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cv:T ■ e FIRE IN A WAREHOUSE CONTAINING PCBS AT ST-BASILE-LE-GRAND

AUGUST 23, 1988

FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT

TH 9446 .C5 F57 1988 FIRE IN A WAREHOUSE CONTAINING PCBS AT ST-BASILE-LE-GRAND

AUGUST 23, 1988

FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT

DECEMBER 1988 PREFACE

The Honourable Richard Grisé, MP for Chambly and the Prime Minister's representative on the disaster site, kindly provided the following note, as a preface for this report.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister

Chambly, October 14, 1988

Mr. André Tremblay Regional Director Québec Region Emergency Preparedness Canada 250 ouest, Grande Allée Suite 701 Québec (Québec) G1R 2H4

Dear Sir:

Subject: Fire at a PCB warehouse in St-Basile-le-Grand

I take pleasure in accepting your invitation to preface the report of the federal government's participation in the regrettable event that affected three municipalities in my riding on August 23, 1988.

When asked by the Prime Minister's Office to provide liaison between the federal, provincial and municipal agencies on the site, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that under your co-ordination, a ll the federal agencies that could provide any support were already at work and were supporting very effectively the efforts of our colleagues from the three municipalities and the province.

Throughout the event, and until this day, I have nothing but praise for the managers, specialists and other federal parties who dedicated themselves at all hours, without seeking the limelight, to ensure that the public would not suffer too greatly from this deplorable situation.

Please allow me, Sir, to reiterate publicly my admiration for the professionalism of the federal public servants and the quality of the federal image they projected in my riding.

Please accept my sincere gratitude. I hope to be able to meet you under more pleasant circumstances.

(Sgd) Richard Grisé MP CONTENTS

Introduction

Situation Reports of Emergency Preparedness Canada 1

Reports of Departments 25

• Environment Canada 27

• Communications Canada 55

• Employment and Immigration Canada 61

• National Defence 73

• Health and Welfare Canada 87

• Agriculture Canada 97

• Canada Mortgage and Housing 109

Summary of Costs 118

Recommendations 119

ANNEXES 121 1. Area evacuated 123 2. Photos 128 INTRODUCTION

On August 23, 1988, at 8:40 p.m., a fire broke out in a warehouse containing about 3,800 barrels of PCBs or various products contaminated with PCBs.

The following minutes saw the largest emergency operation that the south shore of Montreal had ever known. The town firefighters knew this warehouse and its contents. At the outset, they made every effort to extinguish the blaze, but because of explosions in the warehouse and the toxicity of the products that were burning, it was decided to call on firefighting experts from the Canadian Forces Base St-Hubert. At about 4:00 a.m. on August 24, the fire was finally extinguished through the combined efforts of every- one involved.

During this period of more than seven hours, the resources of Beloeil, St-Bruno and St-B asile-le- Grand fire departments were mobilized. Municipal police forces, assisted by the Quebec Police Force, barricaded the site and evacuated more than 3,800 residents of St-Basile-le-Grand, St-Bruno de Montarville and Ste-Julie. The areas evacuated were selected in accordance with a plan developed with the assistance of the Atmospheric Environment Service of Environment Canada, which produced a model for the circulation and dispersion of the toxic cloud. Schools were opened to accommodate evacuees who required shelter. Other evacuees moved in with relatives or friends or found room in hotels.

The experts from Environment Canada, Conservation and Protection, went to the site during the early hours of the fire and immediately agreed with Environnement Québec, the Quebec Police Force and the Municipality of St-Basile-le-Grand concerning the extent of the disaster and began to prepare and carry out a sampling program. In the morning, laboratories available for this type of testing were mobilized and the first samples were sent out. The field laboratory was also deployed during the night and began to analyze a group of samples to give the officials in charge a preliminary idea of the situation. These results were very useful during the first days, helping to redefine the evacuation area and instrumental in proposing subsequent sampling plans. Almost 1,200 additional residents had to be evacuated during the following five days.

The Government of Quebec assigned the responsibility and control of emergency operations on or around the site to Environnement Québec and the Quebec Police Force. The federal government departments participating in the operations did so either at the request of provincial agencies, Environment Canada or Emergency Preparedness Canada.

All the agencies involved kept a journal of their operations during the disaster and subsequently produced an internal report describing their participation and justifying their expenditures. They also agreed to prepare the summaries outlined in the following chapters. I wish to thank them for their dili- gence.

As Quebec Regional Director of Emergency Preparedness Canada, and co-ordinator of the federal participation on the municipal and provincial committees at St-Basile-le-Grand, I should hereby like to emphasize the professionalism shown by representatives of the Canadian government during this crisis. Their considerable availability, understanding of the meaning of government assistance to the public and recognition of the difficulties facing provincial and municipal governments resulted, in my opinion, in the federal government's assistance being exemplary and as complete as could be hoped for during this incident.

Although this document professes to be as accurate as possible, it cannot, under any circumstances, be used to establish the federal government's actual or intended liability in the support it provided to the Government of Québec during this disaster. The aim of this report on the role of the federal govenunent at St-Basile-le-Grand is simply to trace the history of this support. The few recommendations contained herein are made with the sole aim of sug- gesting that emergency plans and procedures, albeit satisfactory during this occurrence, could still be improved.

This report was compiled by the Québec Regional Office of Emergency Preparedness Canada by: Mr. André Tremblay, Regional Director Miss Louise Rousseau, Assistant Regional Director Mr. Conrad Robin, Secretary

December, 1988 SITUATION REPORTS

EMERGENCY PREPARDNESS CANADA Fire at St-Basile-le-Grand - August 23, 1988

Around 20:30 hrs., Tuesday, August 23, a fire started in a warehouse storing 20,000 gallons of contaminated oil (PCBs). The warehouse was located on Road 116, at St-Basile-le-Grand, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, approximately 50 km east of Montreal. 3,800 residents of St-Basile-le-Grand, St- Bruno and Ste-Julie have been evacuated, covering a 14 sq. km. zone of evacuation.

A command post has been established by the municipality of St-Basile-le-Grand. Provincial departments involved are Environment, Health Community Services, BPCQ, QPP, Hydro-Quebec. Envi- ronment Canada (EPS) installed its Mobile Rescue Unit on the site of the disaster. EPC and other federal departments offered their support (AGR, CC, CMHC).

An inquiry has been ordered by the Quebec Minister of Public Protection on the cause of the fire.

Evacuees have been informed Thursday night that they will have to stay away from their homes until next Monday, at least. The results of the tests revealed that there is a certain amount of contamination in the zone affected by the smoke and fallout from the blazing PCB warehôuse.

The federal Ministers of Environment and Transport visited the disaster site, on Thursday, and gave a press conference. The EPC Executive Director also visited St-Basile-le-Grand on Thursday. The EPC RD Quebec travelled to St-Basile-le-Grand on Wednesday and Friday.

Further reports will be sent separately.

Visit of the EPC Executive Director

Our new Executive Director, Mr. Ted Finn, accompanied by Mr. Bill Snarr, visited our office Thursday morning. Unfortunately for the Quebec staff, Mr. Finn had to leave at noon, at the request of the Minister of National Defence, to go to the site of the ecological disaster at St-Basile-le-Grand.

3 St-Basile-le-Grand August 29, 1988

Situation Report - Ecological Disaster Site

No 1

Co-ordination is now assumed by an Associate Director General of Quebec Provincial Police (QPP) Mr. Gilles St-Antoine. He was named by Mr. Robert Bourassa, Premier of Quebec, on Sunday, August 28, to take the entire responsibility for the provincial operations.

Mr. St-Antoine established his HQ near the City Hall of St-Basile-le-Grand and appointed a group of liaison officers (see attached chart) to insure complete coverage of the event. The EPC Regional Direc- tor sits in these meetings of this group to insure liaison with federal agencies.

A ministerial committee is also active. It is led by Mr. Mario Bertrand, Chief of Cabinet of Premier Bourassa. Participating are: Mr. Clifford Lincoln, Minister of Environment, Mr. Michel Pagé, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Herbert Marx, Minister of Public Security (formerly Solicitor General). Each of these persons has a number of Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors General assisting. The EPC Regional Director represents federal liaison and sits with the Director General of Bureau de la Protection civile du Québec, Mr. Germain Halley. The three municipal mayors (St-Basile-le-Grand, St- Bruno-de-Montarville and Ste-Julie) also sit on this committee.

At municipal level, the Director General of St-Basile-le-Grand leads a co-ordination committee on which are represented the other two municipalities; also some provincial contacts with Environment, Agriculture and BPCQ; at federal level, Environment Canada and Emergency Preparedness Canada sit on this committee.

A federal representatives committee was formed this morning (Monday, August 29). Participating are: Agriculture Canada (Plants and Animals Divisions); Health and Welfare Canada; National Defence; Communications Canada; Bell Canada; CN Rail; Employment & Immigration Canada; Environment Canada; Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation; and Emergency Preparedness Canada. The EPC Regional Director also invited the Bureau de la Protection civile du Québec to sit in as observer.

Situation:

Since the fire of Tuesday evening (August 23), which produced clouds of toxic smoke, it was relatively easy for the agencies involved in this disaster to establish a precise perimeter for evacuation. The area covered by the cloud, up to approximately 12 km, was defined as potentially dangerous and this area was evacuated. Some 3,800 persons were then requested to move and were relocated in three reception centres set up in schools in each of the three municipalities. The majority of the evacuees are staying with friends and relatives. At that moment and until Sunday (August 28), Environnement Québec assumed the leading role in co-ordinating the provincial and federal response, in support to the municipalities. Right at the beginning they realized the importance of the problem. They immediately called upon Environment Canada, Agriculture Quebec, the QPP and BPCQ. The fire was extinguished by using a foam truck from DND St- Hubert, in the early hours of Wednesday (August 24). On Thursday, the people on site noticed smoldering in the warehouse and let it go, hoping it would extinguish itself. On Friday afternoon, as the rain stopped and the wind picked up, the firemen decided to call the foam truck back on the site. The work was done in the evening and night. The DND truck returned to the Base on Saturday after having been decontaminated by the contractor on site.

4 Samples of soil, water and air were taken by Environment Canada and Environnement Québec, along a systematic coverage of the evacuated area. Other samples were also taken outside, so as to give a complete and entire picture of the contaminated area. Samples were also taken 15, 20 and 25 km down wind. Agriculture Québec, assisted by Agriculture Canada, proceeded to the sampling of soil, cultures, milk, eggs and animal blood in the area. An embargo was placed, on Wednesday, on all meat, milk, food and farm produce from the area. The two slaughterhouses interrupted their operations. Laboratory sampling is a very special process, performed only in a limited number of laboratories in North America. It takes a minimum of 72 hours to identify the presence of Dioxin or Furan. Three additional days are then needed to establish with precision the quantities. During the first days after the fire, a misunderstanding between Environment Canada and Environnement Québec led the officials to inform the population that they would be able to return home on Sunday (August 28) whereas it is only on September 1st that the test results will be back from the laboratories and they will get a clear picture of the situation. Additional Evacuation

On Sunday afternoon (August 28), PCB contamination was noticed in a mobile home court adjacent to the evacuated area. So another group of 174 families were evacuated to the reception centres, they were registered and dispatched to friends or relatives, or to hotels. A system of lodging, hotel, meals and other expenses have been set up and it is operated by BPCQ and volunteer groups (municipal).

Medical examinations for firemen, policemen, public service workers, government employees and evacuated citizens, wére initiated on Friday (August 26) and as of Sunday evening, 3,200 persons had been seen by medical personnel. Personal files were opened and the persons affected will be examined over a long period of time. Through computers, the existing medical history will be tied in and a complete medical profile should be kept through the program.

One policeman has been treated for severe symptoms of smoke inhalation. One citizen was hospi- talized after the medical examination and it was found he was suffering from an unrelated ailment. Results of tests on reaction to PCBs or Dioxin will be known only in one to two weeks.

Remaining Problems

Logistics: Work space is still somewhat crowded even after the installation of four vans in a school yard adjacent to the City Hall. Telephones and cellulars have been provided through Communications Canada and should be in sufficient supply even if in limited number.

Public Information

Until the system of information distribution is well organized, complaints are expected on the lack of information for a couple of days. Complaints are mostly from people outside the evacuated area.

Concerning the relations with the media, a unique source has been established by the QPP Co- ordinator and it should satisfy the needs. It only remains to encourage media people to refer to that source. Social Services

Housing, food and special services needs are now well covered, except with a few exceptions. For example, 175 rooms were allocated for evacuees in a hotel, and only 80 rooms were used during the night.

5 Financial assistance for food and lodging will be provided by the provincial government starting Tuesday (August 30) at noon, and it will be limited to:

. Hotel rooms, at actual government rate . Staying with relatives: $10 per person per night • Food: $30 per day per person

A control system has also been implemented to ensure that only evacuees receive such assistance.

A limited number of house trailers have been rented by the municipality to house special cases, i.e. handicapped, large families.

Attached is a map of the area and photocopy of aerial picture of the warehouse.

Notes on the Federal Representatives Committee

It is agreed by all federal departments present that direct contacts between federal and provincial agencies are encouraged. Report of actions to be presented at the meetings. The EPC Regional Director is to remain available to all parties to assist in problems requiring liaison. Meetings will be held in the Conference Room, Bldg. No. 7, ŒB Montreal (St- Hubert), on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. All members agree to be present at all meetings. Individual reports of operations will be prepared to satisfy the needs of the agencies. Copies of final response reports will be provided to EPC who will prepare and circulate joint reports. Provincial Situation Reports (SITREP) and Operations Reports will be collected by EPC and provided to federal partners. Press releases from federal agencies concerning their responsibilities toward the citizens will be provided to EPC, who will forward them to QPP Information Centre for reference. André Tremblay Regional Director Emergency Preparedness Canada

6 Coordination Committee - Quebec Provincial Police OPERATIONS ON THE SITE -Saint-Basile-le-Grand

Coordonnateur D.G.A. G. St-Antoine 1 Financial and material Communications Quebec Provincial Police resources, Logistics Media Control centre Public safety liaison Disaster victims Inspector C.H. Gill Population Operational centre Captain R. Roy Responders Inspector S. Barbeau Command post Emergency Preparedness Quebec and Canada Communications Ste-Julie m.p. Ministry of the Environment St-Bruno m.p. Municipalities communications St-basile m.p.

Correlations with ministries and Information centre other government organizations and Office of secretary Chief Inspector bouchard Captain B. Talon Captain J.-P. Gariépy

Ministry of Health and Social Services Municipalities (3) Ministry of Agriculture Quebec's Ministry of the Environment Environment Canada Emergency Preparedness

St-Basile-le-Grand August 31, 1988

SITREP — Ecological Disaster Site

No 2

The mayors of the three municipalities (St-Basile, St-Bruno, Ste-Julie) are still very concerned with the welfare of their citizens. A number of complaints were expressed concerning the lack of precise information. The citizens would like to know when they will be back home and how bad the situation really is. No definite answer will be provided until Thursday (September 1) or Friday (September 2).

The need for an answer is often translated into dislike of hotel accommodation, difficulties with transportation schedule and, until Wednesday (August 31), lack of financial assistance. Distribution of cheques began on August 30 p.m., but a maximum of 150 cheques per hour can be issued at each of the three sites. Offices are open from 15:00 hrs until 22:00 hrs.

Media

The media are still looking for sensational information. The EPC RD recommended setting up a visit of the site, by bus, for a group of joumalists delegated by the media. They could be accompanied by experts, supplied with protective clothing and be given answers to their questions. QPP will take this suggestion into consideration. Otherwise, I noted that CI'V latched onto the idea that PCBs and most Dioxins and Furans are not dangerous to people. Having raised that controveisy, they continue to interview evacuees and use the two sides of the information extremes to fill their time. Other networks seem to have caught on the nightly news of August 30. Newspapers should follow soon with in-depth exploitation of the two sides of the controversy. It might be good for the news but I feel it is very poor for the people.

