Environment | The Proprietor Review

Category: Environment

Cameras

Filed under: Environment, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

May 1, 2012

The regional district recycle facility is being upgraded to have a camera system today. Workers from the city say its because people that dry wall take their scraps there and put them in the bins.

The cameras are being mounted on a pole a city worker says there will be a fine for putting recycle that does not meet the criteria of the Regional District.

Editors note: what is acceptable for recycle is posted with signage at the site, or on brochures and calendars published by the authority.

Today in history: May 1 1989

Disney MGM studios opens at Disney world in Florida.

Tags: Cameras

Comment

Run off

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Environment, Fauna by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

April 18, 2012

The junction of the Nicola River and the Coldwater River at Highway 8 has three high water dynamics today, someone planted a shovel in the soil in a stand up position as an apparent gauge for the water level, and a knotted rope is suspended over the flow of the river by a thin appendix of board tied off in a tree. A worker was seen to be putting a pizometer down a river side well on the south slope of the river.Pizometers are used to measure flows of water.

Last year there was a large snow pack and visible snow could be seen into August. Mid May through June is characterized by high water in the local rivers.

There is a Dam at the ouflow of Nicola Lake that regulates the Nicola River.

Today in history April 18,1912

705 survivors of the Titanic land at New York Harbour.

Comment

Smart meter

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Enterprize, Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

April 10, 2012

On the 1900 block Quilchena Ave, in Merritt there is a couple of businesses in the same building. Around the back are two hydro meters one an analog one a digital.(more later)

At this time there are complaints about higher bills then before the utility put in digital meters. The Hydro in BC operates as a not for profit business and lower rates are mandated by law. When the production and distribution of power is efficient, there becomes a benifit to consumers. They can not take retained earnings from year to year except for projects. If people have been not fairly metered in the past by old analog meters then eventually a rate decrease will come through fairer and less defeated metering.

We know of a couple of techniques the utility is employing to ensure that complaints are legit. Remember that taking any unmetered power, is theft and subject to criminal prosecution.

Today in history, April,10 1983

Born Haig Sutherland Canadian Actor.

B.C. Hydro finally owns up to defective smart meter – but only one (theprovince.com)
First Nation blocks smart meter installation (cbc.ca)
BC Hydro smart meter opponents lose ruling (cbc.ca)
Hydro billing (kevingriffiths.wordpress.com)
BC Utilities Commission rejects smart meter opponents’ complaint (blogs.vancouversun.com)
FBI Says Smart Meter Hacks Are Likely To Spread (it.slashdot.org)
Smart meters not harmful, says B.C. health official (cbc.ca)
FBI: Smart Meter Hacks Likely to Spread (newsworldwide.wordpress.com)
IPv6 and Prepaid Electricity (circleid.com)
Smart meter opt-outs trail public outcry in northern California (blogs.vancouversun.com)

Comment

MInus 22

Filed under: Environment, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

January 18, 2012

Pictograms of Olympic sports - Field hockey

Image via Wikipedia

The temperature outside is about 20 degrees below celsius maybe up mid 20s were it has a wind chill. A long way from the 30 degrees farenheit from my time here as a young man. It is still cold for people and without clothing dangerous as a frost bite warning is in effect.

Remember that things can escalate in cold weather and danger come out of simple mechanical failures, so be a critical thinker and stay safe.

And do some warm up exercises before going out to shovel snow..

Today in history, January 18, 1886

The modern game called field hockey is born in England.

No respite from cold in Valley (thehindu.com)
Revolution Field Hockey Camps Announces 2011 Summer Camp Schedule Including Eight New Locations (prweb.com)
Frigid temperatures sweep across Sask. (cbc.ca)
Toronto under extreme cold weather alert (thestar.com)
Brrrr: 10 tips for cold-weather runners (macseattle.wordpress.com)
Forecast: Flurries as bitter cold grips region (knoxnews.com)
Brrrr: 10 tips for cold-weather runners (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
T-Minus 2 Hours (katrichterwrites.wordpress.com)
Drivers Braced For More Bad Weather (confused.com)

Tags: England, Fahrenheit, Field hockey, Gulmarg, North India, Sports, Srinagar, Temperature, weather, Wikipedia, Wind chill

Comment

BC Hydro, power and authority

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Government Works, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

December 13, 2011

Lots of no trespass signs about and some on old hydro meters. Dell from Coopers says they were by and changed his. Some people say they don”t want them because of health issues. Other say they wanted a choice for no wireless connection. The fact is they are being installed and adds in the papers are asking for clear access.

The hydro has worked since it was nationalized in BC as a monopoly and as socialism goes it was considered draconian. However the lower rates we are supposed to get from the monopoly are supportive of the vision of Canada being a mixed economy. As a Non profit crown corporation it is not allowed to have retained earnings and must lower rates for efficiencies it gets. Still you have to watch that the government does not raid it for revenues like raising water licence fees, to accommodate good water levels for the utility.

The off-peak time dynamic will be the next issue us consumers will be watching as we still want it to be an under girding of our economy and not go to profits.

BC Hydro has the rights to all water in the province for generation purposes and a lot of power. When good snow packs occur the next year should see rate reductions, as they have in the past.

