Special Meeting – City of Cornwall Council Meeting – Aug 17, 2020

Agenda: https://pub-cornwall.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=3175

To watch the meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiAuiG9PcZM

·        Nouryon Chemicals and Jacobs Engineering gave a presentation to council for the Fire Station #2 Property Remediation plans. These plans outline the technologies and proposed timelines to complete remediation of the groundwater beneath the Fire Station #2 to bring it to a safe standard. There is evidence of 1,1 dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride contaminates in this area.

·        The proposed technologies below will reduce the contaminants to Table 3 groundwater standards.

·        The plan outlines two technologies: a Biosparge system and a Subslab Depressurization System.

·        The Biosparge system will consist of 114 Biosparge wells, 5 Vapour Venting Wells, and 20 Soil Vapour Monitoring Probes. These wells will reduce the contaminants in the water and the Vapour Monitoring Probes will monitor potential contaminants.

o  The timeline for the Biosparge system will be 2 months for drilling followed by another 2 months for construction. The expected duration of this system is 5 years.

·        The Subslab Depressurization System is a pipe network that will be installed under the slab of the building to act as a risk barrier to chemical vapour migration.

o  The timeline for the Subslab Depressurization system will be 2 weeks for field work, followed by 2 months for a detailed design to be created, and then 2 months for construction. The expected operation of this system is 5 years.

·        Both the Biosparge system and the Subslab Depressurization system will rely on each other to ensure there is no risk to human health. Even though the risk for vapour contamination is in the future, Nouryon Chemicals would like to be proactive by putting this system in place to avoid issues should they occur in the future.

·        The next step is for The City of Cornwall and Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks to approve the design. If approved, these designs would be expected to be operational by January 2021.

·        These technologies will not impact the day-to-day activities of the fire station employees.

·        Members of council raised concern over the health and safety of the fire fighters as well as the residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Council was reassured that there are plans for a Phase 2 to be put in place where Nouryon Chemicals will continue remediating the Nouryon property.  

The next regular meeting of Council will be held on September 14, 2020.