Sample Taking and Analysis

The sampling program is still continuing by the departments of Environment, Agriculture and Health.

They should end up with about 500 sample units of soil, water, plants, animals and other sources, aside from human blood where they are now over the 4000 mark. Laboratory tests of all these units, plus relative analysis should talce weeks or months to complete.

From the first results, contamination levels are very low outside the very close perimeter of the storage warehouse. This is consistent with the inside declaration of Environment people conceming the limited consumption of PCBs in the fire. It is becoming more certain that the only substances that burned in the fire are: • barrels of solvent used to clean transformers once emptied of PCBs and oil • barrels containing contaminated clothes, rags and other items of protection for workers • barrels of earth soaked with either oil or contaminated solvents.

Up to now no barrels containing PCBs have been found opened. As the inspection continues they may find some leaking but in a very limited number.

Mobile Air Sampling and Analysis Units, called TAGA, were called to the site. One called TAGA 3000 was supplied by Environment Ontario and is working on taking and analyzing air in houses, schools and other buildings, since Saturday. This unit performs an average of six tests in 24 hours. A second unit (TAGA 6000) will be brought in on Thursday (September 1) from New York. Revenue Canada and Employment & Immigration Canada are arranging for the clearance of the machine, equipment and technicians at Lacolle (Customs) sometime Wednesday. With the two units, air testing program should be

10 complete in another week. No residence has shown any detectable levels of pollutants, except where old fluorescent light transformers were still in use and even then, the readings are well below the Canadian threshold.

Committees

Actually, meetings are held on a regular basis at all levels: • Municipal Co-ordination (twice a day) • Provincial Operations (once a day) • Provincial Ministerial (twice a week) • Federal Representatives (three times a week)

Contacts at all levels seem to be still quite friendly but we note that care is exercised by all not to get too far on other people's turf. Co-ordination, management and operational information flow quite well between agencies. In most cases, information is fed directly, in others, we only need to ask and we get what we need.

From federal agencies, I make sure that information (mostly verbal) is passed at other levels meetings, so they all know what we are doing and why.

Liaison

BPCQ and EPC are sharing the same room in the City Hall, so we are in constant contact and supporting each other.

Mr. Richard Grisé, MP for Chambly Constituency, met with me this morning and indicated he would be the official and direct link to the Prime Minister's office. I made myself available to brief him and made sure that from now on he could sit in any and all meetings at all levels. We are meeting again tomorrow to compare notes and make sure we are clean and above board at all times. This morning he repeated my message to the Co-ordinating Committee that federal resources and personnel were available at the request of the Province and that all areas of federal responsibilities were already covered and would be supervised by him directly. Strategically I find the choice to be a very good one.

The federal image is basically kept on a low key but projects efficient and very professional support. I have yet to hear a bad comment on the quality of our work except maybe that we do not go public enough on site. I think this is well as it is. We should let the province handle the image to the public for now. We will have sufficient documentation on our actions to use after the event, if needed.

Support to this Office

Up to now I have been handling the situation with Miss Rousseau and Mr. Robin holding the fort in Quebec.

Starting next Tuesday (September 6) Miss Rousseau will become more involved at the site with me. Her job will be to keep close track on federal participation in the cleaning and disposition of the contents of the warehouse. She will also be supporting me in the preparation of a federal report of the event.

Next week I will also obtain assistance from E&IC Emergency Co-ordinator, Jean Riverin, for some federal to provincial and municipal liaison. This should give me a little time to proceed with joint federal planning for COSMOS 1900. I hope we never get to Phase 3 on this one.

So generally, all seems well in this troubled world.

André Tremblay Regional Director

11 St-Basile-le-Grand August 31, 1988 23:00 hrs.

Situation Report — Ecological Disaster Site

No 3

Evacuees appear to be comforted since learning expenses will be covered by BPCQ (Note: A couple of phone calls were received from Montreal flood victims complaining they were not given the same treatment, i.e. hotels at government expense, allocation for meals, transportation, etc.)

Co-ordination meetings are presently dealing with relatively minor problems, except one. The problem of cleaning the site of the fire came up at tonight's meeting. No easy solution is in sight. Discussions will continue tomorrow.

The Ministerial Committee has still not addressed this subject. They are still working on determin- ing a date for the retum home. The results of the analysis of samples are fragmentary and do not provide an accurate picture of the health of people to redefine the perimeter. Hopefully by the weekend there might be enough data for decision for a partial return. The majority of experts were more pessimistic, setting the time of return sometime next week.

The Federal Representatives Committee of this morning proceeded with the regular federal effi- ciency. Mr. Richard Grisé, MP for Chambly and responsible to the PM for the federal support to the province, attended. He expressed pleasure at the way we have been handling things. He concurred with the idea that no attempt should be made to take any of the attention away from the province at this time. We will continue to gather our notes and journals until he decides to call a press conference. All representatives present expressed support to that strategy. We also accepted that Mr. Grisé be the official spokesperson for the federal government. Matters of departmental concerns will still be treated as usual.

The media were loolcing for new information. Luckily I still have not been contacted by them. I know it will not be like that forever but a day is a day.

Next meeting of the Ministerial Committee is called for tomorrow, Thursday, at noon.

André Tremblay Regional Director

12 St-Basile-le-Grand September 1, 1988 10:30 hrs.

Situation Report - Ecological Disaster Site

No 4

Security:

The securing of the site should start shortly. Engineers of Environnement Québec, Environment Canada, and the cleaners are meeting on the subject to determine the best method of putting a structure over the warehouse so the wind does not carry particles away - the danger being that if the winds were to blow from the north-east at speeds above 30 km/h., it is feared that a total evacuation of St-Basile-le-Grand would be necessary.

The dust on the CNR tracks and in the vicinity of the warehouse will be stabilized today using calcium salt that should ensure enough humidity to stick the dust to the grounds.

Federal Services:

Employment and Immigration Canada installed an Employment Centre at the Chanterelle School, next to their services to the population. This one-stop service centre is again here proving to be a good idea. The installation of other federal services, such as distribution of family allowances and old age pension cheques will be recommended.

André Tremblay Regional Director

13 St-Basile-le-Grand September 2, 1988 16:00 hrs.

Situation Report - Ecological Disaster Site

No 5

Evacuees

I checked with each municipality today on the exact number of evacuees. The confirmed numbers are:

People Homes

St-Basile-le-Grand 2,350 825 St-Bruno 470 176 Ste-Julie 2,154 M

Total: 4,974 1,731

The list of streets and total of houses is attached for information.

The evacuees are staying either with friends or relatives, or in hotels (arrangements made by BPCQ). Fifty families will be housed in units at CFB St-Jean d'Iberville starting today. There are also about 30 families in house trailers in St-Basile-le-Grand. A number of Montreal hotels had indicated earlier that they needed their rooms for Marathonians over the weekend, but a representative of Mr. Bourassa's Cabinet convinced the Association of Hotel Managers to keep the evacuees and arrange accommodation elsewhere for the weekend visitors.

Health

Hospital Charles-Lemoyne stopped the special clinic for potentially contaminated persons on Thursday evening. The two local CLSCs will each have a team available to take over. Medical files are in the process of being reviewed and blood sample analysis should start next week. Feeding mothers' milk had priority and up to now 17 out of 24 have tested negative so feeding of babies by these mothers has resumed.

The CLSCs have also proposed a psychological and social rehabilitation program (copy is attached for information). This program will, over a year and a half, ensure a progressive psychological re-stabiliza- tion of the people affected by the event.

Site

The securing of the site will be done over the weekend. An area of 600 feet by 600 feet will be enclosed by a wire fence. Scaffolding will be constructed around the warehouse with a sheath of waterproof canvas strung over the building and scaffold. The ground inside the fence will be decontaminated or removed and the remaining dust will be constantly held down by calcium salt and humidity. By Wednesday we should know the name of the contractor and the cost of cleaning/disposing of the whole mess.

14 Aid to Evacuees

The one-stop service centre is still working very well. We find in the same area, citizens' information, registration, housing, transport, financial aid, Red Cross, special services (counselling), unemployment insurance, family allowances, old age pensions, legal counselling, government services and local volunteer groups. Add to that the free coffee shop and you have about 1,500 persons visiting the place each day.

Businesses

The employees working in businesses that are in the evacuated area, have received a special treatment by E&IC. A manual system for processing requests and payment for unemployed has been installed. The first cheques should be issued Thursday, September 8. The owners of the small businesses are in worse shape since there is no assistance program providing for their operation losses.

Federal/Provincial Liaison

Some problems have developed in our relations concerning data and information. The Federals are feeding all they have to their provincial counterparts and no feedback seems to be available (the same is happening between municipal to provincial). The reason for this is that intemal directives have been passed down in the provincial departments that all information is to be sent to the Ministers and Premier's offices and they will decide what is good to be said. This was understood as meaning that nothing is to be fed back outside the provincial agencies.

I have already raised the problem and hope that by Tuesday, at the Ministerial Committee meeting, a correction to the directive will be issued.

Sampling

Sample programs are continuing by Environment and Agriculture personnel. The air sampling unit (TAGA) will continue working until at least early next week. Another unit (TAGA 6000) on loan from New York State Environment Protection Agency will start working on Tuesday morning after calibrating its instruments in the evening of Monday. Revenue Canada and CEIC have insured its safe clearance at the border.

Weekend Duty

Since I am involved with a NATO Agriculture Committee visit to Montreal, and will attempt a bit of rest over the weekend, Mr. Jean Riverin, Emergency Co-ordinator for CEIC, who lives in St-Bruno, close to the site, will stand in for me, until I retum on Monday evening.

Next Report

My next update should be on Tuesday evening.

André Tremblay Regional Director

15 Weekly Report Quebec Region September 2, 1988

St-Basile-le-Grand - Ecological Disaster

As of September 2, evacuees are still away from home until accurate results of analyses are known, possi- bly next week. Mobile Air Sampling and Analysis Units were brought in from Ontario and another one is expected from New York. 4,400 persons had a medical examination in the last ten days and no abnormal conditions found, except firemen and policemen working near the fire have a higher level of contamination. A medical file for each one has been set up and future exams at definite periods will be made.

QPP has the entire responsibility for the provincial operations since August 28.

On August 30, the BPCQ started payment of Financial assistance to evacuees, for accommodation and meals.

Special committees have been established at the operations centre: Municipal coordination, Provin- cial operations, Provincial Ministerial, Federal Concertation. The federal committee is attended by: AGR (Plants and Animals Div.), H&WC, DND, CC, Bell Canada, CP Rail, E&IC, EC, CMHC and EPC.

The EPC RD is at St-Basile-le-Grand attending meetings, liaising with the Province and co-ordinating relations between federal departments present on site.

Mr. Richard Grisé, MP for Chambly and Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Privy Council, is authorized to liaise with the office of the Prime Minister on this disaster.

André Tremblay Regional Director

16 St-Basile-le-Grand September 6, 1988 18:00 hrs.

Situation Report — Ecological Disaster Site

No. 6

Evacuees

No change in number. The housing units provided by DND at St-Jean d'Iberville were not used over the weekend. All the hotels kept the evacuees and relocated the weekend visitors elsewhere.

Health

The medical and psycho-assistance clinic is opened in St-Basile-le-Grand on Saturday a.m., it is situated in a small shopping centre on Highway 116. The financial assistance office of BPCQ will also be at ULTRA Shopping centre starting sometime this week.

Site

The 12-foot fence should be finished tomorrow. The structure and canopy over the building is giving trouble tô the contractor. The standard structure normally erected by the contractor is usually not higher than 23 feet. This one has to be a minimum of 35 feet. So, the legs have to be extended, beefed-up and secured more solidly to the base pads. All that should take another 3 to 5 days to complete.

Re-integration

The re-integration program has been drafted over the weekend. It should be reviewed by concerned agencies this week and implemented as needed. As soon as it starts, a copy should be available for our records.

Sampling

Environment sampling program is almost over. Only the TAGA 6000 from New York is still being used. It should finish its work on Friday. Its purpose is to validate the previous readings by the TAGA 3000 and test a few sites for Dioxins and Furans.

Communications

Gradual removal of telephone was started at the weekend. A rough estimate of telephone installation, cellulars, lines used and long distance calls should reach $20,000 — $30,000. This will be shared between the municipality, the province and us, Communications Canada and EPC.

Police Work

As of Monday night, a total of 11 infractions had been identified by the QPP and Municipal police.

• In St-Basile 1 break and entry • In St-Bruno None • In Ste-Julie 9 break and entries + 1 vandalism

17 This, according to QPP, is like the yearly average for the area except in Ste-Julie where 8 break and entries happened in an area where there were no police control until the 30th of August. Since then, everything is at nomial level.

Financial Aid

The Order-in-Council for financial aid by the Province for the citizens and municipalities is being drafted this week. I ensured that the criteria of our arrangements were well understood and covered in their document. This will certainly save future trouble.

Cost of Operation

A review of cost was made by QPP and BPCQ on Monday and Tuesday. It appears that the overall cost of the operation is approximately one million dollars a day. That number should keep until re-integration is completed. Cleanup costs will then be added to that. Some federal costs may be included in that. All parties are constantly urged to keep detailed accounting to ensure proper review and control later. Liaison

Still no improvement in obtaining feedback. The Ministers Committee meeting has been pushed to Wednesday noon. More news after.

André Tremblay Regional Director

18 Weekly Report Quebec Regional Office September 9, 1988

St-Basile-le-Grand — Ecological Disaster

The 4,974 evacuees have not yet been authorized to return home. Tonight, the Minister of Environment will give the results of the tests in a press conference. At the same time, evacuees expect to obtain the date of their return home.

Until that time, they are accommodated in hotels, trailers, or are staying with friends or relatives. They receive financial assistance for accommodation and meals. Various operations centres have been established in the same area and are working well. The evacuees visit a one-stop centre for infonnation, registration, housing, transport, financial aid, Red Cross, special services (counselling), unemployment insurance, family allowances, old age pensions, legal counselling, government services and local volunteer groups assistance.

The warehouse containing PCBs has been fenced for security. The govenunent is expecting tenders from specialized contractors for the cleaning and decontamination of the zone.

The EPC Quebec SITREPS will be enclosed in the next circulation file.

Louise Rousseau Assistant Regional Director

19 Weekly Report Quebec Regional Office September 16, 1988

St-Basile-le-Grand - Ecological Disaster

Following the recommendations of the experts, the provincial authorities authorized the evacuees to return home starting Saturday, September 10 at 08:00 hrs.

Cleaning of the exterior of houses started immediately. Special pick-up for spoiled food and garden produce was also put in effect Saturday morning. Special police patrols were ready to receive complaints. Over the weekend, 92% of the evacuees returned home. Only two minor complaints were registered: one for spot bums on grass and another for a broken flower urn. Cleaning is being done by 10 different contractors, each having its own district to cover. All houses should have been cleaned before Sunday the 18th. Supervision is under Environnement Québec responsibility.

The construction of the canopy has been delayed through last weekend and was completed Wednes- day the 14th. DND was again asked to supply a foam truck to the site as the workers feared a flare-up. In fact a small fire was extinguished Saturday. The canvas is not fireproof and a lot of welding was taking place. Also, as environment people were moving barrels inside, they found another site of smoldering ashes. Luckily, no important fire was caused.

