DRAFT EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING July 28, 2010 XCG File No. 5-2705-02-01 SERVICES Mr. Chris Leigh Sent via Email: [email protected] The Tricar Group 3800 Colonel Talbot Road London, Ontario N6P 1H5 Re: Historical Information Search, 150 Wellington Street East, Guelph, Ontario Dear Mr. Leigh: 1. INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE, AND USE XCG Consultants Ltd. (XCG) is pleased to provide this letter report to summarize the findings of the Historical Information Search completed for the commercial property located at 150 Wellington Street East in Guelph, Ontario (subject site or property). A site layout is provided on Figure 1. The purpose of the Historical Information Search was to identify, through a non- intrusive investigation, the existence of any significant actual or potential contamination associated with the subject property. This is not a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) or a compliance audit. The Historical Information Search was not conducted in general accordance with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard Z768-01 (Phase I Standard) for conducting ESAs. The Historical Information Search included a review of historical records, document reviews, and inquiries with regulatory agencies. 2. SITE INFORMATION 2.1 Site Setting 2.1.1 Regional Physiography and Hydrogeology According to the Map 2556 entitled “Quaternary Geology of Ontario – Southern Sheet,” published by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (1991), the subject property is located in the physiographic region of Port Stanley Till (Ontario- Erie Lobe), which consists of silt to sandy silt matrix becoming silty to silty clay XCG Consultants Ltd. near Lake Erie, and is strongly calcareous, with moderate to low clast content 820 Trillium Drive decreasing southward. According to Map 2544 entitled “Bedrock Geology of Kitchener, ON Ontario – Southern Sheet,” the bedrock in the area generally consists of sandstone, Canada N2R 1K4 shale, dolostone, and siltstone of the Guelph Formation or Salina Formation. Tel: (519) 741-5774 According to Map P.2715 entitled “Physiography of Southern Ontario,” published Fax: (519) 741-5627 by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (1984), the area generally consists of a E-mail: [email protected] spillway. 5-2705-02-01/R527050201001.doc DRAFT Mr. Chris Leigh The Tricar Group July 28, 2010 Page 2 of 14 Based on a review of Water Well Information System records, as provided by EcoLog ERIS, there are at least three water wells located within 250 metres of the subject site. The nearest well is located approximately 100 metres west of the north portion of the subject site. This well was installed in 2008 for monitoring purposes. According to the Water Well Information System records, the geology for this well consists of sand and silt fill extending to approximately 1.0 metre below ground surface (bgs), underlain by sand and silt from 1.0 to 5.0 metres bgs, underlain by layered limestone from 5.0 to at least 6.0 metres bgs, where the well was terminated. 2.1.2 Site Physiography and Hydrogeology The Speed River is located approximately 50 metres northeast of the subject site. It is anticipated that shallow groundwater would flow in a north-easterly direction towards the Speed River. The direction of shallow groundwater flow may be locally influenced by roadways, buried utilities, and geology. 3. HISTORICAL RECORDS REVIEWS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATABASE SEARCHES 3.1 Property Title Search Search of the property title records were not completed as part of this Historical Information Search. 3.2 City Directories XCG searched the Vernon’s Guelph City Directories for 1892-1984, 1897-1899, 1903-1905, 1909, 1913, 1918, 1923, 1928, 1932, 1937, 1942, 1947, 1951, 1957, 1963, 1969, 1976, 1980, 1985, 1991-1992, 1997-1998, 2003-2004, and 2009. Based on a review of the city directories and fire insurance plans (FIPs), the subject site was likely occupied by Bell’s Lumber Yards in 1892-1894. There is no address associated with this listing, but Bell’s was listed on Waterloo Street East, north of Neeve Street. McGarry, J.A., coal and Clayton Brass Works were also listed in this area, at 151 and 157 Waterloo Street East in the 1930s. Since Waterloo Street East (currently Fountain Street East) no longer extends this far north, the exact location of these properties cannot be determined. The subject site was listed in the 1957 through 1980 city directories as 150 Surrey Street East. This property was listed as Ariss, L. & Co. in the 1950s and 1960s, Corzite Decorating Service and Capital Paving Ltd. in the 1970s and vacant in 1980. 150 Wellington Street East was listed as Marsh Tire Service between at least 1985 and 2009, Supreme Full Serve Car Wash between at least 1985 and 2009, Southwest Graphics Equipment between at least 1991 and 2009, Ryder Truck Rental between at least 1991 and 2003, and OK Tire in 2009. 