Development Services Committee meeting - June 7; Report from Golder Associates

The landfill was discussed at the June 7 Development Services Committee meeting. From the meeting minutes:

Tom McIelwain, Golder Associates Ltd. Concerning the Industrial Disposal Oshawa Landfill (IDOL), Rossland and Grandview Street North Area

Tom McIelwain, Golder Associates Ltd. addressed the Committee providing an overview of the history of the Industrial Disposal Oshawa Landfill (IDOL) site including its current and historic ownership and uses; a summary of the information known to Golder to exist regarding the IDOL property; a summary of the current understanding related to engineered containment systems; an opinion related to current environmental risk potential of the landfill and an opinion related to the future monitoring/maintenance of the site.

Tom McIelwain advised that his firm was retained by the City in 2010 to review the existing documentation related to the IDOL property and advised that the IDOL property was originally used for a commercial sand and gravel extraction and after the productive sand and gravel unit was fully exploited, the pit was converted into an industrial commercial landfill site. The delegate noted the landfill site was formally closed in 1985 and that an amended certificate of approval was issued by the Ministry of Environment to recognize the closure of the site, but no provisions requiring ongoing monitoring of the environmental status of the site were included. Tom McIelwain advised that it is not known what quantity and nature of waste was placed within the IDOL site.

The delegate provided an overview of the monitoring to-date conducted by various agencies and advised that the Ministry of Environment monitors the site on annual basis, noting no conclusive evidence has been found that would suggest the site has had an “adverse affect” on the Harmony Creek or the surrounding area. Tom McIelwain advised that ongoing monitoring is warranted and offered various recommendations on future monitoring and maintenance of the site.

The Committee questioned Tom McIelwain.

Moved by Councillor Pidwerbecki,
“That the order of the agenda be altered to consider Report DS-11-217, Industrial Disposal Oshawa Landfill (IDOL), Rossland Road East and Grandview Street North Area.” CARRIED

Moved by Councillor Pidwerbecki,
“That the Development Services Committee recommend to City Council:
1. That Report DS-11-217 dated June 2, 2011, be received for information; and,
2. That the Ministry of the Environment be provided a copy of the 2011 Golder Associates report on the Industrial Disposal Oshawa Landfill (IDOL) site in Oshawa (Grandview Street North/Rossland Road East) and be requested to advise the City in writing of its comments on the Golder report, the individual Golder recommendations for additional work and monitoring and whether the Ministry of Environment will amend the existing certificate of approval for the IDOL site to implement the recommendations or to otherwise require the owner of the IDOL site to implement the recommendations or monitor and maintain the site.” CARRIED


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A public report, Industrial Disposal Oshawa Landfill (IDOL) Rossland Road East and Grandview Street North Area, is available on the City of Oshawa's website (http://www.oshawa.ca/agendas/Development_Services/2011/06-07-Special/%5CDS-11-217-IDOL-Site.pdf).

Dated June 2, this report was brought up at the June 7 meeting.