Detailed Site Investigation and Final Environmental Works for Terrace Former Co-op Site

The redevelopment of a former Co-op site in Terrace, BC, will help revitalize a downtown core that experienced economic decline since the mid-1990s, but which will soon face growth with numerous major projects proposed for liquefied natural gas (LNG), mining, and manufacturing. The purpose of the initiative is to address data gaps in the environmental assessment of the least contaminated portion of a site through a Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) in order to attain a Certificate of Compliance (COC). With this COC, the City can complete its sale of the property to developers. The municipality’s Official Community Plan (OCP) and Sustainability and Economic Development Strategies underline the importance of redeveloping the site. The site consists of 4.3 acres of land historically used as a Co-op store, a garden centre, a bulk freight handling station, a railway yard, and a vehicle repair facility and gas bar. The last phase of work completed on the site allowed the city to obtain BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) clearance to subdivide the property into two lots – the more contaminated eastern portion (gas bar) being excluded to create 2.79 acres in the western portion for the actual redevelopment (GMF 13126). After an update to the sites Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) document, the City will address specific data gaps identified by the consultant in the last site assessment for the western portion of the site. This includes further delineation of wells, more detailed identification of soil contamination and vapour, collection of soil samples to accurately verify any levels of Trichloroethylene and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) contamination, testing to calculate hydraulic conductivity parameters, and further investigation of chlorinated hydrocarbon concentrations, and a more detailed determination of the areal extent of wood waste formerly stored in the southern portion of the site. The study results will inform risk assessment on areas with residual environmental impacts, if any remain. The COC submission package will include a preliminary site investigation (PSI) update, the DSI gap analysis, and the new site boundaries with the subdivision. An Approved professional will review the data, as required by the COC, after which a Contaminated Sites Approved Professional (CSAP) and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) will review and issue the COC legal document. The City has taken a proactive approach in working with BC’s MOE to subdivide the western and eastern portions of the site. This is an innovative and replicable approach that allows redevelopment of the least contaminated portion of the site to occur much faster (i.e.: 1 to 2 years with the subdivision, versus 10 years and beyond with no subdivision). Environmental monitoring and work will continue on the eastern portion of the site, but the City can now obtain a legal instrument to redevelop the remainder of the brownfield site. Obtaining the COC is the final task required to allow the site to be sold and developed, returning this brownfield site to productive use, thus avoiding the need for greenfield development. (Project description from original funding application)