ONGOING GAS PLANT CLEAN-UP CAUSES CONFUSION

Okotoks Western Wheel, Wednesday October 13, 2004

ONGOING GAS PLANT CLEAN-UP CAUSES CONFUSION

By Tara Merrin
Staff Reporter

Confusion surrounding the on-going clean-up of the contaminated soil at the historic Turner Valley Gas Plant has prompted the Town of Black Diamond to take action.

Council voted Wednesday to mail out information sheets regarding the cleanup and its associated costs with November's utility bills.

"There seems to be some confusion about the sulfur. One source has said it has been cleaned up and another said it has not. I think it's important that people have accurate information about what's going on," said Councillor Sharlene Brown.

The cleanup, which consisted of removal of bio-organic matter, asbestos, hydrocarbons, sulfur and mercury, is almost finalized. In order for the project to be completed, one spot needs to be re tested and an impermeable barrier needs to be put in the subsurface to ensure no contaminates seep into the Sheep River.

"This is the last portion of the river diversion project," Brown told council, adding Alberta Community Development has spent $1.5 million on the reclamation.

Last year, soil contaminated with mercury, which likely came from instruments that were broken by vandals, was removed from the buildings and the soil on the site. However,the sulfur contamination was only removed two weeks ago.

"I would like our information sheet to state that we would like the reinstatement of funding for phase one, which included land and some building reclamation as well as the restoration of the lab for the administration office," said Brown.

Black Diamond council voted to support phase two of the project, which would see the restoration of the light plant and the development of the facility for the interpretive program.

Phase one funding from the province is $5 million. Based on this commitment from the province, there was a matching commitment from the federal government, which equates to another $5 million.

Council also voted to commit to an open house in January to be hosted by Alberta Community Development Historical Resources, Turner Valley and Black Diamond.

"It's very important that our residents have all the information. We are down stream from Turner Valley so, of course, it is a concern," said Mayor Rolly Magee.

Meanwhile, the work to divert the Sheep River back to its original course at the gas plant is now complete.

According to Alberta Community Development, the return of the river to its original course will provide a buffer zone between the plant and the river, greatly reducing the risk of hydrocarbons entering the water.

The diversion work became a priority in the fall of 2003 when it was discovered that erosion from spring runoff had brought the Sheep River in contact with contaminants, mainly hydrocarbons, from the gas plant.

The Plan to divert the river was a joint project by Alberta Community Development and Alberta Infrastructure and received approval from both Alberta Environment and the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.