Environment and Conservation
August 14, 2013
The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation, announced today the Provincial Government is ready to move into the final phase of remediating the former waste disposal facility near New Harbour with the completion of a positive Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment.
“I am confident we have addressed and mitigated the environmental concerns associated with this site,” said Minister Hedderson. “We have applied the highest of standards and testing set out by the department including the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment and eliminated any potential risks to human or environmental health.”
Officially closed to dumping in 2009, the Department of Environment and Conservation has invested $1.8 million over the past three years to grade and compact the waste and place a soil cover over the site. In the final phase, an engineered cap will be installed to isolate and contain any PCB-impacted soil from migrating.
The external environmental consulting firm, AMEC provides supervision and management for the project.
“Based on our knowledge and extensive experience at the former waste disposal site we are confident that our design and work planned for the final closure of this site will help ensure future stability and safety for the area,” said AMEC project manager Clifford Smith. “The Provincial Government has taken the necessary steps to ensure this area is remediated effectively.”
Ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the entire site will continue, including annual water quality testing.
The tender for the final phase will be issued on August 17, and project completion is expected by year’s end.
In this fiscal year, nearly $6 million is being invested for assessment and mediation of sites in Buchans, Hopedale, New Harbour and other smaller projects, bringing the total investment on contaminated sites to more than $14 million since 2007.
The Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment report is available here: www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/publications/env_protection/new_harbour.pdf
Photos:
Before and after photos of the New Harbour waste disposal site.
Media contact:
Deborah Thomas
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 728-8092
deborahthomas@gov.nl.ca
2013 08 14
1:35 p.m.