Provincial agencies set up a service centre for medical, psycho-social and financial assistance in a small shopping centre in St-Basile-le-Grand and will keep it open as long as necessary. The BPCQ is now preparing an Order-in-Council to provide financial assistance to the three communities; a request for federal participation should be sent before the end of the month. Provincial officials and politicians reacted strongly, first to the declaration of Mr. Mulroney and Mr. B. Bouchard about the federal matching expenses dollar for dollar, and then again when I explained the terms of our arrangements. Mr. Rocheleau, the provincial minister responsible for BPCQ said he would consider all these declarations in drafting his request for federal assistance.

The last meeting of the federal concertation table was held on Tuesday morning. All agreed to provide EPC with a report outlining their agencies' participation in the event, including personnel resources used and costs. I will then assemble all these into a joint report which should be ready for circulation in approximately two months.

Now that the site is covered, the cleanup should start shortly. The contents and contaminated items should be stored in containers on the site for later disposal. The structure will be decontaminated and removed. All this should take until late fall.

André Tremblay Regional Director

20 Weekly Report Quebec Regional Office September 30, 1988

St-Basile-le-Grand - Ecological Disaster

The Province of Quebec has published an Order-in-Council concerning financial aid to the citizens and municipalities for the St-Basile-le-Grand disaster. Copy will appear in the circulation file.

André Tremblay Regional Director

21 Weekly Report Quebec Regional Office October 7, 1988

St-Basile-le-Grand - Ecological Disaster

Order-in-Council 1444-88 has been signed by the Province of Quebec authorizing financial assistance to citizens, farmers, businesses and municipal corporations, to cover expenses incurred following the fire at the warehouse containing PCBs.

On September 27, Provincial Minister (Mr. Rocheleau) wrote to the Minister of National Defence asking the financial participation of the federal government in this disaster.

Federal departments involved in the St-Basile-le-Grand disaster were asked by the EPC RD to submit a report and a summary of their expenses for the preparation of a combined report on the federal participation of the Quebec Region to this ecological disaster.

Louise Rousseau Assistant Regional Director

22 Weekly Report Quebec Region November 10, 1988

St-Basile-le-Grand — Ecological Disaster

On Tuesday, Ms. C. Boily of the University of Montreal visited one for a half-day debriefing session on my actions at St-Basile-le-Grand. Ms. Boily is part of a team under contract by BPCQ to research the response of governmental agencies to this event and prepare recommendations for the improvement of the provincial emergency plan.

André Tremblay Regional Director

REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

THAT HELPED

TO RESTORE THE SITUATION

TO NORMAL

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

ENVIRONMENT CANADA ^, PCB FLRE AT ST-BASILE-LE-GRAND

Mrs. Claudette Joumault, B.SC. Environnement Québec Mrs. Francine Laperriere, ENG., M.SC. Environment Canada Mr. Raymond Perrier, M.SC. Environnement Québec

Introduction

PCBs were first synthesized in the laboratory in 1881. In 1929, a half century later, PCBs were introduced in industry where they were phenomenally successful because of their exceptional qualities: chemical stability, resistance to combustion, considerable heat-exchange capacity and high electrical resistance, etc. The considerable popularity of PCBs was to last 50 years (1929-77): 50 years of useful, peaceful, discreet and apparently inoffensive life. However, environmentally, they are disastrous.

Nev* ertheless, PCBs are not the formidable toxic substances referred to in the newspapers. Indeed, human tolerance to PCBs is very high. The acute toxicity rating of PCBs is relatively low. But, they are dangerous, because they persist in the environment; they are relatively non-biodegradable and accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans, fish and mammals. They are transmitted to nursing young in mother's milk and risk causing genetic mutations, congenital malformations and growth problems.

In view of these hazards, which scientists still have not completely identified, the govemments of Canada and the United States prohibited the manufacture of PCBs in 1977 and then restricted their use and importation.

From that date, small firms appeared in North America offering to completely rid companies of their PCBs, which had now become a problem. The costs involved were often attractive and sometimes staggering. This was a daring proposal because no method of eliminating these compounds was truly available.

PCB Warehouse at St-Basile-Le-Grand

It was in this context that the St-Basile-le-Grand PCB warehouse came into being. First proposed in August 1978 as a centre for treating chemical residues, the ambitious project of Mr. Paul Allain quickly evolved into a more modest centre for storing PCBs. The questions of treatment and elimination were postponed until a later date.

On August 15, 1979, a first authorization certificate was issued to SOTERC Inc. for an establishment of this kind with a capacity to store 1,000 gallons. On October 10, 1979, another authorization certificate increased the establishment's capacity to 5,000 gallons and on May 13, 1980, to 20,000 gallons.

In April 1981, SOTERC Inc. was purchased by numbered company 1845-0858, owned by Mr. Marc Lévy. A request for an increase in the storage capacity to 40,000 gallons was refused by Environnement Québec.

When the fire broke out in August 1988, the warehouse contained, according to its records, some 22,400 gallons of askarels in 45-gallon barrels. An undetermined quantity of insulating oils and residues contaminated by PCBs was stored in other barrels or in condensers and transformers, which had been stored intact.

29 The Fire and Initial Action

The fire broke out on Tuesday evening, August 23, 1988, at about 8:45 p.m.

It should be remembered that the main danger during a PCB fire is not the PCBs themselves but the by-products of their combustion.

The combustion of PCBs can generate dioxins, which are a million times more toxic than PCBs. In the presence of chlorobenzene or other chlorinated organic compounds, they produce the dangerous 2,3,7,8-TCDD, the most toxic of the 75 dioxins (isomers and other congeners). In particular, the incomplete combustion of PCBs produces furans.

Therefore, while the radio and television stations were reporting the progress of the fire live from the site, the environmentalists and toxicologists were thinking of immediately moving the surrounding population to a safe area. Those who lived downwind from the seat of the fire in the path of the cloud of smoke were most immediately threatened by the smoke, gases, soot and contaminated droplets. The wind was blowing from the south-east. Therefore, the populations of St-Basile-Nord, Ste-Julie-des-Hauts-Bois and St-Bruno-Trinité were evacuated first. This delicate operation was carried out quickly through the remarkable co-operation of the local police forces and the Quebec Police Force.

About 3,800 persons left their homes to move into a school room, gymnasium or hotel. They were to spend 18 days away from their homes.

The St-Basile-le-Grand firefighters were alerted immediately and took charge of the fire. The emergency services of Environment Canada and Environnement Québec quickly went to the site to lend assistance to the firefighters and inform them of safety precautions to take.

Homage must be paid to the courage and tenacity of the firemen from St-Basile-le-Grand and surrounding municipalities who tried to bring the fire under control with conventional equipment (fire hoses and monitor nozzles). The metal walls of the warehouse prevented the water from reaching the main seat of the fire.

The heat given off by the fire was too intense to allow anyone to approach and make a large hole in the roof or walls of the warehouse. However, one was created by an explosion that opened the roof. Then the action of the fire hoses and monitor nozzles made it possible to cool the blaze sufficiently so that the DND firefighters from CFB St-Hubert could take action. They managed to extinguish the flames using 25,000 litres of foam after three hours of intensive effort.

It was realized in the following days that a limited number of barrels of PCBs had exploded and burned... less than 10% of the contents of the warehouse. Thanks to the remarkable work of various fire departments, a catastrophe ten times greater was avoided.

At the outset of the fire, the Atmospheric Environment Service of Environment Canada provided special meteorological observations, forecasts and simulations of the dispersion of the smoke cloud.

A specialized team from the Environmental Technology Centre (Environment Canada, Ottawa) arrived on the site at 5:00 a.m. on August 24 to assist the ministère de l'Environnement du Québec in taking air, water and soil samples.

30 An initial sampling station was installed by Environment Canada across from the warehouse site to measure the concentration of PCBs, dioxins and furans in the atmosphere. An initial series of soil and water samples were taken on the warehouse site and across from it to determine as quickly as possible the extent of the contamination to which the workers were exposed.

Even during the fire, Environnement Québec proceeded to take initial environmental safety precautions: protection of surface and underground water, confinement of water from the fire hoses to the warehouse site and surveillance of the quality of drinking water of Lac du Moulin.

At the request of Environment Canada, the mobile laboratory team (TAGA 3000) (Trace Atmos- pheric Gas Analyzer) of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment proceeded as early as August 27 to monitor the presence of PCBs in the streets and homes of the districts likely to be contaminated. Health

The ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec provided public health services and treatment from the beginning of the fire until the evening of Thursday, August 25. Information was distributed to workers and the population about the risks resulting from the fire and ways to protect themselves. The Centre de Toxicologie du Québec and the community health departments of St-Hyacinthe and Charles- Lemoyne and the CLSC of la Vallée des Patriotes each contributed to the effort. They participated in toxi- cological evaluations of the seriousness of this environmental accident and caused the authorities to delay the reintegration of the evacuated population until sufficient environmental data had been obtained to establish beyond any doubt that it was safe for them to return. Finally, they offered systematic medical evaluation services to all the persons in the evacuated area who had been affected by the fire. About 5,600 medical examinations were administered and a medical and epidemiological follow-up was made of almost 450 workers who were more directly exposed to the combustion products.

Agriculture

The ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêches et de l'Alimentation du Québec proceeded to evaluate the possible contamination of foods and livestock over an extensive area of land that could have been affected. In all, 472 samples of milk, vegetable products, various foodstuffs, blood and soils were gathered and analyzed. An embargo was placed on the marketing of the products from 4,700 acres because of potential contamination. The final results of analyses made it possible to remove a part of this area from the embargo and restrict the embargo to 3,500 acres.

Role of Responders

The command post directed by the Quebec Police Force was asked to secure the perimeter of the evacuated area (14 km2), maintain public security, co-ordinate financial and material resources with the assistance of Emergency Preparedness Canada and Protection civile du Québec, co-ordinate interaction between the assisting parties (departments, agencies and municipalities) and co-ordinate the distribution of information to the public, evacuees and the media, etc.

31 A list of the various departrnents, agencies and mtmicipalities involved in the emergency at St-Basile and the role that each of them played follows:

Responders Role

1. Municipalities: . Representation of citizens at the various St-Basile meetings of the co-ordination committee St-Bruno where actions taken were discussed Ste-Julie

2. Protection civile du Québec • Co-ordination of financial and material resources of the provincial departments and organizations involved

. Establishment of information centres for the population affected

3. Emergency Preparedness • Co-ordination of financial and Canada material resources of the federal departments and agencies involved

4. Ministère de la Santé et des • Special social services centre Services sociaux du Québec established for the next six months

5. Health and Welfare Canada • Support to Santé et Services sociaux du Québec

6. Ministère de l'Agriculture • Co-ordination of sampling of du Québec agricultural lands and inspection of sales outlets for products of the region

7. Agriculture Canada • Support to Agriculture Québec for inspection

8. Ministère de l'Environnement • Environmental data for the Québec (MENVIQ) affected area

• Co-ordination of preventive measures at the site of the fire (confinement, decontamination, dism antling, abatement measures)

• Co-ordination of follow-up sampling of air, soil, fauna and flora

• Media communication centre

32 • Application of environmental measures recommended by the international committee of experts when the evacuees were resettled

• Complete restoration of the fire site

9. Environment Canada • Support to MENVIQ for co-ordination of the sampling during the disaster (compilation, distribution of samples to eight laboratories in Canada, analysis and quality control of laboratories)

• Support to MENVIQ for weather predictions weather station installed at St-Basile during the incident)

• Support to the Ministère du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche (MLCP) by the Canadian Wildlife Service for wildlife sampling in to determine the impact of the incident

• Support to MENVIQ in providing scientific information in the shelters

• Media communications centres

• Investigations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)

10. Ontario Ministry of the • Support to MENVIQ for the Environment detection of PCBs in the ambient air with mobile laboratory TAGA 3000

11. New York State Department • Support to MENVIQ for the of Environmental detection of contaminants in the ambient Conservation air with mobile laboratory TAGA 6000

12. Ministère du Loisir, • Co-ordination of the sampling de la Chasse et de of fauna and flora to determine la Pêche du Québec (MLCP) the impact of the incident

13. Department of National • Support in fighting the fire Defence Canada and proper delivery of samples to River Road Laboratories in Ottawa and Inland Waters (Burlington)

33 Communications Canada - Logistics support to provide adequate communications between operation centres

Committee of international B Interpretation of the results of experts: six foreign delegates the analysis (water, air, soil) from the World Health Organization, six Canadians and two Americans

It was not easy to persuade 3,800 persons of the wisdom of their evacuation when the fire had been extinguished. When the evacuation was extended for 18 days, it became even more difficult to convince the evacuees that it was completely safe to return home.

Therefore, the international committee of experts was called on to examine all the environmental data available and the analyses of risks of Quebec experts and interpret them in order to establish whether it would be safe for the evacuees to return to their homes.

Environmental Data

Environmental data were gathered through the sustained co-operation of Environment Canada. Environnement Québec could also count on the invaluable co-operation of many scientists from the above- mentioned organizations who worked in laboratories throughout Canada. The co-operation of a few hundred scientists and technicians made it possible to establish the environmental conditions in the affected area. The highlights of this study follow:

Sampling Plan

A sampling plan was prepared based on the direction of the cloud of contaminants during the fire and taking into account the use to which this area is put. The plan covered five main areas: St-Basile-le-Grand, Domaine des Haut-Bois, Ste-Julie, St-Bruno and Boucherville (Figure 1).

Samples of air, surface water and underground water, as well as external and internal swabs, were taken from the residences and soil.

Because of the considerable quantity of environmental samples created during the sampling cam- paign and the complexity of the analyses (e.g. an analysis of dioxins and furans takes from three to five days), about 101aboratories throughout Canada helped to prepare as prompt an assessment of the situation as possible.

Interpretation

Four basic facts were taken into consideration in interpreting the data gathered:

1. The relative toxicity of PCBs, dioxins and furans

The incomplete combustion of PCBs usually produces chlorinated furans. The combustion of organic matter in the presence of halogenized aromatic compounds may also produce dioxins. These substances show very different levels of toxicity depending on the isomers present. The most toxic and feared isomer is undoubtedly 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (2,3,7,8-T4CDD). The relative toxicity of other isomers has been established in comparison with the toxicity of this isomer.

The toxic equivalents used are shown in Table 1 (taken from USEPA).

34 2. The existence of background contamination

After 100 years of intense world-wide industrial activity, it is naive to think that there are still environments free of all contamination. Traces of PCBs have been found in the ice of the North Pole and there are noticeable quantities of PCBs in soil samples taken from urban and peri-urban environments in North America.

This background contamination results from various sources such as hepta and octachlorodibenzodioxins.

Therefore, this fact must be taken into account when interpreting the results.

3. The use of environmental quality criteria

To evaluate the quality of the environment and levels of contamination, the standard criteria in North America were used (see Table II).

With regard to swab criteria, industrial environment exposure standards were used. Criteria 100 times safer are generally used for residential environments. To take this fact into account, it was considered that the isomers present in congeners other than the tetra variety were all isomers bearing chlorine in positions 2,3,7,8. This introduces a safety factor in the order of 50 to 100. In the case of the tetra variety, the 2,3,7,8 isomers were measured.

4. Determination of the general tendencies of the contamination

On September 6, i.e. three days before a decision was made, the ministère de l'Environnement had 533 analysis results. This represented about 70% of the expected results (Table III) and was largely sufficient to draw conclusions.

Area of the Study

During the time of the fire the wind was blowing east-south-east at speeds of from 15 - 22 km/h. The sky was cloudy in the evening and overcast during the night. An initial dispersion model was established based on the hypothesis that the total content of the warehouse had burned. The long-range fall-out area estimated in this way crossed the island of Montreal (Figure 2). Then a model based on the estimated volumes burned was made. This model also took into account the morphology of the terrain, e.g.the presence of Mont St-Bruno.

