Old Belleville fairgrounds property found to have contaminated soil, additional testing required

To change the current land use (Open Space) for the property to a more sensitive land use (Residential), a Record of Site Condition (RSC) was required.

Cambium Inc. completed a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, a preliminary Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment for the property and a subsequent Groundwater Sampling Program.

Through the completion of these assessments. the results indicated that volatile organic compounds (VOC) impacts may only be present in a portion of the site. As such, to facilitate the Record of Site Condition application process with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (Ministry), the most effective approach is to split the property into two RSC parcels: the Risk Assessment (RA) parcel and remaining site.

Early soil results submitted to the Ministry of Environment revealed contaminated soil from decades of spraying dust suppressant on the oval harness-racing track.

from what I am aware, it’s the dust suppressant that was put on the track.

Mayor Neil Ellis

Given these test results, the YMCA asked for new city lands at 355 Bridge Street West near Rotary Centennial Park to build given its tight timeframe to meet provincial and federal funding allocations deadlines.

Additional testing required

Additional testing is required because the fairgrounds property is considered a new property for development purposes and must meet stringent guidelines by the Ontario government. It will determine the extent of historic industrial contaminants before the rest of the property can be offered for housing development.

We’re continuing testing on the fairgrounds. Optimistically, we’re looking at probably 18 months [of testing] and the land should be ready to develop

There could be some contamination cleanup or some capping of the soil, that’s to be determined. One of the main reasons we had to move the Y is because this process is going to take longer than what their funds were allotted, the federal and provincial funds. The move has meant that that funding is still available and the YMCA will still be built

Mayor Neil Ellis

[If the new] fairgrounds would have been built there, we wouldn’t be going through all this testing but because it’s a new site it’s not considered agricultural any longer.

Mayor Neil Ellis

There are no groundwater wells in the immediate vicinity and at the time of the discovery the presence of TCE was not considered a public health hazard.