Re: OTT D0 Buffer Zone Study Update Ashcroft s Eastboro Phase 2A and 2B Lands Navan Road and Renaud Road Area, Ottawa, Ontario

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1 November 5, 2013 Ms. May Pham, M.U.P. 18 Antares Drive Ottawa, Ontario K2E 1A9 Dear Ms. Pham: Re: Buffer Zone Study Update Ashcroft s Eastboro Phase 2A and 2B Lands Navan Road and Renaud Road Area, Ottawa, Ontario 1.0 Introduction Exp Services Inc. (exp) is pleased to submit the updated Buffer Zone Study that was prepared for the proposed development of Parcels 2A and 2B bounded by Navan, Renaud, and Mer Bleue Roads in Ottawa, Ontario. This study follows the terms of reference (TOR) that was prepared by Conestoga-Rovers and Associates (CRA) on behalf of the City of Ottawa (City). 2.0 Background (Ashcroft) currently owns approximately 50 hectares of land in the area that is bounded by Navan, Renaud, and Mer Bleue Roads in Ottawa, Ontario (Figure 1). These lands are located within Phase II of the East Urban Community Design Plan which is designated as a Developing Community according to the City of Ottawa s Official Plan. Ashcroft plans to develop the land for residential and mixed-use purposes. The Ashcroft lands, however, are also located in close proximity to an existing landfill that is operated by BFI (formerly Waste Services Inc.) (Figure 2). The Ministry of Environment (MOE) guideline entitled Land Use On or Near Landfills and Dumps (Guideline D-4) states that land slated for development that is within 500 metres of a landfill site needs to be studied to determine if there may be potential adverse effects from the landfill. The MOE guideline acknowledges that every situation is unique, thus the need for the study. The City has adopted this principal as part of its Official Plan and requires proponents to conduct an assessment on lands within 500 m of a landfill to determine the potential influence from the landfill. In 2008, exp (formerly Trow Associates Inc.) completed a study of the Ashcroft lands that are located within 500 m of the landfill site. The report entitled Landfill Site Buffer Zone Study, Proposed Subdivision, Navan Road, Mer Bleue Road, and Renaud Road Area, Ottawa March 2008 concluded that the potential for the landfill to adversely impact the soil, groundwater or air quality at the site is low and that no restrictions should be placed on the construction of residential homes north of Navan Road or east of the existing landfill facility. Since exp s 2008 work, BFI has applied for and been granted permission from the MOE to expand the lifespan of the facility under Certificate of Approval (CofA) A (dated April 2009). The CofA allows BFI to operate the landfill for another 10 to 12 years by enlarging the landfill s footprint to the east and by increasing the height of the landfill. The facility is approved to receive solid, non-hazardous and asbestos Queensview Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 8H6 T: F:

2 exp Services Inc. Eastboro Phase II Lands November 5, 2013 waste, excluding putrescible waste. The facility is also approved to hold household hazardous waste events in which waste is received, temporarily stored and then transferred to an approved waste disposal site. 3.0 Objective The objective of this work plan is to update the 2008 Buffer Zone Study, using the Updated TOR, to document substantive changes to the environment that have occurred since March The study area consists of the landfill site and the Ashcroft lands located within 500 m of the landfill (see Figure 2). 4.0 Scope of Work The scope of work, as outlined in the letter to the City from CRA, dated October 17, 2012, consists of the following: Carry out an inspection of the applicable buffer area and identify any potential environmental impairment issues in accordance with CSA Z guidance; Identify any potential environmental impairment issues specifically associated with the operation of the WSI/Progressive Waste Solutions landfill within the buffer area; Review the Environmental Compliance Approval issued for the WSI/Progressive Waste Solutions landfill; Review all available monitoring reports for the WSI/Progressive Waste Solutions landfill prepared subsequent to EA Act approval for the landfill expansion including, but not limited to groundwater and surface water quality, air quality, particulate emissions, landfill gas, noise and odour, design and operations, litter, vehicular impacts, vectors and vermin, fires, and complaint records relative to the landfill and buffer area and identify any potential environmental impairment issues; Contact the MOE to confirm the performance of the WSI/Progressive Waste Solutions landfill with respect to Environmental Compliance Approval terms and conditions and reporting requirements; Identify conceptual remedial measures that have been developed, or ought to be developed, by WSI/Progressive Waste Solutions to address or mitigate landfill-derived impacts and identify any land use/development restrictions that should be established within the buffer area and within Parcels 2A and 2B as a result of landfill-derived impacts; Prepare an Updated Study that summarizes the above, to be signed by a Qualified Person, the results of which will be appended to the Final Study, and upon which the City can rely relative to its review of the application to develop Parcels 2A and 2B. 5.0 Methodology 5.1 Site Reconnaissance Several random site reconnaissance reviews were completed at various times during the past year (May 2012, Sept, 2012, Nov. 2012, Oct. 2013). Based on exp staff observations, no unusual noise, odours, dust, debris, litter vermin were noted emanating from the landfill facility. 2

