The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment has approved applications from two Island companies to operate construction and demolition (C&D) disposal sites.
Minister of Environment Chester Gillan said Kings County Construction Limited has been issued a permit to operate a C&D site in Brudenell, while Maintenance Services Limited has been granted approval to operate a similar disposal site in Hazelbrook. The two C&D sites are the first to receive approval under the Environmental Protection Act Waste Resource Management Regulations which came into effect in January 2002.
"These regulations go a long way in protecting the environment in Prince Edward Island by putting strict rules in place for the construction and operation of all facilities that handle solid waste," said Minister Gillan. "Both Kings County Construction Limited and Maintenance Services Limited have clearly demonstrated that their operations meet or exceed all of those rules."
Construction and demolition disposal sites may be used only for disposal of C&D debris which the regulations define as materials that are inert and not hazardous. That includes soil, asphalt, brick, mortar, drywall, plaster, cellulose, fibreglass fibres, gyproc, and lumber and wood that is not chemically treated.
Requirements for C&D disposal sites include:
• A minimum one-metre compacted liner.
• A plan for placement of cover on the debris.
• A drainage plan for surface water.
• A minimum of four groundwater monitoring wells.
• A minimum separation distance of 150 metres from the active disposal area to the foundation of the nearest off-site residence or business.
• Direct supervision during operating hours.
• Inspection of all loads by the supervisor of the site to ensure acceptance of only C&D debris.
• Measures to control dust, odour and noise where required.
• Detailed records of the quantity and types of materials disposed of or stored.
Kings County Construction Limited and Maintenance Services Limited received conditional approval to operate C&D sites last year following a review under Prince Edward Island's environmental impact assessment process and the Waste Resource Management Regulations approval process. At the time, they were given a number of additional requirements to fulfill. That work has now been completed.
Owners of C&D sites must apply annually to the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment for an operating permit. Under the conditions of its permit, Minister Gillan noted that Maintenance Services Limited is required to carry out quarterly groundwater testing on the site's nine monitoring wells.
Petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in one monitoring well near the north/northeast boundary of the Hazelbrook site last year. As a result, additional monitoring wells were drilled and water samples taken from seven area homes. Results of all of the water tests showed the petroleum hydrocarbons were confined to the immediate area of the monitoring well at the site boundary.
"An independent consultant has concluded that disposal activity on the C&D site is not the source, so there is no reason not to issue the operating permit for the Hazelbrook site; however, I do want to ensure the situation is closely monitored, and the quarterly groundwater testing will do that," said Minister Gillan.