The CH2M Hill Report undertaken for Transport Canada in relation to Port Stanley harbour lands and waterlot is lengthy, rather dry reading, but the short story is that the contamination is not as bad as many people feared but still falls far short of the MOE guidelines for parkland use.

Summary of CH2M Hill Report

Why is a Risk Assessment being undertaken?

To evaluate the impacts of the environmental condition on people and the environment; to consider historical, current and anticipated future uses; to satisfy the Provincial regulations for a Record of Site Condition (RSC); and to facilitate the transfer of the property to the Municipality.

The presence of chemicals (eg. petroleum solvents), receptors (eg. animals, plants, people) and exposure pathways (eg. dust inhalation, fish consumption) must all be present for a risk to exist, and where all three factors intersect is what the scientific process examines to determine if there is undue risk.

Currently CH2M Hill is at the first phase of the process, wherein they provide a review of their preliminary findings, communicate those to the public and invite public comment. After this comes Phase II in which the RSC gets filed and the Risk Assessment is prepared and submitted. Phase II involves more public communication and comment. The entire process is not planned for completion until 2012.

The future uses being considered are parkland use on the East Headland (berm), and commercial and public uses on the East and West Piers. They are not doing a Risk Assessment of the waterlot of the harbour property.

13 studies and reports on the site have been completed by various consultants since 1994, including the CH2M Hill studies and reports of the: 2006 West Pier investigation; 2006 Port Stanley inner harbour sediment sampling; 2006 former PUC facility and coal pile investigation; and the 2006 Remedial Action Plan.

In 2008-2009 Phase I included an ESA update of the 2004 baseline study, and Phase II more sampling and testing of:
shallow soil: (of 90 substances tested from 27 samples, 84% met screening criteria and 24% had results similar to typical Ontario levels)
subsurface soil: (of 90 substances tested from 25 samples, 95% met screening criteria and 71% had results similar to typical Ontario levels)
groundwater: (of 93 substances tested from 21 samples, 99% met screening criteria and 58% had results similar to typical Ontario levels)
sediment: (of 45 substances tested from 40 samples, 88% met screening criteria)
surface water: (of 40 substances tested from 3 samples, 81% met screening criteria)

Basic Findings:
* West Pier found mainly petroleum substances
* East Pier found mainly petroleum, PAHs, and metals
* East Headland (berm) found mainly petroleum, PAHs, and metals
* Harbour sediments found mainly nutrients and metals

A range of substances were found that are consistent with past use and historical practices. Though some substances exceed naturally occurring levels and established standards, they do not represent an immediate hazard. The harbour water met the pre-treatment Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards (ODWQS). Sediment were significantly different than comparison locations (ie: reference sites). The Risk Assessment will evaluate the significance of the results.

Actual and Potential Areas of Concern

Area #1: Contaminated Harbour Sediments: Sediment sampling investigations in 1994, 2005 & 2007 have confirmed the presence of PAHs, phosphorous, copper, nickel, chromium (total) above the relevant criteria. The offsite upstream coal tar impacted creek bed may be a contributing factor to PAH impacts found at this site.

Area #2: Groundwater and Soil Contamination on the East Headland: Elevated levels of ammonia, nitrates, iron, aluminum, copper and phenols have been identified in groundwater - believed to be the result of historic handling, storage and transfer of liquid fertilizer. Residual chunks of coal from the former coal pile. Metal exceedences were noted, as were measurable concentrations of PAHs in the coal itself. PHC impact previously identified. PCBs in soil near former transformer at low levels. Presence/absence of VOCs must be confirmed.

Area #3: Groundwater South end of West Pier: elevated levels of PHCs, PAHs, ammonia, nitrate and select heavy metals in the soil and groundwater. The source of the contamination in this area may be somewhere to the west of the site and most likely occurs in groundwater.

Area #4: Groundwater and Soil Contamination of the North end of the West Pier: The soil and groundwater contamination at this location is due to leaking underground fuel lines from a former fuel transfer station. Contaminated soil and groundwater in this area had been excavated during two cleanup efforts in 1996. Elevated concentrations of PHCs, metals and PAHs have been found in both soil and groundwater. Confirm presences/absences of VOCs in vicinity of Omstead Foods building. Trend analysis for ammonia in groundwater.

Area #5: Former Public Works Facility, East Headland: Elevated PHC concentrations were detected in soils to the west of the former PUC building in 2005. BTEX and phenol concentrations were detected at various locations near the former PUC facility, exceeding the MOE Table 1 criteria. PHC impacted soils may have resulted from either former PUC facility activities or from Lakes Terminals and Warehousing activities. PCBs in soil were detected at low levels near the former transformer. No groundwater sampling for PCBs were completed in that area.

Area #6: Soil and Groundwater Quality East Pier: No intrusive investigation activities have occurred at the East Pier; therefore the quality of soil and groundwater is unknown. In 1995 Dillon reported a potential for limited contamination in front of Jackson's Fisheries from an abandoned tank (presumed diesel fuel). Another concern is related to the miscellaneous lubricants and waste oils observed to be stored on properties adjacent to the East Pier. The presence and/or absence of impacts had not been determined.

