Coal tar contamination area in Belleville’s Foster Ward. (File photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
It looks like the time limit on the work order around the proposed cleanup of coal tar contamination at Belleville’s harbour may be extended.
An Ontario Ministry of Environment order, issued nearly two years ago, calls on the owners and former owners of the area to prepare a work plan for cleanup of the contamination caused by a former gas plant, naming the City of Belleville, Sid Spiegel, Hawkins Cheezies, and others.
At a hearing by the Environmental Review Tribunal on Tuesday, all parties agreed to ask the ministry for the extension.
Belleville’s lawyer on the case, Harry Daume, said samplings taken at the site have been submitted to the ministry and the parties involved are awaiting a reply.
This includes soil vapour assessment, soil sampling, and underground water testing, undertaken in Foster Ward by consultants Golder and Associates.
Daume told the enquiry, “There was testing in several homes and there was no harm that has been identified as a consequence of the testing that has been conducted.
“What we’re awaiting is a determination from the ministry as to whether the investigations have been satisfactorily competed, whether anything further is going to be required, or can we now move on to the next step, which is, any further monitoring which may or may not be required, and then implementation of risk management.”
Daume added the city is anticipating there will be some risk management measures that will be required to be implemented.
Belleville city hall (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville is getting prepared, in a very preliminary way, to deal with risk management associated with the possible future cleanup of coal tar contamination in Foster Ward.
The city’s Environmental Project Manager Cameron Smith comments to Quinte News.
Daume and the other parties agreed to ask the ministry to extend the two-year work order deadline which, at present, is set at later this year.
Tribunal Hearing Chair Justin Duncan agreed.
There are two work plans – one for the east and west portions, another for the immediate and greater area.
The Ministry of the Environment has ordered eight parties to clean up the site where a coal gasification plant had operated in the 1800s.
The provincial order includes Belleville, 105 Pinnacle Limited, Kent D. Hawkins, Darlene Hawkins, Anthony J. McGarvey, 835267 Ontario Inc., Naomi Spiegel and Sidney Spiegel.
