555 Booth Street Soil Cleanup
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is cleaning up the soil surrounding the 555 Booth Street building. Previous environmental assessments concluded that some of the soil at that site contains substances — metals, hydrocarbons — that are at levels exceeding current federal guidelines. While the soil does not pose a health concern to NRCan staff or area residents, it might affect plants and organisms.
The cleanup will consist of removing the soil and replacing it with clean material. NRCan will follow strict environmental protocols during the cleanup and monitor air quality/dust levels throughout the project.
Site preparations started in June 2017, with excavation work beginning in July. Repaving and landscaping are expected to be completed by November 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What substances found in the soil exceed federal guidelines?
Q3. Why does the site need a cleanup?
Q4. If there is no risk to human health, why are you cleaning up the site now?
Q5. Are the contaminants volatile (i.e., release vapours)?
Q6. Is there any groundwater contamination at the site?
Q7. Where can I find more information about how the health risks were assessed?
Q8. I have children who go to the Dow’s Lake Daycare. Are they at risk?
Q9. What’s going to happen to the soil removed from the site?
Q10. Will traffic on Booth Street be shut down to accommodate trucks?
Q11. Will the excavated areas at 555 Booth Street be restored after the remediation is complete?
Q12. Will there be an increase in noise?
Q13. Should windows be kept closed during project activities?
Q14. How much soil will be removed from the site?
Q15. Why was the site not remediated along with other areas of Booth Street in 2010–2011?
Q1. What substances found in the soil exceed federal guidelines?
Metals (lead, zinc, arsenic, copper, nickel, chromium, mercury, selenium) and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been found in the soil at 555 Booth Street.
Concentrations exceeding federal guidelines were found at depths ranging from 15 centimetres to two metres below the surface, with most appearing deeper than one metre.
The federal guidelines are set at levels meant to protect plants, soil organisms, birds and animals as well as humans, so they are well below concentrations that would affect human health.
Q2. Does the contamination pose a risk to human health? What measures are being taken to ensure employee and resident safety?
No adverse human health impacts have occurred to employees or area residents due to contamination at the Booth Street Complex. The contaminants have been contained under pavement and grass, limiting exposure.
In 2009, Health Canada concluded that the risks from the contaminants to area residents and employees of the Booth Street Complex are not significant and that no ongoing health studies are required.
Excavation will expose the soil and potentially generate dust. However, studies completed during the previous excavation project at the Booth Street Complex confirmed that the excavation activities do not pose a health risk to employees and residents.
Nonetheless, as with the previous excavation project, NRCan will take measures to monitor and control the dust generated from excavation activities. Such measures include limiting soil stockpiling on the site, erecting an eight-foot wooden barrier (hoarding) around the edges of the work area, and dust monitoring to ensure the mitigation measures are effective.
Dust monitoring conducted in 2010 during a similar project showed no significant generation of dust and no negative impact on indoor dust or outdoor surface soil as a result of the cleanup activities.
Q3. Why does the site need a cleanup?
Past industrial, commercial and research activities (e.g., operation of a rail yard, auto-wrecking facility, ore processing) contributed to soil contamination.
Q4. If there is no risk to human health, why are you cleaning up the site now?
While the soil does not pose a health concern to NRCan staff or area residents, the substances present might affect plants and organisms in the soil. As Budget 2016 provided funding to assess and remediate contaminated sites, NRCan asked for the opportunity to clean up this site.
Q5. Are the contaminants volatile (i.e., release vapours)?
The contaminants present at the site have very low volatility. Soil samples revealed that only very low levels of organic vapours are present and not in concentrations of concern.
Q6. Is there any groundwater contamination at the site?
Environmental site assessments have shown that groundwater (water flowing through fractured bedrock below the soil layer) at the site is affected by metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons leached from the soil. However, the groundwater is not used as a source of drinking water and its remediation is not required. The groundwater quality will continue to be monitored following soil remediation at the site. Excavation activities are not expected to expose groundwater to the surface.
Q7. Where can I find more information about how the health risks were assessed?
Numerous studies have been conducted to assess conditions at the site, including several Environmental Site Assessments, a 2002 Site Specific Risk Assessment and a 2015 Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment. These reports are available in the NRCan Library at 580 Booth Street.
Q8. I have children who go to the Dow’s Lake Daycare. Are they at risk?
No. Dust monitoring conducted in 2010, during remediation of other areas of Booth Street, found no significant generation of dust, and no negative impact on indoor dust or outdoor surface soil at the daycare play area as a result of the remediation activities. Dust from the excavation activities therefore does not pose a danger to anyone at the daycare. NRCan will follow strict environmental protocols to limit dust generation during the cleanup and will monitor dust levels on a daily basis.
Q9. What’s going to happen to the soil removed from the site?
The excavated soil will be transported by truck to a provincially licensed, local landfill. These sites are engineered landfills that ensure contaminants do not enter the local environment. Mitigation measures for the transportation of contaminated soil off the site will be implemented.
Q10. Will traffic on Booth Street be shut down to accommodate trucks?
No. Booth Street will remain open and truck and equipment traffic will be scheduled to minimize impacts to residents and employees. Other streets around the project area may be closed for short periods of time but will remain open for most of the duration of the project. Due to vehicle staging near the excavation area, street parking may be occasionally suspended.
Q11. Will the excavated areas at 555 Booth Street be restored after the remediation is complete?
Yes. Following completion of the excavation project, the site will be reinstated to its current use. The parking areas will be repaved, trees will be planted, and lawns will be replaced.
Q12. Will there be an increase in noise?
Yes, employees working at 555 Booth Street and others in the immediate vicinity will experience higher-than-normal noise levels, during the project. Project activities will take place during normal business hours.
Q13. Should windows be kept closed during project activities?
From a health perspective, dust blowing from the excavation site would not pose a risk. However, closing windows and setting window air-conditioner units to recirculate indoor air would certainly reduce potential for dust, exhaust fumes and noise. Every reasonable effort will be made to ensure that dust levels are kept at a minimum during the project.
Q14. How much soil will be removed from the site?
Approximately 8,900 m3 of soil is expected to be removed from the site. Nearly all surface areas of the lot will be excavated down to the level of bedrock. The building itself is footed on bedrock, so the areas underneath it do not contain affected soil.
This is a much smaller area (and volume) than was removed during the previous remediation project at the Booth Street Complex
Q15. Why was the site not remediated along with other areas of Booth Street in 2010–2011?
Remediation of Booth Street Complex land was prioritized based on risk and resources. The 555 Booth Street site was considered lower risk.
- Please email NRCan’s Environmental Management group.
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