Tim Hortons spokesperson David Morelli said the company is pursuing mediation with the province’s environment ministry before the scheduled Nov. 30 hearing at the Environmental Review Tribunal.

Mr. Morelli said Tim Hortons remains hopeful the matter will be resolved before the Nov. 30 preliminary hearing. A quick resolution would help the company avoid a lengthy delay in opening the $30 million plant at 1290 Cormorant Road in the Ancaster Business Park.

“Tim Hortons is working closely with the Ministry of Environment regarding the certificate of approval. Those discussion are progressing and we're looking forward to a successful resolution,” Mr. Morelli stated in an email.

The ministry of the environment says coffee roasting facilities emit nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and acrolein.

Appealing conditions

Tim Hortons, represented by its subsidiary firm Fruition Manufacturing Limited, is appealing certificate of approval conditions for air emissions it believes are unreasonable.

The company contends its facility will deploy the latest technology to deal with stack emissions from coffee roasters, using three catalytic oxidizers, also known as after-burners. The after burners work in conjunction with three cooling cyclones to reduce emissions before they enter the atmosphere.

The company announced earlier this year it hoped to open the facility by this fall.

Updates on the appeal process can be found online at ert.gov.on.ca by searching on case number 09-064.

If the case proceeds to a preliminary hearing, the session will be held Nov. 30 at the Stoney Creek Municipal Centre, 777 Highway 8, beginning at 10 a. m.