Environmental clean-up
of Harmon properties continues
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation (NLHC)
is soliciting proposals from consulting firms for a contract to proceed
with a Sediment Investigation Program and Phase 1 Environmental Site
Assessment
of Noel's Pond and environs. In addition, a joint project is being
initiated
in conjunction with Transport Canada to undertake the decommissioning
of
fuel lines on the Harmon base property. A joint announcement was made
today
by Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods and MHA -
St. George's-Stephenville East, representing Art Reid, minister
responsible
for NLHC, and Gerry Smith, MHA - Port au Port. It is expected that
approximately
$750,000 will be spent for this phase of the environmental
clean-up.
Mr. Aylward said: "Since first
commissioning an
environmental site audit in 1995, NLHC, as management agent for the
provincial
portion of the former Harmon properties, has continued to take a
responsible
approach to managing the environmental investigation and clean-up
activities
of its properties."
Further detailed environmental site
assessment
of Noel's Pond water treatment plant area has been completed which
included
a Phase 3 field investigation and development of site remediation plans
for the area. Reports indicate there is no known contamination of the
water
supply. "An estimated $1.5 million is scheduled to be spent on the
Harmon
base clean-up this year alone," Mr. Alyward said. "While this is a
significant
amount, it is important for us to keep pressure on the federal
government
to ensure that an adequate level of funding for the clean-up is
secured."
Underground fuel line location and
mapping by
AGRA Earth and Environmental Limited has also been concluded. The
reports
have provided information to allow for the proper decommissioning of
the
fuel lines which is to be undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry
of
Transport's work in clean-up of the airport properties.
The proposal call now being announced
will select
a consultant to undertake sediment sampling of Noel's Pond and Phase 1,
Environmental Site Assessment of land adjacent to the Noel's Pond water
treatment plant area and assess future risk of contamination to the
water
supply. NLHC will be coordinating with the Ministry of Transport for a
tender to decommission (drain and degas) the abandoned fuel lines which
run through much of the Harmon area and intersect airport property.
In addition to these clean-up
activities, over
the coming months further work is planned to review appropriate
remediation
options for the Noel's Pond water treatment plant site based on the
Phase
3 report. As well, a Phase 3 Environmental Site Assessment and
remediation
plan will be conducted for the removal of a number of underground fuel
storage tanks.
NLHC will be accepting proposals at its
head office
located at 2 Canada Drive in St. John's. Interested proponents are
invited
to contact the Technical Services Division at 724-3022 to obtain an
information
package which outlines the conditions and responsibilities of tender
call.
Tenders will be accepted up 12:00 noon, Newfoundland time, Friday, July
17, 1998.
For further information, contact:
Jenny Bowring, Corporate Communications
Telephone: (709) 724-3055
E-mail: releases@nlhc.nf.ca
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