Air and Swabs

As previously mentioned, measurements of the outside and inside ambient air and swabs of exposed surfaces were taken within the days following the fire in order to determine the quality of the air in the evacuated zone and estimate the amount of fall-out from the smoke cloud.

Air

The amount of PCBs in the air was measured with the TAGA 3000 (Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyser) from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The TAGA 6000 from the Department of the Environment of New York State also helped to establish a profile of the air quality. All the air samples taken in the schools and residences were under the detection limits (100 ng/m 3).

The PCB content in the outside air also proved to be under the detection limits with the exception

35 of the area immediately adjacent to the site where values sometimes exceeding 100 ng/m3 were found downwind. The results of the analysis seem to indicate that the activities on the site may have significantly increased the PCB measurements in the air in this zone before the abatement measures were implemented.

Immediately after the fire, the PCB concentration was measured at 11,512 ng/m3 and especially the T4CDF, P5CDF and H6CDF. A small amount of dioxins (about 4% of the total quantity of PCDF and PCDD) were also measured. It should be noted that very small quantities of dioxins were found; present were the H6, H7and H. congeners.

Subsequently, during the period from August 26 to September 6, two stations located about 200 and 250 m from the burned warehouse, and which were affected by the prevailing winds, showed varying amounts of PCBs ranging from 50 to 250 ng/m3 (accumulation during 11 to 50 hours). Small quantities of T4CDF and PSCDF and traces of H7 CDD and O8CDD were found.

Internal Swabs

The percentages of PCBs, dioxins and furans in internal swabs exceeding the exposure criteria are shown in Table V.

As of September 29, 93 analyses of PCBs and 43 analyses of PCDD and PCDF were made. Most of the values are under the detection limits (PCB: 83/93; PCDD and PCDF: 36/43).

The values for PCBs occurred in the areas of St-Basile-le-Grand (North) (1), St-Bruno (2), St-Bruno Trinité (4), Ste-Julie Haut-Bois (2) and Ste-Julie North (1).

However, none of the 10 positive values for PCBs found presented any health hazards since they are 500 to 12,000 times under the criterion selected.

The data for PCDD and PCDF are expressed in 2,3,7,8-T4CDD toxic equivalents. The calculation was made with the EPA factors corresponding to 2,3,7,8-P5, 2,3,7,8-H6 and 2,3,7,8-H7 CDD and CDF.

Thirty-six of the 43 (36/43) analyses were under the detection limits. The positive values found were 86 to 12,500 times under the criterion of 0.25 ng/100 cmz and therefore cannot be considered a problem.

Very few dioxins could be found. The hepta and octa varieties were the only congeners found. Only T4CDF congeners of furans were identified. However, these products were always barely measurable by the most sophisticated devices. The T4CDFs are closely associated with the presence of PCBs. The hepta and octachlorodibenzodioxins are associated with background levels of contamination.

External Swabs

The percentages of occurrence of PCBs, dioxins and furans in external swabs exceeding the exposure criteria are shown in Table VI.

We now have 99 PCB results and 23 PCDD and PCDF results. Thirty-three PCB analyses were above the detection limits, including the series of eight swabs (sample Nos. 20 to 27) at St-Julie Haut-Bois (5) and St-Bruno (3), which showed extremely high values that were not confirmed by parallel samplings.

Positive PCB values were found at St-Basile-le-Grand (North) ( 11/38), St-B asile-le-Grand (East) (1/11), St-Bruno Trinité (1/4), Ste-Julie Haut-Bois (5/13), Ste-Julie North ( 1/8), Boucherville (1/7), St-

36 Bruno (4/9) and the site (9/9). With the exception of the series of high values at Ste-Julie Haut-Bois and St-Bruno, the very high values on the site itself and a sample taken at St-Basile-le-Grand (North) after the rain, all the external swab values were under the criterion of 12.5 g/100 cm2 for PCBs.

PCDDs and PCDFs were found in 11 of 23 analyses at St-Basile-le-Grand (North) (3/6), St-Bruno (1/3), Ste-Julie (North) (1/1), Boucherville (1/1) and on the site itself (5/5). The values do not exceed the criterion of 0.25 ng/100 cmz in toxic equivalents 2,3,7,8-T4-CDD, with the exception of analyses of the buildings on the site itself and a sample at St-Basile-le-Grand (North).

The three external swabs at St-Basile-le-Grand (North) showing positive values had chemical profiles similar to those found on the site, in soot and in ambient air samples taken immediately after the fire. This shows that the furans came from the fire.

Oil Droplets

Oil droplets vaporized during the fire and carried by the smoke cloud were deposited on exposed surfaces (cars, tables, etc.) Environment Canada made a quantitative evaluation of the scope of this dispersion. The droplets were found especially along a corridor extending north-west of the warehouse over a distance of about 1.5 km at St-Basile-le-Grand (North).

Oil droplet samples were taken by swabs in the quadrant where the greatest number of oil droplets were found. These samples revealed the presence of PCBs and furan congeners characteristic of the incident (T4CDF, PSCDF and traces of H6CDF) in amounts equal to one-half the exposure criteria.

Soils

Chemical characteristic "signature" of the fire

The chemical characteristic "signature" of the fire revealed the presence of furans (2,3,7,8-TCDF, TCDF, PCDF and H6CDF).

The H7 CDFs and OCDDs were found in soil samples taken near the warehouse. These forms of dioxins are not very toxic. However, the fact that they were found in all sampling areas in relatively equal concentrations would indicate that their presence was more due to background levels of contamination than to the fire.

The zones

The percentages of PCBs, dioxins and furans in the soil exceeding exposure criteria are shown in Table VII.

The soil analyses enable us to distinguish the following zones:

• the site of the fire, which was highly contaminated with PCBs and contained furans characteristic of the fire

• St-Basile-le-Grand (North), where the passage of the cloud left perceptible traces. Four samples containing furans were found there. In terms of their toxic equivalents, these furan concentrations are 25 to 300 times under the environmental quality standards

• St-Basile-le-Grand (East), St-Basile-le-Grand (South), Ste-Julie (Haut-Bois), Ste-Julie (North) and St-Bruno where a few samples of furans were found in quantities often only slightly greater than the detection limits. In terms of their toxic equivalents, these values are 45 to 14,700 times less than the environmental quality standard

37 ' St-Bruno (Trinité) where none of the samples showed firrans that could be quantified in toxic equivalents.

Surface Water

Ditch water adjacent to the site of the fire showed a high level of PCB contamination (380 to 6,900 ng/L). Higher concentrations in the order of 17,000 and 2,381 mg/L were also found in puddles sampled in the immediate vicinity of the warehouse. Some of the oil that had escaped from the barrels was also found in these water samples. This explains the very high values.

The presence of PCBs was also detected in Lac Seigneurial and Lac des Bouleaux as well as in Massé and Beloeil streams draining Mont St-Bruno at concentrations from 1.0 to 39 ng/L. The presence of furans in these lakes indicates that it is very likely that these contaminants came from the fallout of the smoke cloud. The measured concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs satisfy the interim Canadian standard of 15 pg/L (equivalent to 2,3,7,8-T4CDD) for drinlcing water.

Therefore, the analyses reveal that the PCBs, dioxins and furans found in the surface water on Mont St-Bruno did not present any danger to human health.

However, the measured levels exceed the desirable concentrations for aquatic life.

Underground Water

The risks of contaminating the underground water in the area of St-Basile-le-Grand were evaluated. From a geological point of view, the area is formed of four major stratigraphic units, the most significant of which is undoubtedly an impermeable clay that covers the entire plain to a depth of 20 to 30 metres.

The underground water is generally well protected from contamination by the layer of clay. The sand of the high terraces, which is in direct contact with the bedrock, is vulnerable but is located too far from the fire to have been contaminated.

An unused well in the municipal garage adjacent to the warehouse that draws its water from the aquifer under the layer of clay was reached by water that had been contaminated during the fire.

This well was completely emptied (14,000 L). Later samples revealed the possible persistence of contaminants. The well was sealed by pouring cement around it and precautions were taken to prevent any further contamination of its water.

Overall Interpretation

Three zones can be determined according to the results:

the site of the fire, which was highly contaminated

St-Basile-le-Grand (North), a priority zone, where the smoke cloud left traces

The remainder of the evacuated zone, which did not show any significant concentrations of contaminants after August 25 in the air (external air and swabs) and soil.

Traces of PCBs and furans were detected in a corridor extending to the St. Lawrence River. The concentrations, however, were found to be very small. The values for the soils, translated into toxic equivalents, were in the order of 15,000 times under the environmental quality standard.

38 After studying these results and analyzing the risks with the assistance of Quebec experts, and in light of medical examinations of exposed persons, the committee of international experts issued, on September 9, 1988, the following recommendations:

• The populations concerned could immediately retum to the evacuated zones without danger to their health.

The following procedures should be carried out in residential zones as a safety precaution:

a) meticulous cleaning of air intakes of air-conditioners or fans that were operating when the incident occurred or during the evacuation period

b) cleaning of external surfaces and all surfaces that may have been exposed to the smoke and soot from the fire, cleaning of houses, vehicles, patios and other hard surfaces and especially those that are not exposed to rai within the limits of the evacuation area

c) not to use, for human or animal purposes, harvests of vegetables, fruits and berries from the contaminated zone.

• An environmental monitoring program should be implemented.

• An epidemiological and medical follow-up program for the entire population of the evacuated zone should be implemented; this program should make it possible to detect acute or chronic intoxication, possible chemical effects or psychological after-effects.

• A follow-up program to detect sub-acute and chronic pathological effects in persons who were particularly exposed, such as response groups, should be implemented.

• A special follow-up veterinary program should be undertaken to monitor the animais in the contaminated zone.

Action should be taken to improve the preparation of responding groups in the case of chemical accidents, especially in the co-ordination of emergency measures. Emergency plans should set out the responsibilities of the various persons and agencies concerned and define clearly the level tasked with planning and implementing required measures.

The response plans should also specify the sharing of tasks and responsibilities for co- ordination as well as mechanisms enabling analysis laboratories to suddenly increase their sampling processing capacity. An intemal and inter-laboratory quality-control system should be devised.

• The seat of the fire must be decontaminated and the contaminated waste must be adequately transported and eliminated, paying particular attention to the health and safety of teams responsible for rehabilitating the site.

• This ad hoc group of intemational experts should re-evaluate the incident after six months.

The Govemment of Quebec immediately acted upon these recommendations by instituting an environmental follow-up program as well as other measures.

39 Environmental Follow-up

An environmental follow-up program in which many agencies are co-operating with the ministère de l'Environnement du Québec is now in place. They are Environment Canada, the ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), the ministère du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche du Québec (MLCP) and École polytechnique de l'Université de Montréal.

The program covers water, air and soil and flora and fauna.

Six high-volume, air-sampling stations will monitor the air quality until the end of the reconstruction process.

The quality of the underground water is currently being monitored. The same is true for the quality of surface water and especially the water of Lac du Moulin, used as a back-up reservoir for the municipality of St-Bruno.

Samples of sediments, small fish and frogs will be analyzed to determine whether there was an impact on the components of the aquatic ecosystem.

Samples of mushrooms and lawn grass will serve as vegetal bio-indicators.

The following land animals will also be monitored: muskrats, pigeons, earthworms, white-tailed rabbits and ruffed grouse.

All the samples will be tested for PCBs; one quarter of them will be tested for dioxins and furans.

The results of these analyses will provide indications of the necessity of pursuing a long-term, follow-up program and, if necessary, enable us to improve it by selecting the most representative environments.

Cleaning and Restoration

Immediately after the fire, preliminary work was carried out to prevent the dispersal of contaminated particles from the site to the fields, adjacent areas of the towns, streams, underground water tables and ambient air.

This comprised the following measures:

• placing all debris from the fire in barrels

• digging ditches and a lagoon to collect water from the fire hoses and rain water

• putting a mobile water-decontamination unit into operation

• spreading a calcium chloride solution to prevent particles from being blown avvay

• constructing a 12-foot-high fence around the site to control access

• setting up a personnel decontamination unit

• erecting an 80 ft x 100 ft temporary, domed structure over the site.

40 The aim of this hastily built structure was to prevent rainwater and wind from carrying away cinders, soot or other contaminated combustion products until the site-restoration work could begin.

When the Government of Quebec authorized the re-integration of evacuees on September 9, in accordance with the recommendations of international experts, a program for cleaning homes, properties and public buildings was immediately implemented to avoid any risks - however minimal - of contact with potential contaminants.

The program generally consisted of:

• washing the smooth surfaces of buildings and lawn furniture, etc. with a double jet of soapy and clear water

• collecting fruit and vegetables from domestic gardens and orchards

• cleaning or replacing air filters of air-conditioners and heat-pumps.

This program was carried out from September 10 to 26.

More than 2,500 private homes and properties were cleaned as well as all the infrastructures of the St-Bruno Recreational Park. These operations are listed in Table IV of the Annex.

The ministère de l'Agriculture du Québec proceeded to shred and eliminate vegetable products from the 3,500 acres of commercial agricultural land.

Restoration of the site of the fire remains the most onerous and complex task to be carried out. This operation will consist of two stages: first the site will be completely decontaminated and second, the PCBs and other contaminated elements collected on the site will be safely eliminated.

The first stage of the operation has been in progress since October 6, 1988.

The work consists of:

• identifying the contents of barrels, transformers and condensers

• cleaning and placing barrels, transformers and condensers in sealed containers in a safe place

• dismantling the warehouse and decontaminating structures and metal sheeting, concrete slabs and metallic waste

• dismantling the temporary domed structure over the burned warehouse

• processing contaminated water at the site

• processing and recycling solvents used.

The work, performed under a $6.6-million contract, is scheduled to begin in late 1988.

It is still not known how the PCBs and other contaminated residues of the fire will be eliminated, what destruction process will be used, where these operations will be carried out and how much they will cost. Government authorities have given assurances that these products will be eliminated and intense negotiations are in progress on this subject.

41 Conclusions

The industrialized world has experienced many ecological catastrophes that were largely attributable to ignorance or unawareness of how to manage hazardous substances and wastes, e.g. Bhopal, Love Canal, Times Beach, and Sevesco.

Quebec has been no exception. It has seen the pollution of the water table of Ville Mercier by waste oil, the demolition and restoration of a residential section of Ville de LaSalle, built on a former dump, the PCB fire in the IREQ laboratories at Varennes, and now the PCB warehouse fire at St-Basile-le-Grand.

These four names and four Quebec communities were associated with restoration costs of several tens of millions of dollars. How much environmental protection work could have been done with this money?

Society, various levels of government, industry and scientists are learning from these catastrophes.

This disaster helped Canadians to realize our difficulty in reacting promptly and smoothly to a major'écological disaster. It also helped point out the limits to our knowledge and resources. This incident could harden the conviction of governments that much stricter laws and regulations should be adopted on the handling, transportation and elimination of hazardous industrial waste, and that resources should be made available to ensure their rigorous application. One concrete result of this disaster has been a project to set up a general investigations directorate (60 persons) in the ministère de l'Environnement du Québec.

The incident has helped to make scientists aware that they must accelerate their research and broaden their knowledge of toxicology and better equip and standardize their laboratories. It has fostered new energy and creativity in local health centres to carefully determine the true risks of PCB combustion products to the population.

It has reawakened the traditional dedication and sense of responsibility of medical staff to treat those who have been highly exposed to toxic substances and to reassure those who are worried.

Finally, we hope that it has convinced industry of its major role in managing the hazardous products it puts into service - all too often - dumps untreated into the environment.

