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http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=63727
NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT
of an Environmental Assessment
LeBreton Flats Remediation and Infrastructure Project.
LeBreton Flats (ON)
August 26, 2011 -- The National Capital Commission is required to ensure that a screening is conducted commencing on August 23, 2011 in relation to the development proposal: LeBreton Flats Remediation and Infrastructure Project..
The general nature of the project:
The National Capital Commission (NCC) proposes to remediate the contaminated soil down to bedrock within Blocks L, M, N, O, K and J thus allowing for residential and commercial redevelopment. The above mentioned property is located between Booth Street to the east, Preston Street to the west, Wellington Street to the north and the open aqueduct to the south. The National Capital Commission (NCC) conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) as part of this remediation project in 2003. However, following a review of the 2003 EA, it has been decided that some sections of the EA need to be amended to reflect current site condition and modifications to the remediation approaches.
Scope of the project:
The proposed work involves the removal of contaminated soils down to bedrock. The projected activities will include:
- clearing and grubbing the entire site;
- installation of fences around areas to be excavated;
- installation of temporary retaining walls in the excavation;
- installation of hydraulic barriers;
- temporarily closing a bike path going across the site;
- excavation of earth material down to bedrock;
- crushing of large on site material;
- stockpiling of contaminated soil on site and/or off-site;
- sieving and washing of soil on site and/or off-site;
- treatment of contaminated groundwater;
- creation of a temporary sedimentation pond; and
- transportation of contaminated soil to local landfill and/or potentially other NCC property.
Environmental setting of the project:
LeBreton Flats is a Brownfield site located within the City of Ottawa. It is bounded to the north and west by the Ottawa River, Scott Street to the south, and Bronson Avenue to the east. LeBreton Flats was used primarily by the lumber and railway industries prior to 1900. At that time, the site consisted of sawmills, lumber storage yards and railway yards as well as associated residential units and neighbourhood retail. In April of 1900, a fire swept over the Flats destroying most of the existing structures and leaving the area covered in ash, coal and fire debris. Following the fire, the site was re-established by metal, lumber, manufacturing industries along with a thriving residential neighbourhood. In the 1940's and 1950's several automobile service stations and scrap yards established themselves on LeBreton Flats. The site remained as such until 1960's when all structures were demolished and removed to grade.
Portions of the vacant site were used for snow dumping between 1970 and 1990. In addition, the western portion of the site was used as a sanitary landfill in 1963 and 1964.
Extensive site investigations have shown that the soil is contaminated with metals, petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The groundwater contamination consists of metals, PAH and volatile organic compounds (VOC). The site also contains buried construction debris.
The remediation is proposed to commence in the summer of 2012 and be completed by 2014 or at the latest by 2016.
Main environmental issues of concern:
Key issues include:
- Soil contamination by metals, petroleum hydrocarbons and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons;
- Groundwater contamination by metals, petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds (VOC);
- Risk to human health due to dermal contact, ingestion and inhalation of soil and/or groundwater contaminants;
- Impact on wildlife that used the LeBreton Flats as habitat; and
- Impact on vegetation.
- Human populations potentially affected by the project (positively or negatively):
In its current condition, the site poses minimal health risks for site users and adjacent properties.
Under section 5 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, an environmental assessment is required because the National Capital Commission may provide federal lands for the purpose of enabling the project to be carried out in whole or in part and is the proponent for the project.
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