NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region

Tags: environmental assessment, groundwater, Contaminated soil

Objective(s): To obtain a better understanding of the extent of previously identified soil hydrocarbon contamination and to determine the presence/absence of groundwater in the planned remediation area.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5944. To obtain a better understanding of the extent of previously identified soil hydrocarbon contamination and to determine the presence/absence of groundwater in the planned remediation area. Fieldwork will consist of the following activities: -Utility locates to identify and mark underground utilities in the assessment areas. The utility locates will consist of electromagnetic and potential ground penetrating radar scans. -Soil assessment will be conducted following the utility locates. The soil assessment will involve collection of soil samples to a depth of approximately six metres. Soil samples will be collected by shovel, hand augur, and pionjar portable drill. Boring diameter is approximately eight centimetres. Sample locations will be restored to the original grade using generated soil cutting, clean sand, or bentonite chips. Following the fieldwork, collected samples will be submitted to a laboratory for analysis. -Groundwater assessment will be conducted by installing up to two temporary monitoring wells in select borings. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the presence/absence of groundwater in the planned remediation area. Groundwater samples will be collected, if conditions permit, to provide data on water quality. The monitoring wells will either be decommissioned prior to demobilization or completed with steel stickup protective monuments to facilitate future groundwater monitoring. Westcoast initiated the sharing of preliminary Project information (including fact sheets and mapping shapefiles) with Indigenous communities and other stakeholders in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and British Columbia in early 2021. This information sharing has continued, with updates such as those included in the current research permit application achieved through in person meetings, virtual meetings, and project information sharing. Thus far, Westcoast has not received any site-specific concerns and has garnered overall support for the project to proceed in 2024. Westcoast remains accessible for discussions regarding the Project with Indigenous communities via phone, email, and video conferencing. As project planning progresses, Westcoast will maintain engagement with communities on topics of interest to them, such as participation in fieldwork and site visits. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: July 09 - July 20, 2024