Our entire society needs to be reminded that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

42 TABLES

Table I Table of Toxic Equivalents (USEPA)

Table II Criteria Used for Interpretation

Table III Total Summary of Samples — Environmental Profile of St-Basile-le-Grand

Table IV Summary of Clean-up Operations

Table V Presence of PCBs, Dioxins and Furans in Internal Swabs, Expressed as a Percentage, in Relation to Exposure Criteria

Table VI Presence of PCBs, Dioxins and Furans in External Swabs, Expressed as a Percentage, in Relation to Exposure Criteria

Table VII Presence of PCBs, Dioxins and Furans in Soil, Expressed as a Percentage, in Relation to Exposure Criteria

Figure 1 Limits of Evacuated Zone (St-Basile-le-Grand)

Figure 2 Estimated Zone of Long-Range Dispersion of Smoke Cloud (St-Basile-le-Grand)

43 Table I

Table of Toxic Equivalents (USEPA)

Compound

PCDDs

2378 TCDD 1 Other T4CDDs 0.01 2378 P5CDD 0.5 Other Ps CDDs 0.005 2378 H6CDD 0.04 Other H6CDDs 0,0004 2378 H7CDD 0.001 Other H7CDDs 0.0001 08 CDD 0

PCDFs

2378 T4CDF 0.1 Other T4CDFs 0.001 2378 P5CDF 0.1 Other P5CDFs 0.001 2378 H6CDF 0.01 Other H6CDFs 0.0001 2378 H7CDF 0.001 Other H7CDFs 0.00001 08CDF 0

44 TABLE II

Criteria Used for Interpretation

Criteria Source

Environment PCB Dioxins and PCB Dioxins Furans and Furans

Soil 1 mg/kg 1 g/kg (equivalent Quebec U.S.A. 2,3,7,8-T4CDD) (EPA)

Drinking 100 ng/L 15 pg/L (equivalent Quebec Canada Water 2,3,7,8-T4CDD)

Air 450 ng/m3 450 pg/m3 Ontario Ontario (1/2 hr) (1/2 hr)

150 ng/m3 Ontario (24 hrs)

35 ng/m3 30 pg/m3 Ontario Ontario (1 year) (1 year) (dioxins) + furans 50

Swabs 2.5 mg/m2* 25 ng/mz New York New York (1242) (1,25 mg/m2* (1254 and 1260)

* AROCLOR 1242 (PCB with 42% chlorine) AROCLOR 1254 (PCB with 54% chlorine) AROCLOR 1260 (PCB with 60% chlorine)

45 TABLE Fil

Total Samples

Environmental Profile of St-Basile-le-Grand

Nature Number of Samples Number of Analyses Completed

Soil 119 152 PCBs 111 D-F**

Extemal Swabs 83 69 PCBs 17 D-F

Internal Swabs 70 55 PCBs 34 D-F

Air Filters 9 1 PCB 1 D-F

Water 37 33 PCBs 15 D-F

Air 48 43 PCBs 2 D-F

Grand Total 366 353 PCBs 180 D-F

* In many cases, the laboratories proceeded to analyze duplicates

** D: dioxins F: furans TABLE IV Summary of Clean-up Operations

Number Evacuated Zone Adjacent Zones Affected Zone- Total (MAPAQ)

Properties (including vegetable gardens 1,696 831 2,527 and orchards)

New Vehicles (automobile 193 193 dealers)

Buildings (Parc du Mont St-Bruno, MAPAQ, 38 38 Pensionnat Sacré-Coeur

Air Filters 195 39* 234*

Picnic Table (Parc Mont St-Bruno) 225 225 Recovery of fruits and vegetables from vegetable gardens and orchards 109* 109* (Number of requests in zone assigned to MAPAQ)

* Situation as of 1988109125

47 TABLE V

Presence of PCBs, Dioxins and Furans in Internal Swabs Expressed as a Percentage in Relation to Exposure Criteria

PCB PCDD - PCDF

St-Basile-le-Grand (North) 0.00% 0.001% St-Basile-le-Grand (South) 0.00% 0.00% Boucherville 0.00%

SITE

Ste-Julie (North) 0.00% 0.00% Ste-Julie (Haut-Bois) 0.01% 0.00% St-Basile (East) 0.00% 0.00% St-Bruno Trinité 0.01% 0.00% St-Bruno 0.03% 0.20% Carignan 0.00% Chambly 0.00% 0.00%

48 TABLE VI

Presence of PCBs, Dioxins and Furans In External Swabs Expressed as a Percentage In Relation to Exposure Criteria

PCBs PCDD-PCDF

SITE 0 887% 12,248%

St-Basile-le-Grand (North) 8.22% 51.13% St-Bruno Trinité 4.40% N.A. St-Bruno 0.14% 0.42% Boucherville 0.05% 0.84% Ste-Julie (North) 0.0143% 0.68% St-Basile-le-Grand (East) 0.0022% Ste-Julie (Haut-Bois) 0.00%

49 TABLE VII

Presence of PCBs, Dioxins and Furans In the Soil Expressed as a Percentage In Relation to Exposure Criteria

PCB PCDD-PCDF

SITE 80% 42.26%

St-Basile-le-Grand (North) 6.82% 0.41% St-Bruno (Trinité) 3.65% 0.00% St-Basile-le-Grand (East) 2.57% 0.18% Ste-Julie (Haut-Bois) 1.38% 0.03% St-Basile-le-Grand (South) 1.12% 0.10% St-Julie North 0.50% 0.12% St-Bruno 0.46% 0.56%

50 Figure 1 LIMITES DE LA ZONE ÉVACUÉE

) ( SAINT-BASILE - LE - GRAND

ÉCHELLE 0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

Source : Carte lopographique 311111-200-0101

• ■•••

LE-GRAND/ - • ( 11 • tn1^0t' i^^•--^^^_ j^ y `^4:fP'lj \ ou...rr..

S.n1 14M 4A1ewti 8.fthmlr

ffi^ ^SDu^

Gun

f(r•té-G^ nnta^ fè

,Ointi,e

V.2., ^` L^M^v^_1.1^.,^^•. ^ ^•,`^ \%y^^ ^x•.:;^^^^^^ ►et ^3}W.j04^1 iuEAP*p Flgure 2 ZONE ESTIIOI^-E DE DISPERSION DU PANACHE DE FUMËE A LONGUE DISTANCE ( SAIN T-E3ASILE-LE-GRAND )

0 ECHELLE 1: 500 000 km 10 10 20 30 km -.,.»...,. Source : Envlronn©ment Canada

n•.. n O.^na Environment Canada Conservation and Protection Quebec Region

1179, rue de Bleury Montréal (Québec) H3B 3H9

19 December 1988

Mr. André Tremblay Director Emergency Preparedness Canada Québec *Region 250, Grande Allée ouest Bureau 701 Québec (Québec) G1R 2H4

Dear Sir:

Subject: Corporate expenses of Environment Canada at St-Basile-le-Grand

Pursuant to your request, please find enclosed a list of the expenses of our department resulting from our intervention in the PCB fire of 23 August 1988.

Overtime $537,000 Operations $1,485,600 Capital $67,500

TOTAL $2,090,100

These expenses do not include the salaries and other normal operating expenses.

It is hoped that this data will prove useful to you.

Yours truly

(Sgd) Claude Rivet Co-ordinator Emergency Interventions Investigations and Interventions

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

COMMUNICATIONS CANADA

Goverrunent of Canada Department of Communications

Quebec Region

295, rue St-Paul est Montréal, Québec H2Y 1H1

October 4, 1988

Mr. André Tremblay Regional Director, Québec Pièce 701 250, ouest, Grande Allée Québec, Qc G1R 2H4

Dear Sir:

In reply to your letter dated 1 September 1988, please find at armex the report of Communications Canada's operations concerning the St-Basile-le-Grand emergency.

This report is submitted in the proposed form.

Should you require additional information, do not hesitate to communicate with Michel Milot, Emergency Planning Officer, at (514) 283-8476.

Yours truly,

(Sgd) Jean-Marc Pellerin Director-General

57 Role of Communications Canada in Emergency Telecommunications

In matters of emergency telecommunications, Communications Canada develops concepts, does research, plans and organizes implementation of measures and programs to cope with international, national and regional or municipal emergencies.

It provides assistance in the form of advice and opinions, etc. to federal departments and organizations, provincial and municipal governments and companies at their request and pertaining to their emergency telecommunications operations.

Role at St-Basile-le-Grand

Immediately after the fire had broken out on August 24, the officer responsible for emergency measures at Communications Canada was placed on alert by the regional director of Emergency Preparedness Canada.

On Wednesday, August 24, we received from Environment Canada the first requests to install telephone lines and rent cellular radios and facsimile machines at various places in St-Basile-le-Grand. Until August 25 the installations were arranged by the officer from his home or office in Montreal.

Communications, especially those in the emergency operations centre at the town hall, quickly became a problem considering the few resources available and the many responding parties. We went to the site to evaluate the situation, determine the needs and plan our operations. The possibility of establish- ing a micro-wave link between Montreal and St-Basile-le-Grand was considered, but this idea was quickly abandoned because it would have been impossible to install a repeater station on Mont St-Bruno because of access to the evacuated zone. To satisfy the needs, Bell Canada had to recover non-priority lines at St-Basile-le-Grand and reassign them to the responding parties. However, the lines included in the line-load control program maintained their priority.

On Sunday, August 27 at the request of the Quebec Police Force, many of the responding parties were moved. We co-ordinated the transfer of lines and equipment.

Throughout the emergency, i.e. until September 9, we answered requests from the 17 responding groups from federal and provincial departments, the three municipalities concerned, and industry. We co- ordinated the installation of 31 telephone lines, including three "In-watt" lines, the rental and operation of seven facsimile machines, the rental of 17 cellular telephones, the rental of a pager network and the repair of a VHF radiocommunications system.

Persons Involved and Their Role

Two regional officers trained in emergency procedures were involved at St-Basile-le-Grand.

Summary of Costs

We still do not know the exact costs of telecommunication operations by Communications Canada at St-Basile-le-Grand. However, we believe they will be in the order of $16,000. The billing will be done either directly or through Communications Canada to the intervening parties who used the services requested.

In the report shown at annex, Communications Canada will assume the costs of using our equipment as well as the regular and overtime pay of our employees who were needed to co-ordinate emergency telecommunications at St-Basile-le-Grand.

58 Lessons to Be Drawn from the Event and Recommendations

The inventory of telephone lines and telecommunications equipment made available to the departments and organizations responsible remained complex throughout the event. Given the emergency and the high number of responding parties it was often prudent to make loans of equipment between persons and organizations. This increased the risks of loss and hence decreased available resources. -

Facsimile machines, cellular radios and pagers proved to be vital tools during this emergency. An environmental emergency of this type involved the transmission of many maps and graphs. This explains the high demand for fax machines. As well, since there were too many people to use the same telecommunications system, maximum advantage was made of the cellular telephone and pager systems. The geographic location of St-Basile favours the use of these new technologies.

It was difficult to obtain the number of fax machines required in so short a time. We must now adjust our plans and find alternatives for the next emergency. A poll of the needs of the federal responding parties is now being conducted.

We also had difficulties with overloading cellular telephones, particularly when the media made massive use of them after press conferences. A cellular telephone company had to increase the number of lines available at St-Basile-le-Grand to meet the demand. Telephone companies will be approached and asked if they can to better adapt this new technology to emergency situations.

59 Summary of Expenses for St-Basile-le-Grand

Organization: Communications Canada Period: from August 23 to September 12 Date of Report: October 3

Employees: Number of hours: Regular: 120 hours Overtime: 55 hours $4,500. Travelling expenses

Total: $4,500.

Resources: Government equipment Period (day/hr) Equipment rented. Period General supplies "Cellular lines" $500.

Total: $500.

Consultants: Duration of contract Total:

Other Expenses: Summary description: Total

Total: $5,000.00

Prepared by: Michel Milot

60 SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION CANADA

Employment and Immigration Canada Executive Director Quebec Region C.P. 7500 Montréal, Québec H3C 3L4

October 12, 1988

Mr. André Tremblay Regional Director Emergency Preparedness Canada 701-250 ouest, Grande Allée Québec, Québec G1R 2H4

Dear Sir:

Subject: Joint Report on Federal Participation at St-Basile-le-Grand

This letter is written in reply to your letter dated September 19, 1988 pertaining to the subject at reference.

Enclosed at annex is a complete report of CEIC operations concerning the ecological incident at St-Basile-le-Grand, which occurred on August 23, 1988.

Yours truly,

(Sgd) Trefflé Lacombe

63 Government of Canada MEMORANDUM

To: W.J.H. Poole

Director, Emergency Planning

From: Regional Emergency Planning and Security Co-ordinator Québec Region. Subject: Fire at St-Basile-le-Grand Polychlorinated biphenyls PCB warehouse August 23, 1988 at 8:30 p.m.

This report deals with the above-mentioned ecological incident at St-Basile-le-Grand.

The warehouse contained about 3,800 barrels, i.e. the equivalent of about 90,000 litres àf PCBs and residues. The number of barrels of PCBs was not determined exactly, but a very small quantity bumed because the seat of the fire was kept to the barrels of residue. During the fire, parts of the towns of St-Basile-le-Grand, St-Bruno and Ste-Julie had to be evacuated. This evacuation of some 4,974 persons was necessary because of a corridor of smoke that had formed above the three municipalities. In this corridor, are found the industrial and commercial sectors of St-Basile-le-Grand. The evacuees were able to return home on the weekend of September 10,1988.

I monitored the operations at St-Basile-le-Grand, beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Aug-ust 23, 1988. On August 28, 1988, I was convened by Mr. André Tremblay, Regional Director of Emergency Preparedness Canada to a meeting of all the federal organizations, which was held on August 29, 1988 at CFB St-Hubert. During this meeting, Mr. Tremblay and Mr. Richard Grisé, the MP for Chambly, briefed us on the situation of this ecological incident and asked us to set up our emergency operations plans.

After this meeting, I met with Mr. Jacques Pichette, Director of the St-Hubert Operational Centre and Mr. Richard Anderson, Director of the Réseau Montérégie, to explain the situation to them and inform them that a meeting would be held on August 30, 1988 at 10:00 a.m. at the regional office in order to set up our emergency plan to help the victims who were workers and employers of these three municipalities. Enclosed at Annex A is a list of the participants of this meeting. During this meeting, many operation plans were discussed and it was decided by the one committee that Mr. Jacques Pichette, Director of the St-Hubert Operations Centre, would be responsible for all the operations. At 11:45 a.m. on August 30, 1988, the Executive Director, Mr. Trefflé Lacombe, declared a state of emergency and thereby authorized us to open an emergency CEC at St-Basile-le-Grand. Enclosed at Annex B is Mr. Pichette's complete report on the activities at St-Basile-le-Grand.

During this period, I co-ordinated operations between the regional directorates and the St-Hubert operational centre. As well, every other day I attended a meeting of all the federal govenunent agencies involved in the emergency operations. I visited the site of the disaster every day and even replaced the Regional Director of Emergency Preparedness Canada from September 2-6, 1988. Enclosed at Annex C is a duty journal of Emergency Planning Division operations during the fire at St-Basile-le-Grand, which was sent to you on a regular basis.

64 Between now and October 1988, all the participants of the meeting of August 30, 1988 will meet again for a debriefing on the activities of St-Basile-le-Grand.

The expenses for this emergency amounted to about $15,292.97, distributed as follows: (See Annexes D-1, D-2 and D-3)

Réseau Montérégie $1,447.44 Regional office $4,989.40 St-Hubert Operations Centre $8,856.13

Should more information be necessary, do not hesitate to call me.

