“Heartland or Heartbreak” is a three-part blog series by Reaching: Conversations on the environment, climate change, and politics in Alberta. Nearly 20 years after the inception of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH), we explore the long-term impacts on the environment and community. The Heartland is a 582 sq. km. industrial park situation near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, a partnership between that municipality and the counties of Strathcona, Lamont and Sturgeon. Today we’re checking in with Nadine Blaney, Executive Director of the Fort Air Partnership, and Communications Director Godfrey Huybregts.
The Fort Air Partnership (FAP) was formed in 1997 in response to the density of heavy industry within Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH) and started monitoring air quality in the AIH region in 2003. From its 10 continuous monitoring stations and its mobile station, the FAP monitors air quality across a 4,500 sq. km. airshed north and east of Edmonton.
FAP receives the bulk of its funding from government and is guided by a volunteer board of directors with representatives from government, industry and the public. It monitors air quality, as it affects humans and wildlife within the following jurisdictions; Fort Saskatchewan, Gibbons, Bon Accord, Bruderheim, Lamont, Redwater, Waskatenau, Thorhild and Elk Island National Park.
Over the course of the years that the FAP has been monitoring air quality in the region, there has been growth in the AIH, though not as much as was originally anticipated. Also, over that period of time there have been advancements in technology. In all, some of the most alarming degradations in air quality have been related to forest fires.
The FAP plays many roles within the community and works with its stakeholders in a number of ways. Tune in as Blaney and Huybregts fill us in on some of the details of how they work and how they share their findings.
If you’re interested in learning more about the partnership you can find them at: http://www.fortair.org/
The live feed data is available at: http://www.fortair.org/monitoring/live-air-quality-data/
And lastly, there is a wealth of information, news, reports and educational resources under the library tab.
We hope you enjoy the padcast! [Length: 24 min.]
Join us for part III of our series next time when we speak to long-time Sturgeon County farmer Wayne Groot.