A change in management is underway at Teck Trail Operations.
After 27-years with the Teck, four as general manager of the Trail plant, Greg Belland is retiring next month.
Effective Oct. 23, Belland will pursue the next phase of his career outside the company, confirmed Catherine Adair, Teck's community relations leader.
“During Greg's tenure as general manager, he has provided strong leadership,” Adair told the Trail Times. “And has been instrumental in improving our environmental performance, particularly to reduce site emissions and improve community air quality.”
Mark Edwards, a former manager of environment, health and safety at the Trail site, will fulfil the general manager role for the interim period, said Adair.
Edwards previously worked in Applied Research and Trail operations, she added.
“Where he held various roles in the areas of environmental management, process management, quality systems and occupational health and safety.”
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) recognized Teck Trail Operations last winter for receiving a top grade according to national mining standards. There were five different protocols Teck was graded on, as part of the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative by MAC. The smelter operation received an 'A' rating in the categories, including Aboriginal and community outreach, crisis management, safety and health and more.
One of the categories Trail Operations excelled in is biodiversity. Catherine Adair, community relations leader at Teck, said dust suppression is just one of the initiatives the mining company takes on, maintaining its high ranking.
"This protocol highlights our continuing efforts at environmental improvement," she said. "One example, in our ongoing planting program, with the goal of covering bare soil to reduce dust and potential erosion, enhancing local biodiversity and providing aesthetic improvements."
In the Aboriginal and community outreach branch of the award, Adair says Teck's presence on local committees scored the company a high grade.
"This protocol highlights the work completed by both Trail Operations and the local community with organizations like the Trail Health and Environment Committee; a partnership between Teck, the City of Trail, Interior Health, the Ministry of Environment and local community members.
This is the third time in the last two years that a Teck Metals operation has earned the award for industry leadership.
The smelter received the award after self assessments and a third-party assessment and covers the standard everyday operations and practices.