Jean Riverin

65 Report on Activities Carried Out During the Emergency at St-Basile-le-Grand

Situation

On August 23, 1988, a fire broke out in a warehouse containing barrels of PCBs at St-Basile-le-Grand. During the night, a few thousand persons were evacuated in order to ensure their safety.

This disaster affected the municipalities of St-Basile-le-Grand, Ste-Julie and St-Bruno. Enclosed at Annex l is a photocopy of the zone that was evacuated.

In all, 4,974 persons had to leave their homes, including 2,350 at St-Basile-le-Grand, 2,154 at Ste-Julie and 470 at St-Bruno. About 60 employers had to close their doors temporarily and many others had to lay off employees because of the drop in business caused by the closing of Highway 116. Most of the companies were small employers in the commercial sector with the exception of Mont-Bruno Ford with 50 employees, Mont-Bruno quarry with 30 employees and Trinité seminary with 34 persons.

Events in Chronological Order

On August 26, 1988, we tried to reach the persons responsible in St-Basile-le-Grand to offer them our services, but it was only on August 29, 1988 that it was possible to leave a message so that someone in authority could call us back. On the same day, Richard Anderson, Director of Réseau Montérégie, informed me that J. Riverin, Regional Co-ordinator of emergency planning and security and G. Demers, operations officer of Réseau Montérégie were convened to a meeting of all the federal organizations that might be involved in such an ecological incident. After their meeting at CFB St-Hubert, Mr. Riverin and Mrs. Demers came to meet us in the St-Hubert employment centre and we discussed the action to take in order to provide a service adjusted to the needs of the employers involved in the disaster.

After discussing the matter with my management committee to establish local procedures, it was decided that Mr. Riverin would convene a meeting on August 30, 1988 with the various regional sections, a list of which will be found at Amiex II.

During this meeting, we made those responsible aware of the situation and made sure that we had their co-operation. Since the short-term priority was to pay unemployment insurance, discussions contin- ued with the data service management, the management of the benefits program and the person responsible for unemployment insurance at the St-Hubert CEC in order to establish the mechanisms of communication and review the benefits policy, subject 26, prepayment.

During the day of August 30, I met Mr. Richard Grisé, MP for Chambly, for the first time. He asked whether the waiting period was to be maintained in view of the situation. Our answer was positive.

66 Mr. Grisé told us that he would make representations to the Minister in this regard.

During the evening of August 30, a meeting was organized by the Chamber of Commerce for employers so that we could discuss their needs compared with the services that EIC could offer them. This meeting was cancelled by the organizers and we met only a few employers.

We spent the day of August 31 preparing to open the satellite office at St-Basile-le-Grand, estab- lishing procedures, setting up a communications system, obtaining equipment and reserving facilities.

There were several contacts and meetings during this day.

• Media: telephone interview with Mr. Girard, a journalist from Télé-Métropole (Information).

• Municipality: Johanne Gauvin from the town of Ste-Julie who requested our presence at Ste-Julie.

• Minister: Mrs. Mounier, Secretary to the Minister Monique Vézina, wanted information about the meeting with employers of August 30, 1988.

• Employers: Meeting with Mr. Langlois, the owner of Mont-Bruno Ford. Information about the processing of requests for benefits for his employees.

On September 1, we opened a service centre in l'école de la Chanterelle (a school).

A press release had been prepared jointly with the Public Affairs Directorate to inform workers who had been temporarily out of work since the catastrophe that they could go to l'école de la Chanterelle to submit their claims for benefits. (See Annex III). As early as 8:30 a.m., we were on the site with three insurance officers: Micheline Benoit, CSO of St-Hubert, Jacqueline Bachand, CSO of Longueuil and Anne-Michèle Dostie Agent I of Longueuil. After an hour of activity, we had to call in three other officers to handle the high volume of work (J. Lavallée and P. Bruneau, Officer I of St-Hubert and J. Perrault, human resources counsellor). To meet the demand, we remained on the job until 8:00 p.m. and decided to extend our stay until Friday, September 2 at 4:30 p.m. with a possibility of extensions until September 10.

During this day, we processed more than 146 requests for benefits and answered a few hundred requests for information.

In order to process the requests for benefits as soon as possible, we sent them to the St-Hubert office twice a day at noon and at the end of the day.

Contact with the media: There was a televised interview with Audette C6té, a journalist with Videotron and another with CEIC magazine.

On September 2, our satellite office opened at 9:00 a.m. with three officers present.

During that day, we recorded about 33 additional requests for unemployment insurance benefits and answered about 30 requests for information. For each request for unemployment insurance benefits, we had to have completed the EMP 3166, Record of Missing Employment, in several cases, form EMP 3073,

67 Additional Information Pertaining to Claim and, as well, the officer had to complete the TC-55 recipient statement cards so that we could proceed with the prepayments.

While we were still taking requests for benefits at St-Basile-le-Grand, everything was set up in the St-Hubert office to study the applications and rule on each case as soon as possible. The seven Agents available were assigned full time for two and a hall' days examining the applications. We also had Mr. Bienvenue, Senior Advisor, Technical Insurance Services, of the office of the Réseau de la Montérégie to help the officers make their decisions in the most disputed cases.

Meeting on September 2, 1988:

At 9:00 a.m., I met with Mr. R. Grisé, MP for Chambly, Mr. A. Tremblay, responsible for national security and Jean Riverin, Regional Security Co-ordinator. We discussed the progress to date and the possibility of sending cheques through the mail by September 12. Mr. Grisé asked us to have the cheques distributed by Tuesday, September 6.

At 9:45 a.m., a meeting was held with Denis Boisvert and the Montérégie management team. As a result of the discussions, it was decided to distribute the cheques in person on Thursday, September 8, to avoid having to ask our employees to work on the weekend and, at the same time, maintain good relations with them. During this meeting, it was also decided to maintain our services at St-Basile-le-Grand for another week and to open a branch at Ste-Julie in to serve the 2,000 persons affected in this region.

At 10:30 a.m. we participated in the meeting of the round-table discussions for federal agencies presided over by Mr. Grisé.

We presented our plan of action and our achievements. During these meetings, Mr. Riverin, Regional Co-ordinator, and Ginette Demers, a representative of Réseau de la Montérégie were present.

At 12:00 p.m. we had dinner with Mr. Grisé in order to prepare a meeting organized by the Cham- ber of Commerce of St-Basile-le-Grand for employers affected by the disaster.

At 8:00 p.m. we met from 75 to 200 employers in the sector. Mr. Luc Lambert, President of the local Chamber of Commerce, gave his reasons for holding this meeting and introduced the various intervening parties. Mr. Gagnon, the Mayor of St-Basile-le-Grand gave a history of this situation; Mr. Grisé spoke of the presence of various federal agencies and their participation. Mr. Latulippe, MNA, gave the province's position and finally, I summarized what EIC had done for workers who had lost their jobs and offered the possibility of helping employers through our job creation programs to restore business activity in the region after the disaster.

The following were in attendance for EIC: J. Pichette, Director St-Hubert; Darky Gagné, an officer at DDE; and Jean Riverin, Regional Security Co-ordinator.

From September 6 to 9:

The St-Basile-le-Grand branch moved into new premises in the centre de Bénévolat (Volunteers' Centre) on Robert St. and another centre was set up at Ste-Julie in l'école le Rucher (school). An officer was available in each of the centres, i.e. Mr. Benoit at St-Basile-le-Grand and J. Bachand at Ste-Julie.

68 During this week, 17 requests of benefits were received at St-Basile-le-Grand and six at Ste-Julie. In addition, 132 requests for information of all kinds were received and answered by the officers on the site.

On Thursday, September 8, 1988, we delivered in person 23 cheques and the following day, another 33 for a total of 56. Five cheques had to be cancelled and 32 others were mailed on September 12, 1988.

I cannot fail to mention the speed with which our staff did their work. Despite the complexity of our computer systems and the various stages in preparing cheques, we delivered our first cheque five working days after the group at St-Basile-le-Grand received the claim.

Contacts with various intervening parties:

To provide the greatest possible amount of information concerning our services, there were several telephone conversations or meetings with the parties concerned from the environment during the week:

Examples: Laval Côté, Director, Protection civile du Québec Mr. Boisclair, a representative of the citizen's committee Jean-Paul Pelletier, Communications Québec Alain Pilon of the Liberal Caucus in Ottawa Meeting with the federal agencies advisory committee Mr. Richard Grisé, MP for Chambly Pierre Duchêne, an accountant with Mont-Bruno Ford.

Relations with the media:

On September 7, 1988, an interview with Chantal Provost of the Courrier Du Sud (see article at Armex VI).

On September 9, 1988, a televised interview with Audette Côté of Vidéotron (a copy of the cassette of the televised interviews is at Armex).

Several news releases found at Annex III were prepared in conjunction with the Direction des affaires publiques to inform the public.

September 9, 1988:

As discussed during the meeting with the employers on September 2, 1988, a meeting was held with representatives of the employers committee of St-Basile-le-Grand to discuss the assistance that we could offer them to help restore economic activity in the region.

Accompanied by Mr. Darky Gagné, an officer in the Benefit Program Directorate and J. Perreault, a manpower counsellor at St-Hubert, I met with Mr. Migneault, manager of the Caisse Populaire in St-Basile-le-Grand and President of the employers committee. Two ideas for a project were selected pursuant to this meeting:

1. a $20,500-project on art. 38 to prepare advertising posters

2. a $55,060-marketing project for the region to prepare a slogan and a media commercial, etc. This

69 project could be part of the general projects program for developing new jobs.

Highlights:

In sum, the Canada Employment and Immigration Centre operated for six days at St-Basile-le-Grand and four days at Ste-Julie.

Thirty persons were involved in the project, including 12 officers who had direct contacts with members of the communities affected by the disaster.

With the exception of the Canada Employment Centre at St-Hubert, the regional directorates who were most involved were: the Benefit Program Directorate, the Data Services Directorate, the Public Affairs Directorate, the Job Development Directorate and the Administrative Services Directorate. We received and studied 215 applications for benefits and 194 requests for information of all kinds from both employers and workers.

Of course, the 215 requests for unemployment insurance were settled based on statements from the parties concemed and each of these requests will have to be reviewed when we receive the TP4 slips from employers. This situation actually involved settling 430 requests for unemployment insurance benefits.

We prepared 93 cheques after studying the 215 requests for benefits and delivered 215 requests for benefits and 56 of them were delivered in person. Five were cancelled and 32 were mailed on September 12, 1988.

The participation of CEC St-Hubert in this project has cost 2.49 person-months in human resources, 52.75 hours' overtime and $444.35 in travelling time. We plan to spend another .50 person-months to review the requests for benefits in the coming weeks when we have the TP4s of all the persons who submitted requests. In addition, we spent $56 on supplies of all kinds and incurred other expenses for telephone equipment that should be added shortly.

• Two job creation projects with a total value of $75,560 were developed to assist economic recovery in the St-Basile-le-Grand area.

70 Summary of Expenses for St-Basile-le-Grand

Regional Office, Réseau Montérégie and CEC St-Hubert

Organization: CEIC Period: August 29 — September 9, 1988 .‘ Date of Report: 03-10-88

Employees: 36 Regular Hours: 639.75 Overtime: 93.75 Person-months 2.99 Expenses: $14,167.62 Travelling Expenses $769.35

Total $14,936.97

Resources: Government equipment Period (Day/Hour): 12 days. Cost: $100.00 Equipment rentals (telephone equipment) Period: September 6-9, 1988 Cost: $200.00 General supplies $50.00

Total: $350.00

Consultants: Duration of contract: Cost:

Other Expenses: Photocopies Cost: $6.00 Program of financial assistance to employers $75,560.00

Total $75,566.00

Total Expenses for the Agency $90,852.97

Prepared by: Jean Riverin

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

NATIONAL DEFENCE

Mobile Command 3301-9 DT 8095 (Op rég)

Regional Operations Eastern Region St-Hubert, Québec J3Y 5T5

September 28, 1988

Mr. André Tremblay Regional Director Emergency Preparedness Canada 250 ouest, rue Grande-Allée Suite 701 (7ième étage) Québec, Québec G1R 2H4

Dear Mr. Tremblay:

Military Support/St-Basile-le-Grand

Pursuant to our last meeting of September 14, please find enclosed the report of military assistance provided during the St-Basile-le-Grand incident.

Yours truly,

(Sgd) for: J.A.L. Lehoux Lt Col Commander

75 Post-Exercise Report PCB Incident — St-Basile-Le-Grand Department of National Defence Involvement

General

The Canadian Forces were particularly involved in providing services to Protection civile du Québec in the St-Basile-le-Grand incident, through the Regional Director, Emergency Preparedness Canada.

Logistic Support

Annexes A to E of this document contain a detailed list of the goods and services provided by the Canadian Forces, together with the associated costs. A total of $23,685.07 worth of services was provided (see Annex F). This amount does not include the pay of those who responded. During the first 48 hours, many requests from a variety of sources were directed to various points within Mobile Command and CFB Montreal. This situation not only caused undue delay in carrying out the tasks, it also created many hours' additional work for both parties, e.g. three separate requests for about 20 gas masks resulting in 60 masks being packed when only 20 were required. In addition, towels, beds and blankets were requested by several unauthorized persons. This situation was corrected after a meeting with the Regional Director, EPC and the SSO Reg Ops. As a result of this meeting, compliance with the agreed-upon procedures for coping with crisis situations was restored.

Public Relations

The FMC Pulbic Relations Officer (DNDOI) participated in the various discussions. This enabled him to keep abreast of all the developments, and his role was limited to informing the media of the various services provided by DND to EPC. The other aspects of public relations — press releases — were discussed before- hand with the Regional Director, EPC.

Command and Control

Certain comments were made orally during our final discussion. In addition, it is of paramount importance that previously agreed-upon channels of communication be respected, i.e. at the federal level, through the Regional Director, EPC, and at the provincial level, through the QPF officer responsible for emergency measures.

Lessons Learned

The following lessons were learned from this operation:

a. Requests for service must be made in accordance with established procedures.

b. The public relations staff must be able to provide the public with the information required from the moment that such operations begin.

c. It is also extremely important to establish a command post that will handle all aspects of co- ordination in order to define clearly the various responsibilities/cells, (i.e. a command and control cell, a public relations cell, a cell to deal with evacuee sites, a cell to handle requests for support (logistics), an administrative cell, etc.

76 Annexes

Annex A: Transport of samples by helicopter Annex B: Medical Annex C: Logistics Annex D: Transport of samples by road Annex E: Fire department Annex F: Summary of expenditures

77 ANNEX A To 3301-9 DT 8095

Provision of Services - Helicopter Transport of Samples and VIPs

Date Pers. Equip. Duration Cost/Hour/Day Total

25/8 3 1 X CH135(Hel) 2.4 hrs $1,687 $ 4048 25/8 2 1 X CH136(Hel) 3.3 hrs $845 $2,788 31/8 1 1 X CH236(Hel) 6.9 his $845 $5,830

Total $12,666

ANNEX B To 3301-9 DT 8095 Dated 28 Sep 88

Provision of Services — Medical

Date Pers. Equip./Pers. Duration Cost/Hour/Day Total

23-8/14-9 1 Technician 7 days 23-8/14-9 1 Major 3 days 23-8/14-9 Medical tests, billed to DND by H&WC $1,440.00

Total $1,440.00

ANNEX C-1 To 3301-9 DT 8095 28 Sep 88

Provision of Services — Logistics

Date Pers. Equip./Pers, Duration Cost/Hour/Day Total

2/9 Quarters and rations for 55 families were requested at St-Jean d'Iberville — Request cancelled on Sep 2 at 9:30 a.m.