3 exp Services Inc. Eastboro Phase II Lands November 5, Document Requested & Reviewed Exp requested information from the following sources: MOE freedom of information (FOI) office; MOE environmental registry database; MOE water well records; City of Ottawa Historic Land use Inventory; ECOLOG database search BFI Canada Inc. Based on the above requests, the following information was provided and reviewed: Document/Source Date Description ECOLOG database Apr Summary of federal and provincial database searches in the study area MOE Water Well Records City of Ottawa Historic Land use Inventory May 2012 Nov Summary of water well records in vicinity of the study area Summary of land use activities that may pose an environmental concern for the study area MOE FOI release package Mar Documents released by MOE pertaining to the site. Documents included 2009 and 2010 monitoring reports (for groundwater, surface water, leachate, sediment, landfill gas, odours, dust, noise), MOE memos and correspondence, MOE incident reports, MOE hazardous waste information network reports MOE Environmental Registry 2011 Monitoring Report provided by BFI Canada Oct Mar Various MOE notices of completion of EA, approvals and recent monitoring reports ( ) Most recent monitoring and compliance report completed by Golder Associates (for groundwater, surface water, leachate, sediment, landfill gas, odours, dust, noise) 6.0 Results of Review 6.1 BFI Compliance Reporting As stated above, BFI s landfill operates under CofA Under the CofA, there are several required monitoring components, specifically related to: i) groundwater, surface water, leachate and sediment sampling (as per Conditions 109, 112, 135 and 136); ii) landfill gas (and odour) monitoring (as per Condition 110); iii) dust monitoring (as per Condition 10.7 and 10.8); and, iv) noise monitoring (as per Condition 9.5). As per the information received above, compliance monitoring reports were made available for 2009, 2010 and

4 exp Services Inc. Eastboro Phase II Lands November 5, 2013 Based on groundwater monitoring reports and previous hydrogeological investigations, the study area is characterized by the following four stratigraphic units: i) a shallow surface sand layer; ii) an upper weathered clay layer; iii) a deeper intact clay layer; and iv) a glacial till/upper bedrock zone. Monitoring wells are located in each of the four stratigraphic layers at various locations across the landfill site. Based on laboratory monitoring reports, landfill impacted groundwater and leachate exists beneath the landfill site. The regional groundwater flow direction in the study area is from north to south. This means that the Ashcroft lands are considered to be hydraulically upgradient of the landfill indicating that it is unlikely that any impacted groundwater beneath the landfill site would impact the Ashcroft lands. Based on the groundwater monitoring reports, no compliance exceedences were noted in the wells that could adversely impact the Ashcroft lands. With respect to surface water and sediment, the surface water flow pattern in the area is generally eastwest with an eventual southerly component towards Mer Bleue Bog. Consequently, the Ashcroft lands are considered to be upgradient with respect to surface water flow. Based on the surface water monitoring reports, no leachate related impacts were noted in the upgradient surface water stations. This indicates that it is unlikely for leachate impacted surface water to adversely affect the Ashcroft lands. With respect to landfill gas monitoring, measurable concentrations have been detected at various locations on the landfill site, notably along the active face, at leachate collection system cleanouts and passive venting manholes. There was however, no reported compliance issues highlighted in the monitoring reports. With respect to noise and dust monitoring, the compliance reports conclude that noise and dust levels at the landfill site have not adversely contributed to the noise levels at off-site receptors. 6.2 MOE Compliance Reporting & Incident Reports As part of the information package provided by the MOE, 49 of the documents consisted of incident reports that were recorded between September 2009 and May Of those 49 incident reports, 13 were public complaints associated with odours whereas 36 were self-regulated reports submitted by BFI staff. A summary of the source of the incident reports since 2009 is presented below. Summary of Sources of MOE Incident Reports Year Report from Public Report from BFI Total For the odour complaints, all were recorded through the MOE s Spill Action Centre and no additional action was required. No public complaints were submitted with respect to other potential nuisance issues such as noise, dust, litter, etc. For the reports submitted by BFI, the majority were related to the type waste that was refused at entry due to non-compliance with their CofA. 4

