Environmental Assessment Registration Document (Class 1 Undertaking) Expansion of Waste Management Services Atlantic Industrial Services, Debert Facility Prepared for: Atlantic Industrial Services A division of Envirosystems Inc. 11 Brown Ave. Dartmouth, NS B3B 1Z7 Prepared by: AMEC Earth & Environmental A division of AMEC Americas Limited 32 Troop Ave. Dartmouth, NS B3B 1Z1 28 November, 2008 EA Registration Document Atlantic Industrial Services – Debert Facility, Nova Scotia 28 November 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ v 1.0 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 COMPANY OVERVIEW..............................................................................................1 1.2 ATLANTIC INDUSTRIAL SERVICES .........................................................................1 1.2.1 Debert Facility..................................................................................................2 1.3 ATLANTIC INDUSTRIAL CLEANERS ........................................................................2 1.4 AIC SULLIVAN’S ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES......................................................2 1.5 UNDERTAKING REGISTRATION ..............................................................................3 1.6 PUBLIC FUNDING......................................................................................................4 1.7 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK...................................................................................4 1.7.1 Federal Regulations ........................................................................................4 1.7.2 Provincial Regulations .....................................................................................5 1.7.3 Colchester County Municipal Regulations.......................................................5 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION...................................................................................... 7 2.1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW............................................................................7 2.1.1 Nature of Undertaking .....................................................................................7 2.1.2 Purpose and Need...........................................................................................7 2.1.3 Site Location....................................................................................................8 2.1.4 Existing Site Facilities......................................................................................8 2.1.5 Proposed Expansion – Components and Schedule ........................................9 2.2 CONSTRUCTION PHASE ........................................................................................13 2.2.1 Construction Envelope ..................................................................................13 2.2.2 Works and Activities ......................................................................................13 2.2.3 Schedule........................................................................................................14 2.2.4 Construction-Related Economic Opportunities..............................................15 2.3 OPERATION PHASE ................................................................................................15 2.3.1 Facility Layout and Operations – Overview ...................................................15 2.3.2 Waste Types and Volumes............................................................................16 2.3.3 Wastewater Sampling, Testing and Acceptance Procedures........................17 2.3.4 Treatment Processes – Overview .................................................................18 2.3.5 Part I - Treatment of Aqueous-Organic Wastes ............................................19 2.3.6 Part II - Treatment of Metal-Bearing Wastewaters ........................................20 2.3.7 Part III - Management of Containerized Hazardous Wastes .........................21 2.3.8 Emissions and Discharges ............................................................................21 2.3.9 Transportation ...............................................................................................24 2.3.10 Stormwater Management ..............................................................................24 2.3.11 Malfunctions and Accidents...........................................................................24 2.3.12 Employment...................................................................................................26 2.4 FACILITY MANAGEMENT........................................................................................26 2.4.1 Environmental Management..........................................................................26 2.4.2 Training..........................................................................................................29 2.4.3 Security, Health and Safety ...........................................................................30 Project No.: TV71080 Page ii EA Registration Document Atlantic Industrial Services – Debert Facility, Nova Scotia 28 November 2008 2.4.4 Community Involvement ................................................................................30 2.5 DECOMMISSIONING AND ABANDONMENT..........................................................30 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT........................................... 33 3.1 BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT...............................................................................33 3.1.1 Topography, Geology and Soils ....................................................................33 3.1.2 Hydrogeology ................................................................................................34 3.1.3 Surface Water................................................................................................35 3.1.4 Climate ..........................................................................................................36 3.1.5 Terrestrial and Aquatic ..................................................................................37 3.2 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................41 3.2.1 Existing and Planned Land Uses...................................................................41 3.2.2 Community Profile .........................................................................................42 3.2.3 Transportation ...............................................................................................47 4.0 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATION.......................... 49 4.1 PROJECT-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS, VECS ..............................................49 4.2 POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND MITIGATION ...50 4.2.1 Construction Phase .......................................................................................50 4.2.2 Operation Phase............................................................................................51 4.3 POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .................63 4.3.1 Construction Phase .......................................................................................63 4.3.2 Operation Phase............................................................................................64 4.4 MALFUNCTIONS AND ACCIDENTS........................................................................65 4.5 SUMMARY – ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES........67 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING........................................ 73 6.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ................................................................................. 74 6.1 CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES..................................................................................74 6.1.1 Government and Stakeholder Consultation...................................................74 6.1.2 Consultation with the Public at Large ............................................................74 6.1.3 Issues and Concerns.....................................................................................75 7.0 CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................................... 76 8.0 REFERENCES...................................................................................................... 77 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.2-1: Project Location.......................................................................................................6 Figure 2.1-1: Debert Facility - Aerial Photo.................................................................................10 Figure 2.1-2: Existing Facility Layout ..........................................................................................11 Figure 2.1-3: Proposed Facility Layout .......................................................................................12 Figure 2.3-1: Overview of Wastewater Acceptance Procedures ................................................18 Figure 2.3-2: Part I and II – Integrated Wastewater Treatment Process.....................................31 Figure 2.3-3: Part III – Management Process for Containerized Wastes Dangerous Goods......32 Figure 3.1-1: Regional Context ...................................................................................................39 Figure 3.1-2: Natural Features....................................................................................................40