Bank Street Valley Contaminated Site

This section provides an update on the scientific work undertaken to evaluate risks and site management options for the Bank Street Valley Contaminated site.

Historically, the site was used to dump garbage in the late 1800s and waste from construction activities on Parliament Hill in the early 1900s. Contamination was first detected in 2002 during the soil evaluations for the planned Bank Street Building project.

Consequently, several scientific studies have been conducted over the past three years to better understand the site. These studies have consistently shown that:

• The site is safe for people and the environment;
• The fill is mostly burnt wood/construction waste;
• The current usage as parking lot/visitor site is safe;
• Based on the National Classification System for Contaminated Sites, this is a Class 3, medium-low risk, which is one level above normal.

In June 2005, an environmental consulting firm (TROW Associates) completed a Supplemental Evaluation and a Site Specific Risk Assessment confirming that:

• The full extent of the fill is contaminated;
• The site remains a Class 3, medium-low risk;
• In its current usage, the site continues to be safe for people and the environment;
• A formal risk mitigation plan is not warranted;
• The site is not contaminating the Ottawa River but a water monitoring program is recommended for long-range study - this recommendation is now being implemented.

Experts from Environment Canada and Health Canada reviewed these latest reports and they agree with the findings.

Along with the TROW studies, a third report was commissioned on potential remediation options, should remediation be required. These options range from complete removal and haulage of the soil, which could have negative impacts on people, the environment, and archeology of the site, to re-grading the area and softening the slopes.

It does not make good economic and environmental sense to clean up the site at this point in time.

Even though scientific conclusions state that the site is safe in its current usage and does not warrant a mitigation plan, we will nevertheless:

• Conduct weekly inspections of the site and respond immediately if action is required;
• Implement a long-term water monitoring program to ensure the contaminants are not migrating into the Ottawa river;
• Discuss site management options with our partners within the context of the Long-Term Vision and Plan review;
• Consider appropriate remediation options should potential new usage of the site be identified.

Bank Street Valley: a view from the East