Reconsidering Remediation - through Sustainability Presenter: Maylia Parker Contributor: Belinda Campbell, PSPC 2018 CLRA Conference Planning for the Annual 100 Year Event
Summit Waste Rock, Scotchtown, Cape Breton, NS Is there a better way? Reconsidering our remediation approach by evaluating sustainability
Overview 1. How did we get here? 2. Sustainable Remediation – a different lens 3. Through the Looking Glass 4. Outcomes 5. Where do we go now? Photo source: Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation Former Mine Site Closure Program Update 2013-2014, Government of Canada
How did we get here? The Site and Its History
The Site and Its History 2001 - Cape Breton Development Corporation (CBDC/DEVCO) ceased mining Former Mine Site Closure Program established with PWGSC (now PSPC) to… …leave former mine sites and related properties in a stable and safe condition, and return the land to its previous use or an acceptable alternative. 2009 - CBDC merged with Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) CBDC lands associated with coal mining: • 700 properties in 35 communities • 1,000+ km 2 2011-2013 – remediation & closure activities Environmental Issues: mine water discharge, erosion, mine 2014 – ECBC absorbed into Atlantic Canada openings, impacted soil, surface water Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and groundwater Source: Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation Former Mine Site Closure Program Update 2013-2014, Government of Canada
The Site and Its History Scotchtown Summit (SSSA) Waste rock disposed at Site since 1911 • 39 ha waste rock pile (WRP) consolidated • from surrounding mine sites acid rock drainage (ARD) + metals • Remedial activities completed 2011-2012 • o cap system o recreational trail o Site Management Plan o Environmental Monitoring Trend Analysis Map source: Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation Former Mine Site Closure Program Update 2013-2014, Government of Canada
Site Description Scotchtown Summit (SSSA) Located in 2 watersheds: Waterford Lake (primary drinking water • source) Kilkenny (supplementary drinking water • source) connected by water line • Surface drainage: Irish Brook (runs through town) • 2 tributaries of Kilkenny Lake Brook • Geology: Waste rock – Till – Sandstone • Photo source: Google Maps
SSSA Closure Design Criteria 1. Human Health Waterford Lake: drinking water quality • on-site (none identified) • 2. Two tributaries of Kilkenny Lake Brook background or CCME • 3. Irish Brook no net negative effect • 4. Land use vacant • 5. Ecological risks no impact to terrestrial animals and • birds 6. Infrastructure no adverse impacts Photo source: Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation Former Mine Site Closure • Program Update 2013-2014, Government of Canada 7. Surface erosion protection measures 1 in 200 year runoff event • • 1 in 200 year runoff event
Remedial Option Selection SSSA RAP Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Protect Kilkenny Lake Treatment of ARD Low Permeability Description Brook Tributaries (add-on to Option 1) Cover: Plastic Liner (HDPE) cover southern flow through lime remove SAPS ponds • • • Method area of WRP w/veg addition plant with improve West • cap sludge settling pond ponds improve SAPS 1 raise west dam • • ponds cover entire WRP • improve West with HDPE liner, till, • ponds and seed raise west dam • $2.6 M $17.3 M $21.2 M Cost No – does not address No – addresses Irish Yes – reduce ARD 1 SAPS = Selection gw plume and Brook but not generation thereby successive Waterford Lake Waterford Lake protecting Waterford alkalinity Lake and improving sw producing system quality
Remedial Action Plan Is there a problem? Closure criteria are being met Capping retards an already slow (geologic) process (Very) long term monitoring program Has environmental liability been reduced? Problem for future generations? Figure 3.3, Option 3: Low-Permeability HDPE Liner, SSSA Call-Up #4 Remedial Action Plan (RAP), Summit Waste Rock Pile, Nova Scotia, AMEC Earth and Environmental Services, December 2008.
Sustainable Remediation A different lens?
Sustainable remediation considers the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project to ensure an optimal outcome, while being protective of human and environmental health, both at a local level and for the larger community. - SuRF Canada
Sustainable Remediation: Sustainable Remediation – Process vs Technology a different lens? “Sustainable Remediation Framework” Haley et.al.,Spring 2011 Edition of Remediation Journal (June 2011 )
Sustainable Remediation In search of the optimal outcome… What's in the toolbox?