28-8/10-9 2 x tent sections 28-8/10-9 2 x tables, 6 ft. 28-8/10-9 12 x folding chairs 28-8/10-9 2 x Alladin heaters 24-8/10-9 300 x blankets 24-8/10-9 150 x folding beds (Ste-Julie) (12 beds signed out by Mr. Michel Bourgon Ste-Julie aremissing 12 x $62.46) $749.52 26-8/12-9 100 x hand towels 26-8/12-9 96 x bath towels 26-8/12-9 52 x folding beds (St-Basile) 26-8/12-9 105 x blankets 24-8/10-9 50 x folding beds (St-Bruno) cleaning of blankets/towels $248.00

80 ANNEX C-2 To 3301-9 DT 8095 Dated 28 Sep 88

Personnel

24 August 1 x sgt 7 hours 24 August 1 x MCp1 7 hours 24 August 2 x cpl 5 hours 26 August 1 x sgt 3 hours 31 August 1 x sgt 4.5 hours 31 August 1 x cpl 4.5 hours 31 August 2 x pte 4.5 hours lO Sep 2 x sgt 6 hours 2 x cpl 6 hours

7 x dinners (overtime) - $115.15

Total: $1,112.67

81 ANNEX D To 3301-9 DT 8095 Dated 28 Sep 88

Provision of Services — Transport of Samples by Road

Date Pers.Equip./Pers. Duration Cost/Hour/Day Total

24-25 1 x pte 3 hrs, 30 min 26-27 6 x cpl 38 hrs 31 Aug and 10 Sep 1 x civilian employee MD04 2 days 2 x breakfasts x $6.40 $12.80 2 x lunches x $8.50 $17.00 4 x diimers x $16.45 $70.00

10 Sep — rental of 5T truck 4 x staff vehicles completed 1,097 km 3 x 3T completed 247 km

Total: $165.60

82 ANNEX E To 3301-9 DT 8095 Dated 28 Sep 88

Provision of Service — Fire Department

Date Pers. Duration Cost/Hour/Day Total

24 Aug 88 1 x FR6 5.833 hrs 1.5 8.75 hrs 1 x A/FR2 5.833 hrs (N) 5.833 hrs

26 Aug 88 1 x FR6 6.5 hrs 1.5 9.75 hrs 1 x A/PR2 6.5 hrs (N) 9.5 hrs

11 Sep 88 1 x CS 4 hrs (N) 4 hrs 1 x FR1 10.5 hrs 2 21 hrs 1 x A/1-.R2 10.5 hrs (N) 10.5 hrs 12 Sep 88 1 x FR6 2 hrs 1.5 2.75 hrs 1 x FR1 11 hrs 2 22 hrs 1 x FR1 9.5 hrs (N) 9.5 hrs 1 x FR1 15 hrs 1.5 22.5 hrs 1 x FR1 15 hrs 1.5 22.5 lus

13 Sep 88 1 x A/FR2 11 hrs 1.5 16.5 hrs 1 x FR 11 his (N) 11.5 hrs 1 x FR 15 hrs 2 30 hrs 1 x FR 15 hrs 2 30 hrs

14 Sep 88 1 x FR1 11 hrs 2 22 hrs 1 x FR1 11 hrs 2 22 hrs

Legend: N: Normal time 1.5: Time and a half 2: Double time APPENDIX 1 ANNEX E

To 3301-9 DT 8095

Personnel Equipment

Items Qty Description Unit Price Cost

8440-21-846=0979 4 Suspenders, trousers 5.00$ 20.00$ 8430-21-880-9920 4 Boots, safety 35.95$ 143.80$ 8415-99-130-4874 4 Hood, antiflash 10.00$ 40.00$ 8415-21-862-7825 4 Helmet 54.50$ 218.00$ 8415-21-878-1619 4 Liner, coat 34.83$ 139.32$ 8415-21-878-1635 4 Liner, trousers 34.37$ 137.48$ 8415-21-877-1501 1 Coverall 47.00$ 47.00$ 8415-21-104-2125 4 Mittens, leather 1.07$ 4.28$ 8415-21-104-2111 4 Mittens, cloth .65$ 2.60$ 8415-21-878-1603 4 Coat 133.34$ 533.36$ 8415-21-878-1643 4 Trousers 51.85$ 207.40$ 4240-21-860-1715 4 Mask, CB, C3 111.56$ 446.24$ 4240-00-616-2857 2 Mask, chemex 1,477.75$ 2,955.50$ 8415-21-103-8425 4 Gloves, men's work 8.58$ 34.32$ 4240-21-933-7578 2 Canister for chemex 60.00$ 120.00$ 4210-21-900-4823 45 Foam 3% 69.52$ 3,128.40$

TOTAL 2,135.97$ 8,128.70$

Note: All articles mentioned above was requested by Mr. Arseneau a replacement for contaminated equipment.

Responsable: FR6 Arseneau L. Tel: 7800 (Bur)

84 ANNEX F To 3301-9 DT 8095 Dated 28 Sep 88

.s. Summary of Expenses Agency: DND from 24 August to 14 Sep 88

Employees: 40 employees for 467 hours of work cost 15 meals after normal hours $210.75

Resources Government: 3 x helicopters at 12.6 hrs $12,666.00 Rented: 1 x 5T truck $70.00 General supplies 12 folding beds missing at $62.40 $749.52

Additional expenses: medical tests by Health and Welfare Canada $1,440.00 Cleaning of blankets and towels $248.00 Replacement of contaminated fire-fighting equipment $8,177.70 Replacement of contaminated personal equipment $123.10

TOTAL $23,685.07

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

HEALTH AND WELFARE CANADA

Health and Welfare Canada

Medical Services, Quebec Region Complexe Guy Favreau, 200 ouest, René Lévesque Tour Est, Suite 202, Montréal, Québec H2Z 1X4

October 12, 1988

Mr. A.G. Tremblay Regional Director, Québec Emergency Preparedness Canada Pièce 701 250 ouest, rue Grande-Allée Québec, Québec G1R 2H4

Dear Sir:

Subject: Incident — St-Basile-le-Grand

Enclosed is the report of Health and Welfare Canada's contribution with reference to the ecological incident which occurred at St-Basile-le-Grand on August 23, 1988.

I hope this is completely satisfactory. If you need additional information, do not hesitate to communicate with me.

Yours truly, (Sgd) Claude Paradis Regional Director Medical Services RD/cp End. c.c.: Mr. C.E. Tupper, Director General Public Servants Health Directorate

Mr. N. Turcotte, Regional Manager, Public Servants Health Directorate

89 Organization and Responding Parties

The Public Servants Health Directorate, Medical Services Directorate of Health and Welfare Canada, had limited involvement in the events associated with the ecological incident at St-Basile-le-Grand during August 1988.

Through its mandate to protect the health of public servants, the Public Servants Health Directorate was involved as follows:

Active participation of Regional Manager of Public Servants Health Directorate (Norman Turcotte) and of his two delegates (Rolland Duguay and Laurier Mathieu) and the Regional Director of Medical Services (Claude Paradis) and of his delegate (Dr. Liliane Bureau) at the federal round-table discussion from August 29 to September 14, 1988.

Request for identification in client departments of federal public servants who worked in the affected sector during the evacuation period (regional manager).

Establishment by the Regional Chief Medical Officer (Dr. Rolland Meloche) of a protocol for the medical follow-up of federal public servants after their possible exposure to PCBs, furans or dioxins.

Active participation of the regional consultant, Employee Assistance Program (Malcolm Johnson) in the debriefing of police personnel, firefighters and their families as part of a special program.

Response

Beginning on August 23, 1988, the date of the incident at the PCB warehouse, and until the evacuees were able to retum to their homes, three weeks later, several public servants had to go to the fire site or inside the evacuation zone. To our knowledge, the departments directly involved were National Defence, Environment Canada, Agriculture Canada, Communications Canada and Immigration Canada.

Health of Public Servants

Medical evaluations

Since ail the employees of the departments involved were directed to DSC Charles-Lemoyne (Community Health Department) Longueuil, as were the other workers and evacuated residents, our immediate intervention to conduct a medical evaluation was not deemed necessary.

At DSC Charles-Lemoyne, under the direction of Dr. Stéphane Groulx, all the employees were examined and certain biological analyses (PCB, enzyme) were made. To date, we have established a protocol for the medical follow-up of these federal employees that will depend on the results of the analyses obtained from the DSC and, especially, the results of the individual medical records that we will receive in December 1988.

First, we asked each of the departments to identify employees who should be followed up. This process is still in progress.

90 Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Malcolm Johnson, Regional Consultant, Employee Assistance Program, participated in the conduct of sessions entitled "Critical Stress Debriefing," destined for firefighters, police personnel and employees of St-Basile-le-Grand and their spouses from September 12 to 16,1988.

Mr. Johnson was asked to lend his assistance during a socio-sanitary intervention program set up by CLSC Des Seigneuries, Ste-Julie.

Nearly 50 persons benefitted from these debriefing sessions, which proved to be successful.

Cost Summary (See Annex)

The expenses related to medical assistance are approximate since it is currently impossible to predict the number of examinations required, if such examinations are needed.

Conclusion

The federal round-table discussions, which were set up immediately after the disaster, enabled us to evaluate the scope of the disaster. In addition, it informed us of the responsibilities and involvement of the federal departments and therefore enabled us to determine our own action.

The link established with DSC Charles-Lemoyne enabled us to complete our protocol for medical follow-up in relation to their evaluations, analyses and results.

Recommendations

It would be beneficial to be able to establish close links with other orders of government to obtain access to useful and necessary information in case of such disasters, e.g. representatives of the provincial government could attend federal meetings.

We would greatly benefit from having a regional co-ordinator in our department (H&WC). The incumbent of this position could co-ordinate all emergency activities in the various branches of the Depart- ment since he/she would be on the site and ready to act if necessary. Therefore, it is imperative that the responsibilities of our region in incidents of this nature be clarified and that communication between the persons responsible for this program in Ottawa and those of our region be improved.

Rolland Duguay Acting Regional Manager Public Servants Health Directorate

91 Summary of Expenditures for St-Basile-le-Grand

Agency: H&WC - PSHD Period: From 29.09.88 to 11.10.88 Date of Report: October 11, 1988

Employees: Number of hours Reg: 75 Overtime: 25 $2,865.00 Travelling expenses $ 250.00 Total $3,115.00

Resources: Government equipment Period (day/hr) $175.00 Equipment rented: Period General supplies: $50.00 Total: $225.00

Consultants: Length of contract n/a Total n/a

Other Expenses: Summary description: Analysis - anticipated medical evaluation $2,000.00 Total $2,000.00

Total for the Agency $5,340.00

Prepared by: Rolland Duguay

Acting Regional Manager Public Servants Health Directorate

92 Health and Welfare Canada Income Security Programs

Family Allowances Canada Pension Plans Old Age Security

Quebec City, Quebec October 6, 1988

Mr. André Tremblay Director, Quebec Region Emergency Preparedness Canada 701 - 250 Ouest, Grande Allée Québec, Québec G1R 2H4

Dear Sir: •

As per your request, please find enclosed details of the expenses for the three meetings that I attended at CFB St-Hubert.

Resource Equipment Consultant Travelling

0 0 0 $872.38

Although Health and Welfare Canada, Income Security Programs, was not involved in the emergency measures, all the representations had been made to ensure prompt delivery of Family Allowance cheques and Old Age Security cheques in the evacuated sectors.

Do not hesitate to contact me at 648-3258 if you require further information.

Yours truly,

(Sgd) Richard Chiasson Chief, Administrative Services cc. Gérard Turbide

93 Health and Welfare Canada Health Protection Branch 1001 St-Laurent W. Longueuil, Québec J4K 1C7

September 27, 1988

Mr. A.G. Tremblay Regional Director Emergency Preparedness Canada 250 ouest Grande-Allée Suite 701 Québec City, Québec GIR 2H4

Dear Sir:

Subject: Summary of Expenses of our Director Concerning the St-Basile-le-Grand Incident

The Health Protection Branch of Health and Welfare Canada did not play a prominent role in this matter.

The following work has been carried out in order to answer certain questions and be ready if our help had been requested: a) Develop and prepare a list of producers and processing plants in the area involved. b) Establish communications with the various organizations in order to ensure that the investigation has begun and that there is no duplication. c) Conduct a complete survey of all the milk producers in the Region and the neighboring region and take about 20 milk samples for analysis of PCBs, furans and dioxins by our Ottawa laboratories. d) Recovery of information distributed to the public for the needs of the Deputy Minister. e) Participation at five meetings with Emergency Preparedness Canada.

Enclosed at annex are the details of the expenses that this ecological problem caused for our directorate.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

(Sgd) V. Bolduc Director Quebec Region

Encl. c.c.: J.R. Elliot J.F. Riou J.P. Hanchay

94 Summary of Expenses for St-Basile-le-Grand Health Protection, from August 24—September 23, 1988

Employees: Number: 11 Regular hours: 69 Overtime: 38 $2,710 Travelling expenses. $ 97

Total: $2,807

Resources: Government equip. Period (day/hr) 1,160 km $348 (vehicles) Rented equipment. Period Cost: General supplies $50

Total $390

Consultants: Length of contract Cost:

Total:

Other expenses: Summary description Cost:

Total:

Total expenses for the agency $3,197

Prepared by V. Bolduc on 23 September 1988

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

AGRICULTURE CANADA

Agriculture Canada Food Production and Inspection Branch

Agriculture Inspection Directorate Complexe Guy-Favreau 200 René Lévesque Blvd. W. Montréal, Québec H2Z 1Y3 (514) 285-8888 (306)

September 28, 1988

Mr. André Tremblay Regional Director Emergency Preparedness Canada 250 Grande Allée W., suite 701 Québec City, Québec H1R 2H4

Dear Sir:

Subject: Fire in a PCB Warehou.se at St-Basile-le-Grand — Summary of Participation

Pursuant to your request, please find at annex the three summaries of participation prepared by the various directorates involved in this matter for Agriculture Canada.

Agricultural Inspection Directorate • Fruits and vegetables/milk products

Veterinary Inspection Directorate • Animal Health • Meat Hygiene

If fiirther information is required, do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.

I trust this is completely satisfactory.

Yours truly,

(Sgd) François Planté Agronomist Regional Director Quebec Region

C.C. Dr. G. Meilleur, VID-Mtl Dr. S.C. Thompson, AID/VID-Ottawa T. Feltmate, Agri-food Safety Division-Ottawa Dr. R. Bonin, VID-Ottawa Three program managers, AID District manager, St-Hyacinthe, AID Manager, Program Services, AID S. Thiboutot, ADB-Quebec City

99 The Agriculture Inspection Directorate was responsible for inspecting establishments registered by Agricul- ture Canada as well as products that could be sold to other provinces or countries.

This work was carried out under the direction of the Agri-food Safety Division both in planning the sampling program and interpreting the results. The analyses were made by the laboratory in Ottawa.

Milk Products:

In all the milk establishments registered by Agriculture Canada, the products must be quarantined and analyzed for PCBs when the milk used comes from the affected zone, defined by the MAPAQ.

Environnement Québec confirmed to us on September 9, 1988 that the water, air and soil quality were good.

The Mont-Bruno dairy was the only establishment placed under this program. Samples were taken each day from the production of August 23, until September 6. The first samples of the quarantined milk were taken on September 2. The last ones were taken on September 9. In all, 31 samples were taken.

Another milk-producing establishment and a wholesaler asked us to inspect their products.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables:

Fresh fruit and vegetables produced for sale to other provinces or countries were sampled every day. The products could not be released until MAPAQ gave its permission.

Every day from August 25, 114 samples were taken from Les Vergers de la Patrie Trinitaire, parc provincial de St-Bruno, Paul Fontaine, Boucher et Frères, Mr. Savaria and G. Van Mill every day starting on August 25.