Field Observations - Soil: Hydrocarbon odour and black staining were observed at a depth range of 1.2 mbgs to 3 mbgs at the bore holes drilled.

Field Observations - Groundwater: Strong hydrocarbon odour and sheen. (19 monitoring wells)

Surface Water and Surface Soil Sampling: 3 surface water samples and 6 shallow surface soil samples.

Sediment Sampling: 36 sediment samples were collected: 3 shallow sediments samples from 10 predetermined areas, 3 shallow sediment samples from 10 reference area, and 6 deep core samples from areas identified for future dredging. The samples all consisted of fine sand, silty sand, compacted sand, sandy mud, mud and woody debris, muddy gravel, or medium to fine gravel with leaves and branches.

Shallow groundwater flows in the direction of Kettle Creek and Lake Erie and is at a depth similar to the surface water elevation of Lake Erie.

Federal Standards

Soils of the West Pier, East Pier and East Headland

Metals in the West Pier were below both the 2007 Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for Commercial and Industrial use. (The lower 2008 guidelines were not used.) At the East Pier all samples for metal concentrations were below both guidelines except for one bore sample which had lead concentrations considerably higher (587 mg/kg) than the Commercial guideline (260 mg/kg) but still lower than the Industrial guideline (900 mg/kg). In the East Headland all metal concentrations were below both guidelines.

VOC concentrations in all three areas were below both guidelines.

PAH concentrations were below both guidelines with the exceptions of benzo(a)pyrene at one location on the East Pier and at one location on the East Headland.

PHC and BTEX There is no CCME Commercial or Industrial guideline for PHCs. On the West Pier PHC F2 was detected at concentrations of 1140 mg/kg and 213 mg/kg (Tier 1 value is 260 mg/kg). PHC F3 detected at concentrations of 687 mg/kg, 72 mg/kg and 256 mg/kg. PHC F1 at a concentration of 11 mg/kg; and PHC F4 at a concentration of 64 mg/kg.

On the East Pier total hydrocarbon concentrations ranged from 55 mg/kg to 466 mg/kg. On the East Headland total hydrocarbon concentration for PHC F2 through F4 was 1,490 mg/kg.

BTEX concentrations were below Commercial and Industrial guidelines at all three locations (West Pier, East Pier, East Headlands).

PCBs and Phenols Concentrations were below both guidelines in all three areas

Groundwater of the West Pier, East Pier and East Headland:

Metals below Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines in the West Pier, but antimony and selenium were above the CDWQG at the East Pier location. Concentrations of arsenic, antimony and selenium were above the CDWQG at the East Headland.

VOC concentrations were below CDWQG value at all three locations.

PAH detected in all sampling wells in all three locations, but concentrations all below CDWQG value.

PHCs and BTEX No CDWQG value exists for PHCs or BTEX, with the exception of Benzene. At the south end of the West Pier PCH concentrations were generally non-detect, while at the north end the total hydrocarbon concentrations ranged from 9,280 to 181,000 ug/L. Benzene concentrations were below the CDWQG value.

In the East Pier the middle showed non-detect concentrations but total hydrocarbon concentrations at the south and north ends of the East Pier ranging from 2,370 to 22,300 ug/L, generally found in the F2-F4 range. Again, benzene concentrations were below the CDWQG value.

In the East Headland benzene concentrations were below the CDWQG value and PHC concentrations were non-detect except at three locations: BH08-14 with F3-F4 range concentrations at 18,800 ug/L; MW2-R with F2 concentrations at 630 ug/L; and MW5-R with F3 range concentrations at 290 ug/L.

Other: In all three locations PCB concentrations were non-detect. All locations showed concentrations of phenols but there is no Federal standard for this parameter. On the East Headland nitrates were well below the CDWQG value except in one location near the above ground storage tanks where concentration is approaching the CDWQG value.

Provincial Standards

Groundwater of the West Pier, East Pier and East Headland:

Metals On the West Pier concentrations of chromium, cobalt, copper and vanadium were above the Table 1 standard, but all metals detected were below the Table 3 standards.

On the East Pier the metals detected were antimony, beryllium, boron, cadmium, lead, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium, zinc and cobalt above Table 1 standards; as well as barium, chromium, molybdenum and nickel below Table 1 standards. All metal concentrations were below Table 3 standards.

In the East Headland, metal concentrations detected above the Table 1 standard were antimony, beryllium, boron, cadmium, copper, lead, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium, chromium, nickel and cobalt. All concentrations were below Table 3 standards.

VOCs West Pier and East Headland concentrations were non-detect and below their respective Table 1 and Table 3 standards. In the East Pier one concentration of 40 ug/L acetone was detected, but there is no Table 1 standard for acetone. The Table 3 standard for acetone is 3,300 ug/L.

