Phase II ESA — Former Bakelite Property — Belleville, Ontario

The City of Belleville will support 2255718 Ontario Inc. in undertaking a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and remediation plan for the former Bakelite chemical manufacturing property. The 91-acre site on Bay of Quinte is in a priority redevelopment area identified in the city’s Community Improvement Plan for brownfield remediation and development. The property offers a valuable opportunity for mixed residential development and public use, including a proposed extension of the Bayshore Trail section of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail through the site. 2255718 Ontario Inc. recently acquired the contaminated property, and conducted an updated ESA Phase 1, which identified a range of potential contaminants of concern. The subject of the current study will include three phases: a Phase 2 ESA; the development of a remedial action plan; and online knowledge sharing and lessons learned. The Phase 2 ESA will further delineate the types, locations and quantities of contaminants, focusing on soil, sediment, ground and surface waters through an intrusive field program, data and sample analysis.The data collected will provide the information necessary to develop a remedial action/risk management plan that meets Ministry of the Environment requirements. 2255718 Ontario will also develop ecology manuals and an interactive website for public education, to share information and lessons learned about its innovative and cost-effective engineered berm that will encapsulate 39,000 m3 of contaminated soil; the rehabilitation and preservation of the West Marsh wetland. The city is supporting the initiative through a 10 per cent cash contribution. Putting the site back into productive use is expected to result in many benefits, such as improving soil and water quality, ensuring a good quality of life for future residents, revitalizing a priority community area, and seeing increased revenue from property taxes. (Project description from original funding application)