5 exp Services Inc. Eastboro Phase II Lands November 5, Mitigation Measures Based on the 2011 Monitoring program, a number of mitigation measures to minimize adverse impact to off-site receptors are implemented and/or are planned to be implemented at the landfill. With respect to leachate, a leachate control system has been installed along the perimeter of the landfill. Leachate collected from this system is pumped to the Robert Pickard municipal wastewater treatment plant where it is treated. As discussed above, the Ashcroft lands are not considered to be susceptible to impact from groundwater and/or leachate as the Ashcroft lands are located hydraulically upgradient of the landfill. The BFI facility is a dry waste facility that does not permit the processing or disposal of wet organic water, nor does it accept materials for composting. Consequently, the current activities would not typically generate landfill gas and/or odours. The presence of landfill gas which can lead to odours is mitigated through the leachate collection system which also acts as a passive ventilation system for the landfill gas. In addition, a landfill gas odour control system was installed in The system includes connections to the existing leachate collection system cleanouts and existing vertical landfill gas extraction wells which are connected to lateral and header piping which then is connected to a candlestick flare. A permanent landfill gas collection system will be installed in the future after the landfill cells are completed to their final elevation. In terms of visual and noise mitigation, the landfill along Navan Road is bordered with vegetated berms. The exception to this is at the entrance to the facility. In addition to the physical mitigation measures described above, it is reported that BFI implements administrative controls whereby it is the responsibility of all staff to monitor site activities for excessive noise, dust, odours, etc. If unacceptable conditions are observed, particularly at property boundaries, staff are expected to review and or modify activities as necessary. 8.0 Conclusion Based on the information received and reviewed, the following pertinent points are made: 5 BFI is a dry material facility and no longer accepts materials that have the potential to breakdown and cause offensive odours; BFI is monitoring the landfill activities in accordance with its current CofA; The landfill implements several physical and administrative measures to reduce the potential of local adverse impact from its activities; and, The number of complaints submitted to the MOE from the public is not considered significant. Based on the above information, there should not be any restrictions regarding residential and mixed-use development north of Navan Road and within 500 m of the landfill. Registration of warning clauses on title with respect to the landfill activities are not considered necessary. 9.0 Limitations This report has been prepared and the work referred to in this report has been undertaken by exp for Ashcroft Homes and the City of Ottawa. Any use, reliance on or decision made by any person other than Ashcroft Homes and the City of Ottawa based on this report is the sole responsibility of such other person. Ashcroft Homes and the City of Ottawa make no representation or warranty to any other person with regard to this report and the work referred to in this report and they accept no duty of care to any other person or any liability or responsibility whatsoever for any losses, expenses, damages, fines, penalties, or other harm that may be suffered or incurred by any other person as a result of the use of,

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7 SITE LOCATION exp Services Inc. t: f: Queensview Drive, Suite 100 Ottawa, ON K2B 8H6, Canada DATE OCTOBER 2013 DESIGN CHECKED C.T.K. C.T.K. DRAWN BY M.N./P.G. CLIENT: TITLE: ASHCROFT HOMES SITE LOCATION PLAN NAVAN ROAD, OTTAWA, ONTARIO project no. scale N.T.S. FIG 1

8 0 50m 100m 300m HORIZONTAL 1:7500 exp Services Inc. t: f: Queensview Drive, Suite 100 Ottawa, ON K2B 8H6, Canada DATE OCTOBER 2013 DESIGN CHECKED C.T.K. C.T.K. DRAWN BY M.N./P.G. CLIENT: TITLE: ASHCROFT HOMES SITE LAYOUT & STUDY AREA NAVAN ROAD, OTTAWA, ONTARIO project no. scale 1:7500 FIG 2