FACILITY PROFILE
MCCAIN FOODS (CANADA)
FLORENCEVILLE FROZEN FOOD PLANT
Prepared by:
Approvals Branch
Energy & Manufacturing Section
Department of Environment
July 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
General Overview
POTENTIAL AIR QUALITY IMPACTS
AIR QUALITY COMPLIANCE
Summary of the Requirements of the Air Quality Approval to Operate
Compliance with Conditions of the Air Quality Approval to Operate
Enforcement
PUBLIC OUTREACH
CONTACT INFORMATION
BACKGROUND
McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant operates a frozen food processing plant in the Town of Florenceville, New Brunswick.
The plant uses steam to produce approximately 39,000 lbs/hour of french fries; 5,000 lbs/hour of potato by-products; 2,000 lbs/hour of flaked potatoes; 13 000 pizza pockets/hour; and 8,000 cakes/hour. In general, the plant consists of peelers, cookers, fryers, a freezer tunnel and packaging.
As required under the Air Quality Regulation - Clean Air Act, McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen food plant is considered a source and therefore, must apply for an Air Quality Approval to Operate from the New Brunswick Department of Environment . The facility is required to conduct its operations according to conditions outlined in the issued Air Quality Approval aimed at preventing unfavorable air quality conditions. The conditions are generally wide-ranging and may include such requirements as:
- limitations on operational parameters;
- requirements for testing and monitoring emissions from specific unit operations;
- requirements for testing and monitoring the ambient air quality surrounding the facility;
- requirements to operate air pollution control equipment;
- limits on emissions that are approved to be released to the atmosphere;
- provisions for equipment upgrade and/or maintenance;
- requirements for environmental emergency and/or compliance reporting; and
- other conditions aimed at minimizing the facility's impact on the environment.
The Regulation provides for approvals to be issued by the Minister of the Environment for a specified period, not to exceed five years.
The McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant's Approval to Operate (identified as I-2754) issued under the Air Quality Regulation expires on February 28, 2006.
This document is intended to provide: background information on McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant and the Air Quality Approvals process; a description of the McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant's process, a list of the potential air quality impacts associated with the facility; and a compliance review of the current Air Quality Approval to Operate.
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
General Overview
At McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant, raw potatoes are received and sorted upon arrival. They are steam-peeled in pressure vessels, inspected, cut into french fry strips, blanched, dried, fried, frozen and packaged, then stored in a cold storage warehouse before being shipped to the customer. The potato waste from the french fry process is used to make potato byproducts at the site, e.g. potato flakes.
The Prepared Foods Plant on the same site prepares pizza pockets and cakes. In general, the plant consists of peelers, cookers, fryers, freezer tunnels, packaging equipment and a cold storage warehouse.
There are exhaust units in the factory that allow the release of process steam. The exhaust from the french fry fryers is scrubbed with recycled water before being released. Flue gas is released from the stacks of the two Bunker C oil-fired boilers.
POTENTIAL AIR QUALITY IMPACTS
The potential air quality impacts associated with the McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant are related primarily to emissions from the facility's steam plant. The following list of potential air quality impacts have been identified:
- Combustion gas emissions (includes sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide) from the existing steam plant boilers;
- Odour emissions from various vents and stacks; and
- Noise
AIR QUALITY COMPLIANCE
McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant is required to comply with the Air Quality Regulation - Clean Air Act and operate under terms and conditions established in its Approval to Operate, issued pursuant to Section 3 of the Air Quality Regulation - Clean Air Act. Conditions are aimed at ensuring that the facility environmental impact during its day-to-day operations does not adversely affect air quality in surrounding areas, as well as regionally and globally. Any violations of the conditions of Approvals may be subject to compliance and enforcement measures as described in the Department of Environment 's Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
Summary of the Requirements of the Air Quality Approval to Operate
The main conditions of the Approval to Operate for McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant can be summarized as follows:
- Operate the facility such that the sulphur dioxide (SO2) and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions from the operation do not exceed 1000 tonnes per year;
- Conduct source testing on a yearly basis to determine the concentration of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and Particulate Matter (PM) being released from the boiler's exhaust stacks;
- Conduct annual air quality dispersion modeling to predict ground level concentrations of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and Particulate Matter (PM);
- Operate Liquid Effluent Treatment Plant so that all methane gas (a.k.a biogas) produced is collected and burned in the boiler or the flare stack and is not vented directly to the atmosphere; and
- Prepare and submit a Yearly Report containing: a summary of any incidents and information of any violations of the Approval, the annual biogas consumption, the average hydrogen sulphide (H2S) concentration of biogas, the amount of fuel oil burned and its average sulphur content, the annual emission of sulphur dioxide from all combustion sources, a report of the source testing activities, and a report on the air quality dispersion modeling study.
Compliance with Conditions of the Air Quality Approval to Operate
Over the life of the existing Approval all conditions have been met to date. In regard to the main Conditions of Approval listed above, the following is a summary of the facility's compliance:
- The Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions for the facility have been below the required limit of 1000 tonnes per year as required in the past and current Air Quality Approvals to Operate, as shown in the following table:
|
SO2 |
PM |
| Year |
tonnes/year |
| 2001 |
314 |
25 |
| 2002 |
297 |
25 |
| 2003 |
320 |
26 |
| 2004 |
239 |
21 |
- McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant has complied with all requirements for performing source testing on a yearly basis;
- To date all methane gas from the Liquid Effluent Treatment Plant has been collected and burned in either the boiler or flare stack; and
- All annual Air Quality Reports have been submitted.
Enforcement
Enforcement options used by the Department of Environment are outlined in the Department's Compliance and Enforcement Policy. These may include but are not limited to: schedules of compliance, verbal and written warnings, orders, and prosecutions. Although not specifically outlined in the Policy, it is also possible to amend approvals with more stringent conditions, either during its valid period or at the time of renewal, to address specific compliance issues or to improve the environmental impact of the facility. Most recently, a new Regulation under the Clean Air Act allows for the issuance of "administrative penalties" for minor violations as an alternative to traditionally used enforcement options.
There have been no warnings or orders issued, nor have there been any prosecutions initiated by this agency during this period, related to air quality for this facility.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant indicates that its position on public outreach is to foster positive community relations by maintaining an open-door policy, whereby any member of the public or interested party wishing to obtain further information about the operation may contact McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant during regular business hours.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For further information on the operation of McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant please contact:
Frank MacIntyre
Complex Manager
McCain Foods (Canada), Florenceville Frozen Food Plant
107 Main Street
Florenceville, NB E7L 1B2
Telephone: (506) 392-4861
Fax: (506) 392-2869
Email: femacintyre@mccain.ca
Principal Contact, Grand Falls Region
Richard Keeley
Regional Director
Regional Services and Enforcement
NB Department of Environment
P.O. Box 5001
Grand Falls, NB E3Z 1G1
Telephone: (506) 473-7744
Fax: (506) 475-2510
Email: richard.keeley@gnb.ca
For information on this document, or on environmental regulations relating to air quality, please contact:
Jennifer Bishop
Approvals Branch
Energy & Manufacturing Section
NB Department of Environment
P.O. Box 6000, 20 McGloin Street,
Marysville Place
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 444-2479
Fax: (506) 457-7805
Email: jennifer.bishop@gnb.ca
For comments on enquiries on the public participation process, please contact:
Michelle Daigle
Public Participation Officer
Communications and Educational Services
NB Department of Environment
P.O. Box 6000, 20 McGloin Street,
Marysville Place
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 453-3700
Fax: (506) 453-3843
Email: michelle.daigle@gnb.ca
