Shuswap Regional Airport Brownfield Project - Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment

The City of Salmon Arm will complete a phase 2 Environmental Site Investigation (Phase 2 ESA) on a 12 acre site which is part of the municipal airport property. The site is mostly vacant, and has been identified as a high potential area for redevelopment which could accommodate up to 18 lease lots for new aviation related commercial, tourism, and industrial businesses. A Phase 1 Preliminary Site Assessment on the site highlighted its use as a former landfill, as well as its current use as a helicopter storage and repair hangar, with associated chemicals used in maintenance and repair of engines. Off-site areas of potential environmental concern (APECs) include a refueling area for the airport, a fire training facility, and heating oil used in the airport terminal building. The scope of work for the Phase 2 ESA will include placing soil vapour probes, drilling groundwater monitoring wells, sending soil and groundwater samples for laboratory analysis, and preparing a site specific health and safety plan. Outside of the scope of this application, the City plan to remediate the land to the highest standard and complete a marketing plan to redevelop the historic brownfield site as aviation related business centre. Remediating and redeveloping the site will not only reduce environmental contamination, but also support in-fill development to reduce the demand on undeveloped sites and take advantage of existing infrastructure and services. The proposed future redevelopment of this site aligns with the long term goals of the community as identified in the City of Salmon Arm Official Community Plan. Further, this project has been identified as a priority project within the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society 5 Year Action Plan, and within the Shuswap Airport Development Plan. (Project description from original funding application)