MNR still trying to secure finding for full-scale CIP cleanup

The future of the Ministry of Natural Resources' plan to remediate the contaminated CIP lagoon site is somewhat up in the air right now.

MNR regional engineer Mark Stephen made a presentation to council on Monday, January 16, outlining the progress being made at the site.

"We're doing a lot of work here in Hawkesbury and want to update you on progress made so far," said Stephen, noting the MNR was ready to proceed with its remediation plan in 2010 but was unable to secure funding from the provincial and federal governments.

"The MNR was committed to the project so it was decided to find the money internally," he explained. "Our corporate management division found the money and all of our program areas sacrificed a little so we could proceed as planned."

He said phase one of the pilot construction project will be completed in February and the second phase should be completed by June.

"Phase one is all the earthworks," he noted. "We're building the berms and the staging area and disposal cells, which are bathtub-like cells that will be used to contain the sludge. Phase two will involve the transfer of the sludge to the disposal cells and we anticipate that will be completed by June."

He said phase two will also determine the most effective method of sludge transfer, dewatering, stabilizing the dewatered sludge and monitoring of settlement, leachate and air quality as a result of the sludge transfer.

"We need to examine all of our options in order to determine the most effective and economic methods of transferring and containing the sludge," Stephen remarked. "We will test all the methods available to determine the best option."

Large-scale portion only in 2013

Stephen admitted the large-scale portion of the project won't likely begin until 2013 and is totally dependent on approval from the Ministry of the Environment and securing funding. He said the MNR has spread that portion of the project over three years in case funding cannot be secured and the MNR has to fund that part of the project internally.

"If we can't get funding from provincial and federal levels of government, hopefully we can still move ahead," he said. "That's why we are spreading the last phase of the project over three years."

When the project is complete, Stephen said the lagoon site will include a parking lot, a pathway around the site and a bridge that links to the Ottawa River.

"It's going to be a lovely site and great addition to the town," he said.

Councillor Michel Beaulne asked if the town would be able to build on the site once the project is completed, to which Stephen said it would not be able to erect any buildings on site.

"You would have to do a complete cleanup for us to be able to build there," Beaulne stated. "Without a full decontamination of the site, we can't use the land, right?"

Beaulne then asked if the MNR had received any complaints about the smell from the site, noting he was aware there were some issues with smells arising from the site.

"Yes, around Thanksgiving weekend we received a complaint," Stephen admitted. "It was quite warm that weekend and we've learned that when the sludge is being moved around there is a smell. Air quality is something we've been monitoring constantly throughout the entire process."

Mayor Rene Berthiaume asked if the bridge being built on the site would be large enough to accommodate large boats. Stephen said he anticipated it would accommodate small motor boats and canoes, but not large watercraft.

"So, we won't be able to have a marina there, either," Berthiaume commented.

Stephen said it was difficult to say what the final product will look like since it hasn't even been designed yet.

"I can't really say for sure what it's going to look like because it all has to be designed first," he said. "We can't move ahead with anything until we get approval from the MOE and secure funding. We are moving ahead with the pilot constriction phase and once that is complete, we will move forward with the rest of the project. We just have to wait and see what happens."