Contamination Overview Study
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FINAL REPORT CONTAMINATION OVERVIEW STUDY Environmental Assessment Services for Eglinton- Scarborough Crosstown Program From Jane Street to Keele Street DECEMBER 2012 PREPARED BY: 2655 North Sheridan Way, St. 280 Mississauga, ON L5K 2P8 Ph: 905-823-4988 • Fx: 905-823-2669 Email: [email protected] PROJECT NO. 3212006 Contamination Overview Study – Final Report December 2012 Environmental Assessment Services for Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Program From Jane Street to Keele Street EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) retained McCormick Rankin, a member of MMM Group Limited, to undertake Environmental Assessment (EA) Services for the Eglinton- Scarborough Crosstown Program along Eglinton Avenue from Jane Street to Keele Street in Toronto, Ontario. The undertaking includes a light rail transit line involving both above grade and subsurface (tunnelling) construction. As such, Ecoplans, a member of MMM Group Limited, conducted a Contamination Overview Study (COS), in support of the EA, to identify and review actual or potential contaminated sites and to identify appropriate future work and mitigation measures. Based on the findings of this report, broad Areas of Potential Environmental Concern (APECs) were identified. These areas have been categorized by assessing the overall relative potential of contamination from the findings and are summarized below. APECs with High Potential for Contamination APECs with high potential for contamination are summarized below and are illustrated on Figure 3 (highlighted in red). These areas correspond to locations within the study area where land uses consist of commercial/industrial operations that could impact soil and/or groundwater. Kodak Canada property located northwest of the intersection of Black Creek Drive and Eglinton Avenue; The former waste disposal site located on the southeast corner of Black Creek Drive and Eglinton Avenue; and A rail corridor exists to the west of the former Kodak Canada property and bisects the study area. Recommendations: If impacts are anticipated to all or portions of the above APEC properties, Ecoplans concurs with Coffey’s findings and recommends that further environmental investigations be completed for these properties (or portions thereof) that would be directly impacted by construction activities (i.e. tunneling): If properties (or portions thereof) are to be acquired for the LRT construction, Ecoplans recommends carrying out Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments in accordance with O.Reg. 153/04, as amended; If no purchasing is planned/ required for these properties for the LRT construction, Ecoplans recommends carrying out an intrusive environmental investigation (soil and groundwater sampling and testing) to confirm the presence or absence of soil/ groundwater contamination. This investigation would assist with the future construction’s soil and water management plans and tender volumes (clean fill vs. contaminated fill) to be requested, which may have significant financial implications on construction costs; Since the former waste disposal site was closed more than 25 years ago, there are no ministerial approvals required. Project No.: 3212006 Page i Contamination Overview Study – Final Report December 2012 Environmental Assessment Services for Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Program From Jane Street to Keele Street APECs with Moderate Potential for Contamination Two areas were found to be of moderate potential and are summarized below and illustrated on Figure 3 (highlighted in yellow). These areas represent land uses that are agricultural/livestock operations whose buildings may be directly affected by the project; or are small commercial/industrial properties suspected of using chemical compounds or performing activities that could impact soil and/or groundwater; however, may not be directly impacted by road improvements. APEC with moderate potential for contamination are: A small commercial area near the intersection of Keele Street and Eglinton Avenue; and A small commercial area near the intersection of Weston Road and Eglinton Avenue. Recommendations: Ecoplans recommends that further environmental investigations regarding the above noted moderate potential properties be completed for these properties (or portions thereof) that would be directly impacted by construction activities: If properties (or portions thereof) are to be acquired for the LRT construction, Ecoplans recommends carrying out Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments in accordance with O.Reg. 153/04, as amended; If no purchasing is planned/ required for these properties for the LRT construction, Ecoplans recommends carrying out an intrusive environmental investigation (soil and groundwater sampling and testing) to confirm the presence or absence of soil/ groundwater contamination. This investigation would assist with the future construction’s soil and water management plans and tender volumes (clean fill vs. contaminated fill) to be requested, which may have significant financial implications on construction costs; For areas where spills were documented to have occurred within the study area, Ecoplans recommends that during construction of the above-ground LRT sections, soil testing for petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) be completed along the road right-of-way where removal of soil from the road shoulders and road right of ways (i.e., excess materials) is to occur. If presence of PHCs is confirmed, Ecoplans would recommend removing contaminated soil from these areas. Areas with Low Potential for Contamination All other areas not highlighted on Figure 3 indicate land use features considered to have a low potential for site contamination. These areas are generally classified as open space, residential, or agricultural areas that are not suspected of using chemical compounds harmful to the environment or human health. Another low contamination potential of concern includes road salt impacts and the presence of spills along right-of-way, roads, and parking lots. Recommendations: No additional environmental investigations are recommended for APECs with low potential for contamination. Project No.: 3212006 Page ii Contamination Overview Study – Final Report December 2012 Environmental Assessment Services for Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Program From Jane Street to Keele Street TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... I 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 STUDY OBJECTIVE ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 SCOPE OF WORK ............................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION AND SETTING ........................................................................ 3 2.1.1 Description of the Study Area ................................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Current Surrounding Land Use ................................................................................................ 3 2.1.3 Topography and Drainage ....................................................................................................... 3 2.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................. 3 2.3 GEOLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 3 2.3.1 Quaternary Geology ................................................................................................................. 3 2.3.2 Bedrock Geology ...................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 HYDROGEOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 4 2.4.1 Overburden Aquifer .................................................................................................................. 4 2.4.2 Bedrock Aquifer ........................................................................................................................ 4 3.0 RECORDS REVIEW ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 EXISTING REPORTS ........................................................................................................................ 5 3.2 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS .................................................................................................................. 6 3.3 HISTORICAL MAPS ......................................................................................................................... 7 3.4 REGIONAL RECORDS ...................................................................................................................... 7 3.5 ECOLOG ERIS ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION ............................................... 7 3.6 FEDERAL CONTAMINATED SITES INVENTORY ............................................................................. 12 4.0 STUDY AREA INSPECTION ....................................................................................................