What’s in the Toolbox? Sustainable Remediation – a different lens? Tool Type Example Tools Best Management ASTM, SuRF, USACE, EPA Fact Sheets Practices (BMPs - any project) Increasing complexity Increasing Complexity Simple California Dept. of Toxic Substances – (Qualitative) Green Remediation Evaluation Matrix (GREM) SuRF UK Indicator Parameters PSPC Sustainable Development (SD) Tool Advanced Carbon Footprint Calculations (Quantitative) Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) Tools US Air Force Sustainable Remediation Tool US Navy and ACE SiteWise Sources: 1-www.clu-in.org, 2-www.dtsc.ca.gov, 3-ITRC
Applying Sustainable Remediation Frameworks and Tools Through the Looking Glass…
What is an indicator? a single characteristic can be used to evaluate measurable or that represents a relative performance of comparable different options sustainability effect www.nicole.org
Consider: SuRF UK - Framework Through the Looking Glass Environmental (ENV) Social (SOC) Economic (ECON) Have you Impacts on Air Impacts on Human Direct Economic Costs & considered Health & Safety Benefits these indicators in Impacts on Soil & Ground Ethics & Equality Indirect Economic Costs your project? Conditions Considerations & Benefits Should you? Impacts on Groundwater Impacts on Employment & Capital & Surface Water Neighbourhood & Gain How do you Regions prioritize or weight the Impacts on Ecology Community Involvement Induced Economic Costs indicators? & Satisfaction & Benefits How will you Impacts on Natural Uncertainty & Evidence Project Lifespan and measure and Resources & Waste Flexibility validate them?
Consider: SD Tool Through the Looking Glass designed for federal contaminated sites managers • evaluate various environmental decontamination options o an interactive analysis grid (software, available online) • independently calculates effectiveness for environmental, social and economic o dimensions Stage 2 Stage 1 General Site Stage 3 Selection & Stage 4 Technology Stage 5 Technology Stage 6 Results Information Description Weighting Selection Evaluation of Indicators www.claire.co.uk http://sdat.pwgsc.gc.ca/guideUtilisateur-userGuide.aspx?lang=eng#2
Consider: SD Tool (Stage 3) Environmental (ENV) Social (SOC) Economic (ECON) Through the Looking Glass Soil Quality Impacts on Aquatic Safety of Public and Technology Cost Life Workers Soil Vapour Intrusion Greenhouse Gas Project Duration Litigation Potential How important Emissions are these Groundwater Quality Residual Waste Quality of Life (during Nuisance to Normal indicators to Production the project) Operations your project? Free Product Natural Resources Public Benefits Property Reuse Federal govt & Stakeholders Surface Water Quality Energy Consumption Cultural Heritage Environmental Reserve • Very High Impact on Drinking Water Consumption Federal Government’s Local Economic • High Water Supply Image Benefits • Low to Off-Site Migration Traffic Technical Reliability moderate (maintenance & repair) Quality of Physical Impact on Landscape Logistics Environment Impacts on Terrestrial Innovation Technological Life Uncertainty
Applying Sustainable Remediation Frameworks and Tools Outcomes – What did we see?
SuRF UK - Framework Outcomes – SSSA Closure Criteria SuRF UK Indicator Parameter What did we Human Health (Waterford Lake) Env 3 – Impacts on Groundwater & Surface Water see? Soc 1 - Impacts on Human Health & Safety Two tributaries of Kilkenny Lake Brook Env 3 – Impacts on Groundwater & Surface Water Env 4 - Impacts on Ecology Indicator Irish Brook Env 3 – Impacts on Groundwater & Surface Water categories are Soc 3 – Impacts on Neighbourhoods & Regions considered Land use (vacant) Soc 3 – Impacts on Neighbourhoods & Regions within the closure criteria…but Ecological risks Env 4 - Impacts on Ecology adequate to determine Infrastructure Econ 2 - Indirect Economic Costs & Benefits optimal Soc 3 – Impacts on Neighbourhoods & Regions solution? Surface erosion protection measures Env 2 - Impacts on Soil & Ground Conditions Cost (highest chosen) Econ 1 - Direct Economic Costs & Benefits Timeline (to implement not remediate) Econ 5 – Project Lifespan & Flexibility Public Perception (incl. Aesthetics) Soc 4 - Community Involvement & Satisfaction www.claire.co.uk
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