Background

Between 2010 and 2012, TBT Engineering was commissioned by the Ministry of Transportation (Northwestern Region) to assess the current environmental conditions at twenty-two (22) highway maintenance patrol yards and/or sub-patrol yards, typically consisting of a garage/office complex, treated sand dome, salt shed and various outbuildings.

TBT Engineering’s Role

The objective of the work was to establish baseline environmental conditions before contractor operations began, so that future comparisons of the site conditions could be made. These current conditions where compared to existing data if available. TBT Engineering also identified potential sources of hydrocarbon and/or salt contamination and historical waste deposition, assessed potential liabilities, and provided recommendations for remediation and/or future management of the lands.

Project Methodology

Phase I ESA updates where completed for all yards. At each of the sites requiring complete Phase I ESAs, the Consultant also carried out electromagnetic surveys to determine the possible locations of subsurface anomalies. Phase II ESAs where then completed for appropriate sites based on Phase I ESA results. Site activities where supervised at all times by field staff experienced in completion of Phase I/II ESAs and the project was completed by or supervised by a qualified person, as defined in O.Reg. 153/04 made under the Environmental Protection Act. All samples were collected in accordance with the Ministry of Environment’s Guidance on Sampling and Analytical Methods for Use at Contaminated Sites (1996).

Final Reporting

• Summaries of information generated/gathered as part of the Phase I ESA or Phase I ESA update
• EM survey results
• Phase II ESA results, including rationale for proceeding with the PSII ESA (or a note as to why a PSII ESA was not considered necessary), an evaluation and summary of changes in site conditions (if any) relative to previous investigations
• Discussion, including a discussion of QA/QC results
• Conclusions and recommendations
• Site plan(s), to scale, showing property boundaries, site infrastructure and current and historical sampling locations (where applicable)
• Tabulated analytical results (historical and current) compared to applicable environmental criteria with exceedances highlighted
• Field notes, photographs and copies of laboratory analytical reports.