NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area

Tags: physical sciences, contaminants, environmental assessment, site remediation, water quality, hazardous materials, soil

Objective(s): The purpose of the Phase II ESAs is to further determine the current environmental and physical conditions at 10 sites along the Canol Trail and to reduce data gaps and allow development of the appropriate remediation strategies and costs.

Project Description: The purpose of the Phase II ESAs is to further determine the current environmental and physical conditions at 10 sites along the Canol Trail and to reduce data gaps and allow development of the appropriate remediation strategies and costs. This will include the identification and quantification of environmental impacts to soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater, as well as the identification and quantification of hazardous and non-hazardous materials at the sites. The objective of the reconnaissance program is to reduce the liability of the Canol Trail by developing and implementing a remediation and/or risk management plan to mitigate existing or potential risk to human health and the environment from the trail. The primary focus of the reconnaissance will be on developing a logistics plan and inventorying material, risks and hazards at each site along the trail for future assessment work. The proposed field program at the 10 sites will involve the manual excavation of test pits, hand augering, drive point piezometers, and sampling of sediment, soil, surface water, vegetation and groundwater. The site is at the boundary of continuous/discontinuous permafrost, and therefore the thermally active zone in surficial soils may be expected to be in the depth range of 1 to 3 metres below ground surface. In permafrost terrain, contaminant migration is a near-surface phenomenon, so shallow sampling is warranted and useful. Contaminant pathways via water would be expected along ground surface and through the shallow subsurface (active layer) toward the nearest shoreline. Sampling will be focused to reflect these issues. INAC will also be continuing the reconnaissance of the Canol Trail (from Mile 40 onwards) started in 2008/2009. Poor weather stopped the program at mile 40. Please note that no samples will be collected as part of the reconnaissance. Reconnaissance 2009/10 In continuation of 2007/08 and 2008/09 work program, CARD staff will carry out reconnaissance program in 2009/10. Findings of reconnaissance program will be documented in Canol Trail GIS Inventory. The GIS based inventory links coordinates, photos, videos, and field data for all areas of note and allows this information to be accessed through database searches or by visually selecting a site of interest from a map view using ARCGIS software. This inventory will be useful in negotiations with the GNWT, and in consultation with communities. The GIS inventory will form the complete inventory of potential liabilities associated with the Canol Trail. The reconnaissance tasks include: • Ground based reconnaissance from Pump Station (PS) #1 at MacKenzie River (Road Mile Post (RMP) 0) to RMP 40. • Detailed reconnaissance of former Camp Canol locations (3 in total). • Investigation/identification of potential buried dump sites at pump stations and camp sites. • Reconnaissance of former road maintenance camp at RMP 222 • Aerial reconnaissance of telephone line route from RMP 80 to 230. • Aerial reconnaissance of lakes used as temporary aircraft landing sites. Sampling will include: Soil Samples, Sediment Sampling, Surface Water Sampling, Groundwater Sampling (including monitoring wells), Vegetation Sampling, Drum Contents, Designated Substance Survey (inventory of site waste), Geophysical Survey, Site Survey. Aboriginal Engineering Ltd. will be used to supply a wildlife monitor. The field team will stay in Norman Wells and Ram Head Outfitters. The results of this study will be incorporated into INAC’s consultation process with local community groups. A summary and copy of the final report will be sent to the Aurora Research Institute upon completion of the project. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 20 to August 05, 2009. The following ten (10) sites along the Canol Trail will be part of the Phase II ESA: Pump Station #3(Mile 76): N64.654722 x W-127.635556 Pump Station #4 (Mile 108): N64.34111 x W-128.1 Road Maintenance Camp-Plains of Abraham (Mile 80): N64.575 x W-127.733333 Drum Cache Site (Mile 154): N64.0625 x W-128.446667 Vehicle Boneyard Site (Mile 202): N63.475556 x W-129.334722 Emergency Shelter Site (Mile 54.5): N64.711861 x W-127.106528 Mile 131.3: N64.130667 x W-128.392722 Mile 118, 140 and 142 (no coodinates given) A map with the locations is available from the researchers or from the licencing office at ARI. Reconnaissance of the Canol Trail will be conducted from Mile 40 onward.