PAHs West Pier concentrations of PAHs were detected at all six sampling locations, but only one location had concentrations above Table 1 standards for 1-methylnaphthalene, acenapthene, anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene. All were below Table 3 standards except phenanthrene with a concentration of 135 ug/L (standard is 63 ug/L).

East Pier concentrations above Table 1 standards were anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene. All concentrations were below Table 3 standards.

In the East Headland all concentrations were below Table 3 standards but benzo(a)pyrene and 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene were above Table 1 standards.

PHCs concentrations do not meet Table 2 standards at the West Pier, East Pier or East Headlands.

Other: East Pier and East Headland PCB non-detect concentrations of <0.2 ug/L are above the Table 1 standard of 0.1 ug/L. Concentrations of phenols and nitrates were above the Table 1 standard but below the Table 3 standard.

Surface Water Quality

Three surface water samples were collected off the East Headland, one sample was collected from Kettle Creek and two samples were collected from Lake Erie.

Federal Criteria

WQGAL - Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life

Aluminum concentrations ranged from 0.55 to 0.93 mg/L above the WQGAL standard of 0.1 mg/L
Iron concentrations ranged from 0.65 to 0.92 mg/L above the WQGAL standard of 0.3 mg/L
Nitrate concentrations at <0.1 mg/L are above the WQGAL standard of 0.06 mg/L
Chromium concentrations at 0.002 mg/L are above the WQGAL standard of 0.001 mg/L
Zinc concentrations at 0.032 mg/L are above the WQGAL standard of 0.03 mg/L
Amonia concentrations ranged from 0.06 to 0.11 mg/L are above the WQGAL standard of 0.00399 mg/L

Provincial Criteria

PWQOs - MOE Provincial Water Quality Objectives

Aluminum concentrations ranged from 0.55 to 0.93 mg/L above the PWQOs standard of 0.075 mg/L
Iron concentrations ranged from 0.65 to 0.92 mg/L above the PWQOs standard of 0.3 mg/L
Chromium concentrations at 0.002 mg/L are above the PWQOs standard of 0.001 mg/L
Zinc concentrations at 0.032 mg/L are above the PWQOs standard of 0.03 mg/L

Sediment Quality

30 shallow sediment samples collected from both the site and the reference areas, and six deeper core samples collected from the areas proposed to be dredged.

Federal Criteria

ISQG - Interim Freshwater Sediment Quality Guidelines
PEL - Probable Effect Level

Metals concentrations in site, reference and core samples were all below the ISQG and PEL levels.

PAHs concentrations were below ISQG levels in all but two of the site samples, and all site samples were below PEL levels.

In the reference samples detected concentrations above the ISQGs were present outside the harbour walls and in four other locations, including upgradient Kettle Creek, but all were below PEL levels.

Two core samples outside the breakwalls had PAH concentrations above ISQG but all samples were below PEL levels.

PHCs There are no ISQG or PEL sediment standards for PHCs. F2 concentrations ranged from 11 to 750 mg/kg in site samples. F3 concentrations ranged from 50 to 202 mg/kg in site samples. F4 concentrations ranged from 53 to 74 mg/kg in site samples.

F2 concentrations ranged from 10 to 15 mg/kg in reference samples. F3 concentrations ranged from 51 to 197 mg/kg in reference samples. F4 concentrations only in upgradient Kettle Creek at 54 mg/kg.

F2 concentrations ranged from non-detect to 17 mg/kg in core samples. F3 concentrations ranged from 95 to 198 mg/kg in core samples. F4 concentrations ranged from 53 to 79 mg/kg in core samples.

PCBs Total PCBs were non-detect in site samples at concentrations (<0.05 mg/kg) above the ISQG level of 0.0341 mg/kg, but below PEL levels.

The reference samples detected PCBs at concentrations of <0.05 mg/kg, except one at 0.07 mg/kg, but below PEL levels of 0.277 mg/kg. Core samples were similar to site and reference samples.

In terms of general chemistry, ammonia ranging from 8 mg/kg to 248 mg/kg, phosphorous ranging from 170 mg/kg to 1,090 mg/kg, and total organic carbon ranging from 0.1% to2.0%, were detected in all samples.

Provincial Criteria

Sediment concentrations were compared to the MOE Low Effect Level (LEL) and Severe Effect Level (SEL) standards. FQG - Fill Quality Guidelines

Metals In site, core and reference samples only concentrations of copper, and one reading for nickel, exceeded LEL and FQG standards, but none exceeded SEL standards.

PAHs Though generally detected in all samples, concentrations were below Table 1 LEL, SEL and FQG levels.

PHCs detected in all samples. F2s ranged from 10 to 750 mg/kg. F3s ranged from 50 to 202 mg/kg. F4s ranged from 53 to 79 mg/kg.

PCBs In all samples there were non-detect at concentrations below Table 1 levels.

General Chemistry Ammonia concentrations of 8 to 248 mg/kg compared to LEL 100 mg/kg levels. Some LEL exceedence (600 mg/kg) on phosphorous, but did not exceed SEL 2,000 mg/kg level. TOC same as federal criteria.

Full Report