CALGARY — Work is under way to develop a permanent fully automated station to re-spray coal trains with dust suppressant along the route from the coal mines in southeast British Columbia to port facilities near Vancouver, the Canadian Pacific Railway announced in a press release. It will be the first facility of its kind in North America.
Clifton-ND Lea Consulting Inc. of Calgary, in conjunction with Lukay Research and Development Ltd. of Edmonton, has been hired to design the re-spray station. The design stage is scheduled to be completed this summer, at which time construction of the station will proceed. The precise location of the permanent station is still to be confirmed, but the facility is scheduled to be in full operation by the end of the year.
The coal industry formed an Action Committee on Coal Dust to coordinate industry-wide efforts for dust control. In 2001, a temporary re-spray station was established near Tappen, B.C., 80 kilometres east of Kamloops.
While the temporary facility proved to be highly effective at reducing dusting, the permanent station will be equipped with several enhancements. It will be fully automated, have its own water supply and will be capable of operating 24 hours a day year round, safely spraying trains even in sub-freezing conditions. The temporary re-spray station will continue to operate until the permanent facility is up and running.
Among other measures that have been implemented to reduce dust emissions, the coal producers have increased the amount of dust suppressant used and modified load-out systems to lengthen the flat surface of the coal and reduce the side and rear slopes of the coal. Some mines also spray water onto the coal before the dust suppressant is applied.
At the port terminals, coal cars are rotated to the maximum angle during dumping, and residual coal dust is removed from the car sills after they have been unloaded. A toll-free telephone number is also in place to receive calls about dusting trains. The number is 1-888-611-3034.