In order to be eligible for funding under the NR Can PPGTP, Cariboo Pulp and Paper we requirement to undertake a Screening Level Environmental Assessment in order to demonstrate that there were no long term negative environmental impacts of the proposed upgrades

All development is within the existing mill footprint, on land owned by the proponent.

Our Services and Solutions
PHH ARC attended a NR Can workshop in September 2009 in order to familiarize ourselves with the new guidance released by NR Can in June 2009.

PHH ARC undertook a Site visit to the Quesnel plant in order to meet with client representatives, assess the project footprint and examine the environmental baseline conditions.

Following a period of consultation with the BC Environmental Assessment Office, and First Nations Bands in the area, PHH ARC compiled a robust Environmental Impact Statement which included all stages of the process from Site Preparation to Decommissioning. All relevant project components and activities were assessed in terms of their impact upon key environmental components. Direct, indirect, cumulative and accidental impacts on the environment were all assessed.

A Notice of Commencement (NOC) of an Environmental Assessment was posted on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry in February 2010.

The Phase I ESA identified various on-site and off-site areas of potential environmental concern, which resulted in various Phase II/III ESA investigations.

At the time of these assessments, the site continued to operate as a sandblasting facility. All on-site environmental investigation activities were coordinated with on-site personnel to ensure that disruptions to their day to day operations were kept to a minimum.

Our Services and Solutions
PHH ARC completed initial Phase I ESA and Phase II ESA investigations that identified localized petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) impacts in soil related to fuel and waste oil aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). Remedial activities were completed to remove and properly dispose of these PHC soil impacts.

Initial investigation activities also identified localized PHC impacts to groundwater, possibly related to off-site activities at an adjacent auto wrecking yard. PHH ARC conducted a secondary Phase II ESA investigation to gather additional information for modifying the applicable Alberta Environment Tier 1 and 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (2009) and eliminating the Domestic Use Aquifer (DUA) exposure pathway. Following elimination of the DUA exposure pathway, PHC concentrations in groundwater no longer exceeded the applicable criteria.

Phase II ESA activities also identified metal impacts in surficial soil across the majority of the site related to historical sandblasting and painting activities conducted on the site exterior. PHH ARC conducted an extensive Phase II ESA delineation investigation that involved drilling approximately 100 shallow boreholes across the entire site following a 10 m x 10 m grid and collecting soil samples at various depths to determine the vertical and horizontal extent of the metal impacts. Following completion of the delineation investigation, PHH ARC developed and implemented a RAP that involved approximately five weeks of on-site time overseeing the excavation of surficial soil impacted with metals across the majority of the site to depths ranging from 0.5 m to 1.0 m below ground surface (bgs). Field screening activities involved using a mobile X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device to determine approximate concentrations of metals on-site prior to laboratory submission and to aid in the determination of the final extents of the excavation.

Following completion of all investigation activities, formal reports were prepared and submitted to the client detailing the findings of the investigation and providing recommendations to aid in the prevention of future impacts on-site.

PHH ARC was responsible for coordinating all field activities to ensure work was completed in a timely and cost effective manner, while upholding the quality of the work completed.

Our Services and Solutions
PHH ARC met with the government and successfully lobbied for a step by step approach to address the potential for worker over exposure to chemicals when sorting the recycled materials.

Air monitoring was conducted which illustrated that under normal operating conditions there was a very low risk of exposure to chemicals during sorting the recycling materials.

Air monitoring was also conducted after ventilation upgrades were made by The Client. The data showed that the general air quality had improved.

Outcome
PHH ARC successfully brokered an action plan that allowed the client to reopen their facility.

Good industrial hygiene practices were followed, using engineering controls to protect the worker versus using the common approach of personal protective equipment which is the last resort.

The government was satisfied none of the worker's health and safety was at risk and their relationship with The Client improved.

An added bonus of the project was PHH ARC saved the client money.

The clients ’s desire to begin decommissioning of the Wabamun facility included very stringent timing and health and safety requirements.  As this was a phased process, with other parts of the plant remaining operational, ensuring cross-contamination did not happen and that the remediation contractors met all deadlines was of high importance.

PHH ARC was involved from the start, ensuring that the remediation contractor understood the level of care required by the client and that all timing requirements were fixed.

PHH ARC also helped resolve a number of environmental issues related to past remediations and historical storage of asbestos waste on the site.

PHH ARC is currently wrapping up Phase 2 of project on time.

Outcome

PHH ARC has ensured, and will continue to ensure that all work meeting high standards and that the clients’s needs for worker protection and project timing are met.

Good industrial hygiene practices were followed, using engineering controls to protect the worker versus using the common approach of personal protective equipment which is the last resort.

The client was involved in numerous tunnel construction sites.  Initial testing at a site by a client found high volatile organic compound levels from soil vapour seepage and initial communication by client to staff suggested high benzene concentrations. 

Work stopped and client required an effective initial survey and ongoing monitoring approach to both ensure worker protection, but also allow work to continue.

Our Services and Solutions
PHH ARC combined traditional occupational hygiene sampling using sorbent tube sampling in combination with direct reading equipment equipped with benzene specific capabilities.  An initial side by side baseline of both methods allowed for confirmation that direct reading equipment was not giving false negative results. 

Outcome
The sampling strategy allowed for ongoing continuous monitoring of the site with a high level of confidence by both the client and their workforce that workers were not being overexposed. 

This combination of traditional approaches with innovative use of new equipment techniques allowed both the project to continue, but also save the client a great deal of money as opposed to traditional sampling techniques.