152 Wellington Street East was listed as Guelph Paint & Bumper in 1985, Thrifty Car Rental between at least 1991 and 2003 and Avis Rent a Car in 2009. 152 Wellington Street East is not located on the City of Guelph interactive mapping program; therefore, it was presumed 5-2705-02-01/R527050201001.doc DRAFT Mr. Chris Leigh The Tricar Group July 28, 2010 Page 3 of 14 that 152 Wellington Street East shared a portion of the building located at 150 Wellington Street East. The adjacent properties to the north and east (south side of Surrey Street East, between the railroad tracks and Neeve Street) were occupied by Guelph Light and Power Co. and Morlock Brothers furniture manufacturers between at least 1897 and 1903. Flexible Conduit Co. Ltd., Munder Tungsten Lamp Co., Electric Light Works and Dalyte Electric Ltd. occupied this area in the 1910s. This area was listed as the Mill Lands between at least 1923 and 1963. Allan Smellie, cartage and Dalyte Electric Ltd. occupied this area in the 1920s and 1930s. Armet Industries, Daughty & McFarlane Flour and Feed occupied this area in the 1940s and 1950s. Robson Motor Corp, Hornet Industries and DJ Smith Sales Co. were listed at 151 Surrey Street East, in this area, in the 1940s. General Controls Co. Canada was listed at 171 Surrey Street East in the 1950s. Scott, L. & Co. warehouse was listed at 145 Surrey Street East in the 1950s and 1960s. Korzite Ind. Ltd. was listed at 157 Surrey Street East in the 1960s. This area was not listed in the 1976 or more recent city directories. The adjacent property to the south, located at 130 Surrey Street East was listed as residential between at least 1918 and 2009. The adjacent property to the south, located at 14 Neeve Street East, was listed as residential between at least 1909 and 1918 and between at least 1957 and 2009. This property was listed as a fish dealer in 1892 and between at least 1923 and 1951. The adjacent property to the south and southeast, located at 141 Fountain Street East was listed as a warehouse in the 1950s, Smellie Transport (1969) Ltd. in the 1960s, Ziebert Rustproofing and Ziebert Envirograde Protection in the 1970s and 1980s, and as a city parking lot between at least 1980 and 2009. As mentioned previously, Fountain Street East changed from Waterloo Street East in the late 1950s. McGarry JA coal and Clayton Brass Works, listed in the 1930s, may have been located on the subject site or adjacent properties to the west. 3.3 Fire Insurance Plans (FIPs) FIPs assist in the identification of historic land use and commonly indicate the existence and location of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs), underground storage tanks (USTs), structures, improvements, and facility operations. XCG contacted RMS, to search for available historic FIPs for the site. FIPs for 1907, 1916, 1946, and 1960 were available for review. The 1907 FIP indicated that the subject site was occupied by The Bell Piano and Organ Company Ltd. and had several piles of lumber throughout the property. A lumber shed, a building, and parts of three other buildings occupied the southwest portion of the site. One of these buildings was a dry kiln. The Bell Piano and Organ Company also occupied a building with a dry kiln to the south of the dry kiln located on the subject site. The remainder of the property to the south appeared to be vacant, followed by an ice house, a dwelling, and a stable fronting onto Neeve Street. A building was located adjacent to the northeast property line. A second building was located northeast of the subject site. This building contained a stable which partially occupied the subject site and a portion of the adjacent property to the northeast. The stable was followed by a storage area followed by a portion of the building that was occupied by The Flexible Conduits on the first floor and storage of lawn mowers in the basement. Adjoining The Flexible Conduits was an Electric Light Station which 5-2705-02-01/R527050201001.doc DRAFT Mr. Chris Leigh The Tricar Group July 28, 2010 Page 4 of 14 contained three auxiliary boilers and a coal bin. Other buildings and a stable were located east of the subject site. Lumber piles and residential dwellings were located southeast of the subject site. Surrey Street East came to an end south of the subject site. The subject site appeared to be bordered to the west by a railroad track. No other properties were shown west of the subject site. The 1916 FIP indicated that some of the lumber piles from the subject site had been removed since 1907. The lumber shed and other buildings still occupied the subject site. Surrey Street East had been extended since 1907 and occupied the north-eastern portion of the subject site.