Landfill Environmental Assessment

General Overview

The Town of St. Marys landfill site's design and operations are approved and monitored by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.  The Ministry's approval specifies a total disposal capacity for the site, and the Town is now nearing this limit.  Knowing this, the Town initiated the Future Solid Waste Disposal Needs Environmental Assessment (EA).  This EA will identify and select a preferred solution for the Town's solid waste disposal.

Progress to Date

The following outlines the steps taken to date:

Development of Terms of Reference (TOR)

• Public Open House No. 1 - October 30, 2006;

• Public Open House No. 2 - December 3, 2009; 

• Town put TOR on hold to resolve land ownership issues; 

• September 25, 2012 - Council Approves draft TOR and Record of Consultation and directs staff to submit documents to the Ministry for approval; 

• Agencies identify concerns with draft TOR; Town / consultant's take "Time-Outs" to address;

• R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited retained in March 2013 to manage project moving forward;

• Consultant and Town amended the TOR, addressing outstanding Ministry concerns; 

• Additional First Nation notification and consultation required by the Ministry was undertaken in July and August 2013. 

• In November 2013, the Proposed Terms of Reference (Amended) was made available for review by the public, aboriginal communities and agencies. 

• Submitted Proposed Terms of Reference (Amended) to the Ministry on January 3, 2014;

• Errata letter submitted to Ministry on February 25, 2014, modifying (Amended) Terms of Reference

• Terms of Reference - Notice of Approval, dated December 29, 2014, was received by the Town on January 9, 2015.

Environmental Assessment (EA) Work Program

• Notice of EA Commencement issued February 9, 2015
• In order to meet seasonal requirements, the draft Ecological Work Plan was issued for public, aboriginal and agency comment on April 24, 2015.  Related field work began in May 2015.
• Evaluated the Alternative Methods per the TOR, namely exporting the waste to a disposal facility outside Town, or expanding the existing landfill.  Preliminary evaluation preferred landfill expansion.
• Based on the preferred alternative, the Town and our consultants prepared and distributed the draft Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Work Plan, Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Work Plan, Hydrogeological Work Plan and Socio-Economic Work Plan for public, aboriginal and agency comment on July 29, 2015.  Comments received were incorporated into the execution of these draft Work Plans.
• Notice of Public Information Centre issued on July 29, 2015.  Notices sent by several methods including directly with issuance of the draft Work Plans, as well as advertisements in local newspapers.
• Conducted Public Information Centre (PIC) on August 26, 2015 at the Town Operations Centre.  Detailed evaluation of alternatives and preference for landfill expansion, discussed draft Work Plans (above), and accepted feedback for consideration.  Stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback before, during and in the weeks that followed the PIC.
• Conducted Public Information Centre (PIC) No. 2 on June 23, 2016 at the Town Operations Centre. Detailed options for consideration of landfill expansion and accepted feedback for consideration. Stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback before, during and in the weeks that followed the PIC.
• Notice of Future Solid Waste Disposal Needs Environmental Assessment Draft Report for Review - Town of St. Marys issued on July 5, 2017.

Next Steps

The Town and our consultants have now completed the various work plans and evaluations of alternatives for landfill expansion and completed the DRAFT Environmental Assessment document. The Town is now seeking public input and comment on the draft EA document which can be taken into account prior to finalizing the submission.

Download the DRAFT Environmental Assessment document (ZIP file 195.1 MB) 

Public Involvement

Members of the public, governmental agencies, aboriginal communities and other interested persons are encouraged to actively participate in the EA process by attending consultation events or by contacting the Town's Public Works department or our consultant with comments or questions.

Consultation events (i.e. Public Open Houses or review periods) will be advertised in local newspapers and through the official Town website.
For Further information on the proposed undertaking, please contact one of the members of the project team shown in the Contact Us section of the page.

As the Environmental Assessment progresses, information will be posted to this web page. Please check back for future updates.

Downloads

Dec - 13 St. Marys Future Solid Waste Disposal Needs Environmental Assessment - Proposed Terms of Reference (Amended)

Dec - 13 Solid Waste Disposal Individual Environmental Assessment - Terms of Reference Consultation Summary

25 - Feb - 14 Errata Letter - Town of St. Marys Future Solid Waste Disposal Needs Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference

29 - Feb - 14 Terms of Reference - Notice of Approval (December 29, 2014)

9 - Feb - 14 Notice of Commencement - Future Solid Waste Disposal Needs Environmental Assessment

24 - Apr - 14 Ecological Work Plan

29 - Jul - 15 Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Work Plan

29 - Jul - 15 Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Work Plan

29 - Jul - 15 Hydrogeological Work Plan

29 - Jul - 15 Notice of Public Information Centre #1 - Alternatives to the Undertaking

29 - Jul - 15 Socio-Economic Work Plan

7 - Aug - 15 St. Marys Future Solid Waste Disposal Needs Environmental Assessment Public Information Centre Presentation

Oct - 15 Public Information Centre (PIC) #1 Summary Report

25 - May - 16 Notice of Public Information Centre (PIC) #2 - Alternative Methods of Expansion

21 - Mar - 16 Cultural Heritage Resource Assessment

22 - Apr - 16 Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment Report

1 - Jun - 16 Socio-Econimic Impact Assessment

7 - Jun - 16 Hydrogeology Study Part 1, Part 2

7 - Jun - 16 Landfill Expansion Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling Report

7 - Jun - 16 Landfill Expansion Noise Impact Assessment

7 - Jun - 16 Natural Heritage Assessment

7 - Jun - 16 Traffic Impact Study

23 - Jun -16 Public Information Session #2

Jul - 16 Public Information Centre (PIC) #2 Summary Report

5 - Jul - 17 DRAFT Environmental Assessment document (ZIP file 195.1 MB) 

Conducted Public Information Centre (PIC) No. 2 on June 23, 2016 at the Town Operations Centre. Detailed options for consideration of landfill expansion and accepted feedback for consideration. Stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback before, during and in the weeks that followed the PIC.

Notice of Future Solid Waste Disposal Needs Environmental Assessment Draft Report for Review - Town of St. Marys issued on July 5, 2017.