Working Together. Ministry of the Environment. Toronto Public Health. Coal Tar Remediation Case Study

Transcription

1 Working Together Ministry of the Environment and Toronto Public Health Coal Tar Remediation Case Study Barbara Lachapelle Toronto Public Health Rod Adams Ministry of the Environment September 16, th Annual CIPHI Ontario Educational Conference 1

2 Outline of presentation Overview of public health mandate Overview of the MOE mandate Linkages to public health Coal tar remediation a case study Benefits of the joint approach Conclusions Questions 2

3 Environmental health mandate Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) (general) every MOH to prevent, eliminate and decrease the effect of a health hazard every MOH to keep informed about matters related to occupational and environmental health Ontario Public Health Standards (prescriptive) Identification, Investigation and Management of Health Hazards Protocol investigate each health hazard complaint and assess the level of potential impact do it in collaboration with an appropriate agency (MOE, MOL) 3

4 MOE mandate Provide Clean and Safe Air, Land and Water To ensure healthy communities, ecological protection and sustainable development for present and future generations of Ontarians. Issue Certificates of Approval for thousands of facilities and industries across Ontario. Provide Safe Drinking Water. Respond to environmental concerns and emergencies 4

5 MOE mandate con t Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) of Ontario, the ministry has jurisdiction to address any situation that constitutes a discharge of a contaminant that causes an adverse effect. contaminant means any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat, sound, vibration, radiation or combination of any of them resulting directly or indirectly from human activities that causes or may cause an adverse effect; Section 14 of the EPA states a person shall not discharge a contaminant or cause or permit the discharge of a contaminant into the natural environment, if the discharge causes or may cause an adverse effect. 5

6 MOE mandate con t The definition of adverse effect is very broad, namely: one or more of, (a) impairment of the quality of the natural environment for any use that can be made of it, (b) injury or damage to property or to plant or animal life, (c) harm or material discomfort to any person, (d) an adverse effect on the health of any person, (e) impairment of the safety of any person, (f) rendering any property or plant or animal life unfit for human use, (g) loss of enjoyment of normal use of property, and (h) interference with the normal conduct of business. 6

7 Linkages to Public Health Jurisdictional overlap sec protection of human health Duty to investigate environmental contamination that may impact health Complaint response Regulations establishing health protective standards for soil, groundwater, and ambient air 7

8 Coal tar remediation site Former Consumers Gas Company coal gasification plant operating between 1841 and 1954 Formerly occupied by tar wells, coal conveyors, storage tanks, warehouses Approx. 625,000 gallons of materials impacted by VOCs, petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs, & metals Some wastes classified as hazardous Close proximity to TPL and residential 8

9 Coal tar remediation site 9

10 Health & Environmental concerns proximity to sensitive receptors workers at library residents at condo public in the general vicinity potential for contaminants to volatilize VOC s primarily napthalene BTEX primarily benzene PAH s inhalation of contaminated dust hydrocarbons metals inorganics 10

11 Additional Environmental concerns analysis of excavated soil/material hazardous vs non-hazardous (TCLP) on-site covering of stockpiled soil/material use of MOE approved waste haulers disposal of soil/material based on analysis 11

12 Consultation TPH & MOE met with: Substance TPL & consultant developer & consultant local councillor MOL & PHO appropriate exposure limits Acute TRV (ug/m3) Intermediate TRV (ug/m3) Agency Benzene 580 (1 hr.) 19 TCEQ, ATSDR Toluene 15,000 (1 hr.) - TCEQ Ethylbenze 86,000 (1hr) 8,700 TCEQ, ATSDR Total xylenes 7,400 (1 hr.) 2600 TCEQ, ATSDR 12

13 Air monitoring Risk management Hi-vol sampling PUF-samplers Summa canisters hand-held GC unit Dust control foaming of exposed surfaces and stockpiles tarping of excavated soil/material sweeping to control fugitive dust Risk communication Fact sheets, complaint response 13

14 Benefits of joint approach Reduction in duplicating efforts Emphasis to developer of importance of addressing potential health and environmental concerns before complaints occur Stakeholder appreciation of agency collaboration Data and information sharing Consistent risk communication with the public Public confidence Setting a precedent for future joint projects 14

15 Coal tar remediation site 15

16 Coal tar remediation site 16

17 Coal tar remediation site 17

18 Conclusion Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of the Environment have developed a consistent and efficient approach to health and environmental protection within the mandate of our organizations to ensure the overall betterment of the environment for all citizens of Toronto. 18

19 Working Together Questions? 19