The first confirmation that the products were fit for consumption was received on September 2 and the last on September 13.

MAPAQ did not release the products in the affected zone. The land owned by Mr. Van Mill had not been considered to be inside the zone as of September 1. He was able to dispose of his produce.

Processed Fruits and Vegetables:

Establishments registered by Agriculture Canada were monitored by Agriculture Canada when the supplies may have come from the affected zone. MAPAQ must give its approval before the product is processed.

Samples were taken at Nabisco (beans), Ferland (corn) and Gérard & Beaudin (mushrooms). The initial results permitting sale to consumers were obtained on September 2. The last were obtained on September 13. In all, 85 samples were taken.

Eggs:

Egg products from the affected zone, as defined by MAPAQ, must be analyzed for the presence of PCBs.

The egg station, Provisions Robert Graveline, was the only establishment under the program.

In all, 19 samples were taken from merchandise in the warehouse. The embargo was lifted on September 9; MAPAQ still maintained its embargo on products from within the zone.

100 Personnel:

Eight employees of the Division were involved in taldng samples in the affected zone. They all wore disposable clothing as early as their second visit. In addition, they underwent a medical examination and their records were transmitted to Health and Welfare Canada. Another person was subsequently involved in grading eggs outside the zone.

Summary of expenses:

See annex

September 13, 1988 — Document (FLPL.2) 17

101 Agriculture Canada Food Production and Inspection Branch

Summary of Expenses for St-Basile-le-Grand

Agriculture Canada Agricultural Inspection Directorate St-Hyacinthe District

Period: from 26-08-88 to 13-09-88

Date of report: 13-09-88

Employees: number: 9 hours regular time. 200.5 overtime 283.75 $7350.92 travelling expenses: meals 558.05 transport 1677.00 $2235.05

Total: $9585.97

Resources: govermnent equipment Period (d/h) cost nil equipment rented Period cost nil general supplies (preparation and sending samples, protective clothing) 1502.46 Total: $1502.46

Consultants: duration of contract: Total:

Additional expenses: summary description cost nil

Total: nil

Total Expenses for the Agency $11,088.43

Prepared by: Alain Boulé

Note: Expenses of analyses at Ottawa.

102 Food Production and Inspection Branch

Veterinary Inspection, Quebec region

September 19, 1988

Dr. Guy Meilleur Regional Veterinary Director Montréal

Subject: Fire in the PCB warehouse at St-Basile-le-Grand

Summary of the participation of Regional Veterinary Inspection Directorate (Animal Health) of Agriculture Canada. August 23 - September 16, 1988.

The Regional Veterinary Director prepared reports on the situation to the General Manager of VID at Ottawa starting on August 24

The Regional Veterinary Director or his representative participated with Mr. Planté, the person responsible for regional affairs, in all interdepartmental meetings organized at St- Hubert by Mr. André Tremblay of Emergency Preparedness Canada.

We officially offered our co-operation in personnel and material to MAPAQ as early as August 25, 1988. Contacts were made with one directorate after another as well as with local, provincial and federal authorities.

We repeated our offer of co-operation several times since August 25. We contributed in the following ways:

1. Personnel and Material

A full-time veterinarian with Agriculture Canada and an inspector of primary products were loaned to MAPAQ to participate in the investigation and blood sampling of 15 herds of cattle in the disaster region.

2. Identification in the Montreal Livestock Market of Animals from the Exposed Zone

Quebec livestock auctions were monitored by MAPAQ inspectors. However, the auctions in Montreal were not monitored.

On days when animals were sold in the livestock markets, i.e. on August 29-31 as well as Septem- ber 5-7, an on-site veterinarian organized a monitoring and identification operation for animals from the exposed zone. Nine head of cattle were identified.

3. Identification material

On September 12, our office in St-Hyacinthe provided identification material. Two herds of cattle were identified.

103 4. Expenses

Employees

Two employees; Regular time: 7 hours; Overtime: 7.5 hrs. $326.05 Travelling expenses 21.45

Resources: Government team, period (d/hr): 1/2 day 31.20

Total $378.71

(Sgd): Pierre Brisson Regional Veterinarian Animal Health

104 Agriculture Canada Food Production and Inspection Branch

Veterinary Inspection Directorate Quebec Region

Complexe Guy-Favreau Suite 1002 (v) — Tour est 200 ouest, boul. René Lévesque Montréal, Québec H2Z 1Y3

September 15, 1988

Subject: Fire at a warehouse in St-Basile-le-Grand — Involvement of the Meat Hygiene Division in this matter

Dr. A. Simard, Director, Direction de l'inspection des produits carnés, MAPAQ, informed Dr. Gaston Roy that an inspector from MAPAQ would be assigned to each of the 20 livestock auctions in Quebec in order to place animals from the zone at risk in quarantine as determined by MAPAQ.

On August 30, 1988, a request was made to Dr. Yvan Rouleau, Assistant Deputy Minister, MAPAQ. We consider it very important that the agricultural zone at risk be very clearly delineated so that we can know where to take our samples and certify the export of animals and meat products.

On the morning of September 1, 1988, nine head of cattle were identified in the Montreal Livestock Market as coming from producers from the agricultural zone designated by MAPAQ. These animals were directed to six different federal slaughter houses. The Chief Veterinarians of these slaughter houses were notified to permit the slaughter and to take samples of the fat and skin in order to search for PCBs and to keep the carcasses, offal and hides in quarantine.

After revising the limits of the designated agricultural zone, MAPAQ informed us that the parish of Varennes was excluded from this zone. Since the cattle that we had placed in quarantine all came from Varennes, we released the carcasses in quarantine. However, the samples were still sent to the laboratory.

On the afternoon of September 1, 1988, Dr. A. Simard informed Dr. Gaston Roy of the delimitation of the agricultural zone concerned. He also sent us a complete list of the agricultural producers located in this zone.

A directive was issued to the chief veterinarian of the slaughter houses for beef cattle, heifers, sheep and horses and a list of producers involved in these products was sent to them.

The animals coming from the towns of St-Basile-le-Grand, Ste-Julie, St-Bruno and Boucherville which were found either at the auction or at the slaughter house were seized and kept in these locations but were not slaughtered.

Blood samples were taken and a future decision will be taken once the results are known.

On September 13, 1988, Dr. André Simard of MAPAQ informed us that the embargo on the sale of animals for slaughter had been lifted. The chief veterinarians of the slaughter houses under federal inspection were informed of this decision.

105 No animals coming from the zone concerned were brought in for slaughter to the slaughter houses under inspection during the period when the embargo was in effect.

Our involvement in this matter resulted in direct expenses of $166.80, caused by sending directives to our personnel by special delivery and regular mail. These direct costs do not take into account the time spent in meetings by management and sending mail by the support personnel.

(Sgd): Dr. Gaston Roy Regional Veterinarian (Eastern Region) Meat Hygiene Division

106 Agriculture Canada

Agriculture Development Branch Agricultural Development (Quebec) ., Samuel Holland Park, Suite 164 Québec, Québec GIS 4S2

October 5, 1988

MEMO TO: Mr. André Tremblay Director — Emergency Preparedness Canada

Subject: Federal participation at St-Basile-le-Grand

In response to your request, enclosed is a brief summary of our branch's involvement in the St-Basile-le-Grand fire.

As representatives of the Department in Québec, our work consisted largely in gathering appropriate information for reports to the ministers. We also co-operated with the Food Production and Inspection Branch by sharing our information with them. In addition, André Charland attended a co-ordinating meeting at St-Hubert and I participated in a debriefing for Agriculture Canada officials in Ottawa on October 6 and 7. We estimate that the total person-days spent processing the information and attending meetings was six. Our expenses consisted of travelling expenses for Mr. Charland and myself, i.e. about $450 in all.

I hope this will prove useful to you.

(Sgd) Yves Arsenault

107

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Quebec Region Montreal, Quebec October 7, 1988

Mr. André Tremblay, Director Emergency Preparedness Canada 701-250 ouest, Grande-Allée Québec (Qc) G1R 2H4

Dear Sir:

Subject: Joint report of the federal participation at St-Basile-le-Grand.

CMHC, as the goverrunent agency responsible for programs, loans and grants required for public housing and community planning, was called on to participate in the federal round-table discussions held during the St-Basile-le-Grand incident.

The person in charge in our Corporation was convened on Sunday, August 28 at about 2:00 p.m. to a meeting held at ŒB St-Hubert from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on August 29, 1988. Further meetings of the same length were held on August 31 and September 2, 9, and 14, 1988. These meetings were the only times that CMHC participated in this disaster, in view of the circumstances. Therefore, the CMHC representative's role was to attend all the above-mentioned meetings in order to keep CHMC management informed on a day-to-day basis and intervene if necessary.

The costs of this intervention appear in the table at annex.

The initiative of organizing a federal round-table was very successful. In this way, the information was easily accessible and it was promptly routed to the right persons.

It is recommended that this initiative be repeated each time that a disaster occurs. (Sgd) Ghislain Fillion for C.A. D'Amour General Manager Quebec Region

111 Summary of Expenses for St-Basile-le-Grand

Agency: CMHC

Period: From August 29 to September 14, 88

Date of Report: October 7, 1988

Employees: 1 Number of hours Reg.: 10 Overtime $300. Travelling expenses $100.

(part of form nil) Total: $400.00

Total for the Agency: $400.00 Prepared by: Ghislain Fillion, Director Human Resources and Administration Quebec Regional Office

112 SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CANADA

We heard on the news of the morning of August 24, 1988 that there was a serious situation at St-Basile-le- Grand caused by a PCB fire which would force the evacuation of a part of this municipality as well as St- Bruno and Ste-Julie.

Based on information I gathered from Environment Canada and a few provincial agencies that morning, I decided to go to the site to lend assistance to an Environment Canada protection group there. In the afternoon, I spoke with Claude Rivet and Guy Martin of Environment Canada and met all the co- ordinators and municipal and provincial team leaders to indicate my availability and ensure them that, through my office, all the resources of the federal government were at their disposal on demand.

As described in the following chapters, the federal agencies were mobilized as they were needed. I made sure from the outset that I was authorized to attend all information and co-ordination meetings at the municipal or provincial levels.

For example, during the period from August 24 to 28 I strove to direct the information that I was gathering to each contact point in order to redistribute it to anyone at the federal level who needed it. When I decided that the emergency operations could last longer than expected and therefore other intervening parties should be added to the group in order to meet new needs, I invited the federal representative to meet to discuss the situation. This round-table discussion was held on six occasions in a location graciously made available to us by the Department of National Defence at St-Hubert.

In addition to the agencies referred to in the table of contents of this document, the Prime Minister's Office delegated the Honourable Richard Grisé, MP for Chambly, to be responsible for co-ordinating federal assistance on the site. Therefore, Mr. Grisé regularly sat in on our round-table discussions and was kept informed of the situation. He was thus able to express the wishes of the Prime Minister's Office.

Each agency should retain its autonomy within its own field and provide its own links with the parent provincial or municipal organization as well as with Ottawa. The benefit of participating in a round- table discussion was to always be able to keep an overall view of the situation that was as complete as possible and discuss directly with the other participants present their needs, constraints, and obligations.

Le Bureau de la Protection civile du Québec was invited to represent the province on this round- table discussion, but only one representative of Environnement Québec attended a meeting. I am convinced that the provincial agencies would have greatly benefitted from a constant presence at federal meetings in the same way that the federal agencies benefitted from my presence at the provincial and municipal round- table discussions.

As time went on and the decision to allow the population to return home was still not forthcoming, I strove to ensure that all our services and support to the province caused as little difficulty as possible. This enabled us to reduce and eliminate frictions that could have produced effects inconsistent with our inten- tions.

The federal representatives managed to recognize and solve liaison problems before they became serious. They took appropriate action to correct them without waiting until good will or pressure on the other intervening parties made it necessary to solve them.

Emergency Preparedness Canada's participation during and after the event helped to facilitate contacts, keep the lines of communication open and generally encourage the federal responding parties to grant the agencies at other levels all the support possible. On the other hand, I constantly strove during this

115 period to encourage the provincial and municipal representatives to call on federal agencies for any needs that they could not fill themselves. Obviously, in areas of direct responsibility of the federal agencies, I did not have to become involved and, insofar as possible, refrained from doing so.

Emergency Preparedness Canada's direct response on the site ended on September 14 with the last federal round-table discussion in which the events and our participation were reviewed. The compilation and publication of this report are the results of this last meeting.

Andrd Tremblay Regional Director Quebec Region Emergency Preparedness Canada

116 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CANADA Expenses

Personnel: Regional Director Time 5,888.97 Travel $1,450 Assistant Regional Director Time 224.00 Travel 150

Total: $7,712.97 Resources: Telephone $520 Other:

Total $8,232.97 Summary of Expenses

Department Personnel Resources Consults. Other Total

Environment 537,000 1,485,600 67,500 2,090,100 Ctns 4,500 500 •■■• 5,000 Defence 210.75 13,415.52 70. 9.988.80 23,685.07 Employt. & Immigration 14,936.97 350.00 75,566.00 90,852.97 Health & Welfare 6,794.38 615.00 90,852.97 9,409.38 Agriculture 10,550.277 1,538.20 12,088.47 CMHC 400.00 ■■•• ■■■■ 400.00 EPC 7,712.97 520.00 •■••■• 8,232.97

Total $582,105.34 1,502,538.72 70 155,054.80 2,239,768.86

118 RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Inventories should be taken of resources and personnel and they should be kept up to date. There is not time to conduct extensive research during disasters. The agencies concerned should already have these indispensable inventories in their possession.

2. Communications systems quickly become overloaded during an emergency such as St-Basile-le- Grand. It would be beneficial to list and retain a bank of additional resources. The protocols for using equipment should already be known by the responding parties. They should strive to learn how to use these new tools before being forced to do so by the events.

3. Because of the little time in which to make decisions and the particular context of emergency situations, management of an emergency situation cannot be compared to management of a normal one. Therefore, the persons in charge during an emergency situation must be prepared to assume their role through information and specialized training sessions in emergency and crisis management.

4. One cannot make the acquaintance or determine the credibility of persons adequately during a crisis period. The responding parties and managers should establish links and relations during normal conditions. Meetings to exchange information and discuss problems related to emergency operations should be organized regularly. The persons concerned should make an effort to participate.

5. During disasters, it is sometimes difficult to reach key persons because ihere is no fixed place where they can be contacted on the site. When directing persons to go to the site, it would be useful to have an office or a message centre and to have all the intervening parties informed of this fact as soon as possible. In the same way, the managers and other key persons must maintain contact with this place in order to receive their messages. Normally, this office can be found near the emergency co-ordination centre. It also enables persons from the outside to ensure that their intervening party will return their call.

119

ANNEXES

The enclosed maps and photos were graciously provided to us by the Quebec Police Force and we wish to thank them for this courtesy.

Ste-Julie

1. Study zone - Ste-Julie (Haut-Bois)

St-Basile-le-Grand September 8, 1988

Area evacuated on August 24, 1988 a.m. Limits of Evacuated Zone

St-Bruno-de-Montarville

Limits of Area^Evacuated on August 24, 1988 a.m.

St-Basile-le-Grand

September 8, 1988

St-Basile-le-Grand

3. Study zone - St-Basile Nord 4. Study zone - St-Basile East 5. Study zone - Site of PCB warehouse

Area evacuated on August 29, 1988 p.m. St-Basile-le-Grand

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TH 9446 .C5 F57 1988 Fire in a warehouse containing PCBs at St.-Basile-le-Grand, August 23, 1988 : federal ...

DATE DUE SLIP