a floral or fruit-like scent.
“Would we really be complaining at this level if it smelled like flowers, and earth, and fruit? No, we wouldn’t be,” she said. “This doesn’t seem to be a scientific report … the results seem to be completely skewed.”
The citizens’ group has been asking for an air quality assessment to determine which specific components make up the emissions from Coastal Shell. McNaughton said she would like to see an assessment done by a third party rather than a company hired by Coastal Shell.
From late December until the end of March, they relished the ability to take walks in the evenings, and have a peaceful night’s rest. McNaughton said though it was cold, she would occasionally open her window to let in the fresh air.
“Our freedom is short-lived here,” she said.
When most people are counting down the days to warmer days, residents of Richibucto are looking at the calendar with dread. With the crab-fishing season approaching, McNaughton said they are not looking forward to the day when the plant fires up, and the stench returns.
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“It really feels like impending doom once again,” she said.
Goguen said Coastal Shell takes a variety of factors into consideration when determining the start of its spring drying operations, including fishing dates and volume available, to best support the local processors as they ramp up operations.
“We have not yet determined that date for 2024. However, the company intends to comply with all conditions set out in its Approval to Operate, just as it’s done in the past.”
The citizens’ committee had launched an injunction request in hopes of stopping Coastal Shell’s operation.
In a written decision in December, Judge Christa Bourque had said it is not appropriate for the court to assess the request for an injunction because the matter may fall under the jurisdiction of the Farm Practices Review Board.
During the November hearing in the Court of King’s Bench, Coastal Shell’s attorney, Edwin Ehrhardt, said because Coastal Shell produces organic fertilizer and a product for livestock feed from an organic substance, the matter should fall under the Agricultural Operations.
McNaughton said they are waiting for a decision to be rendered by the review board to see if it falls under the board’s jurisdiction.
“We’re waiting to see what the next steps are,” she said.
In the meantime, she has tried to get a meeting with the Department of Environment and Climate Change staff, Minister Gary Crossman, as well as other elected officials, such as the leaders of both Opposition parties, but the department has declined the offer.
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Environment and Climate Change spokesperson Clarissa Andersen said in an email Coastal Shell’s current approval to operate is valid until August 31, 2024, and requires them to install odour-reducing technology. It also restricts the time operating between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
In 2022, Coastal Shell Products engaged a consultant to conduct testing on their emissions to determine the concentration of particulate matter and combustion gasses. The company also engaged a consultant in the fall of 2023 to carry out a pilot study on odour-control equipment, said Andersen in the email.
“Department staff will continue to monitor odours within the community and ensure that the facility is taking the necessary steps to reduce the frequency and severity of odours,” she said. noting there have been not been complaints from the nearby school since the start of the school year. “They [Coastal Shell] can begin operations as of March 31, 2024.”
-With files from Pagye Woodard
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