The lines and poles are public property and that always raises an issue when they talk about co generation ; recently the utility has replaced a lot of poles and is working to have a third 500 KV line to the lower mainland from the interior.

Today in history December 13 ,2003

Saddam Hussein is captured in Iraq. ( The Ace of Spades)

Scientists urge BC Hydro not to close conservation offices (cbc.ca)
Couple pressures BC Hydro to remove smart meter (cbc.ca)
No long-term forecasts in BC Hydros rate hike application (theglobeandmail.com)
BC Hydro executive bonuses questioned as deficits grow (cbc.ca)
BC Hydro files plan to meet reduced rate expectations (vancouversun.com)
BC Hydro to reveal results of B.C. review of proposed rate increases (vancouversun.com)
Smart meters alleged to pose security risk (cbc.ca)
Auditor General sounds alarm over BC Hydro accounting (theglobeandmail.com)

Tags: British Columbia, Business, Merritt BC

Comment

Snow

Filed under: Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

November 18, 2011

There is a beautiful continuous snowfall here today. An accumulation of about 5 inches is making for a picture postcard . The forecast is for the same the next few days. And the 14 day forecast is weighted towards snow.

Looking forward to a White Christmas and lots of good photo ops here in Merritt.

Truck traffic on routes are a great concern of coffee goers so think in terms of a defensive strategy when driving to routes that have transport trucks.

Today in history,November 18 1977

Born Fabolous, American Rapper.

Driver Warning As Snow Continues (confused.com)
Drivers warned over snow on vehicle roofs (premierlinedirect.co.uk)
Snow and accidents close several B.C. highways (cbc.ca)
Did somebody say SNOW ?! (prettyhypeto.com)
Motorists warned about snow fall (autonetinsurance.co.uk)

Comment

Mid week activities

Filed under: Environment, First Nations People, Flora, Politics and Politicians, Public health, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 20, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

There are some significant activities this week in Merritt, tonite the Alexander the Great Seminar continues at the library, presenter al Horne and his wife coördinate the slides and the talk.An Academic venture,in progress as the credits for photos of antiquity are yet to be published.

The Nicola Naturalists also have and AGM tonight at 7 o’clock at NVIT about 3 kilometers from the 6-8 presentation at the library.

There is also a member picture presentation after the expected brief business meeting.

Last evening there was an eco health forum that featured such speakers ad Scotty Holmes the chief o the Upper Nicola Indian band and others including representation from the Community round table at evening it was sparsely attended and coming to a conclusion in its second day of presentations and discussions.

Today in history, October 20th 1973

The Sydney Opera House opens.

Tags: AGM, Alexander the Great, Annual general meeting, History, Merritt, Merritt British Columbia, People, Sydney Opera House

Comment

Card lock

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

August 31, 2011

The Esso agency had a customer appreciation day today .The Cold Creek Agency of Nicola Avenue had the radio station, prizes , hamburgers and a celebrity Mobile Oil sponsored formula one car on site .To appreciate their customers.The business is located in a heavy commercial zoning beside a road contractor an unconfirmed source is saying you don’t have to be a business to have a card lock and their prices change daily with oil prices and are emailed out to card customers at levels of discounts.Implying volume.

Its a clean and uncluttered business you may want to check it out if for some reason you need volumes of fuel and don’t mind competing with logging trucks for fueling.

Today in history, August 31,1537

The Honorable Artillery Company, England’s oldest is formed.

Tags: Business, Commercial district, Esso, History

Comment

Job fair

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

August 16, 2011

This is a public photo. Category:Columbia River

Image via Wikipedia

A small job fair was held at the campus of NVIT on monday, Teck the mining giant that runs the Highland Valley Copper Mine was there . A representative said they would be hiring around the middle of December. A training company/ society for people who would work on the hydro site at Revelstoke and Mica also had a booth, as did the Community Futures Society for the first nations of the Thompson Nicola.

A rep from Western Bio Energy of Richmond BC for their proposed hydro co-gen plant was giving out information. Fred Scott was saying that when the project is approved for permits it will have a strong contact with hydro that prohibits fuel being used that is not green wood waste ie railway ties. The boiler is only capable of taking 1900 degrees and toxins must be burned at higher temperatures \(legally).

There is one toxic waste facility in the province it is in the lower mainland. This project is strictly green and for hydro co gen to the public utility BC Hydro.The plant would be on the Tolko mill site here in Merritt, the company plans public consultations in the next 5 months to accommodate their permitting process.

The VP of business development Fred M. Scott said that it was not to be confused with a proposal that failed 8 years ago which included medical waste. We say that a proposal of some decades ago that generated a ground swell of protest should not be mitigated by this corporate goodwill to ward green coming from the proposal and BC Hydro.That one was for toxic waste and the interest went to a plant in Swan Hills Alberta after being soundly rejected.That proposal was encouraged by then Mayor H.P.Kroeker and his administration that included an economic development officer that was a former used car sales rep. Kroeker still sits as a counselor here after some years as a justice of the peace and after a failed Mayoralty reelection bid.

The job fair was aimed at young people and training opportunities in the resource sector. Nadine Israel, represented BCAMTA as a coach. That organisation is the Aboriginal Mine Training association. www.bcamta.ca

Today in history, August 16 1989

Solar activities interfere with electronics ceasing trading on the TSX.