Iqaluit (Jun 12/06) - While the city is addressing exposed asbestos in the area of the Iqaluit gravel pit and metals dump, council insists that is no indication that the city is responsible for the environmental hazard.

With an anticipated $60 million to $70 million in summer construction largely hinging on the availability of gravel, the city held a special evening meeting on June 8.

Council voted in favour of a motion to pay a maximum of $2,407.50 to have Nunatta Environmental cover over the visible asbestos, which is still in bags.

The Workers Compensation Board, on May 26, ordered the gravel pit to remain closed until the issue is resolved.

An inspector noticed a five-by-five-foot area of asbestos that was exposed. It had been dealt with by the city in 2005, but became exposed again when part of an orange tarp lifted over the winter.

Workers from Nunatta, an environmental engineering company, will have to wear protective suits and breathing apparatuses to rearrange the bags of asbestos, place new tarps over them, pile gravel on top and cordon off the area.

Exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to health problems, including cancer.

It was hoped that the job would be complete in time for the gravel pit to open by Saturday or Sunday.

The city assumed control over the quarry from the territorial government in 1997.

There is uncertainty over which level of government is going to foot the bill for reclamation of the metals dump, which is a contaminated site adjacent to the gravel pit.

It's hard to differentiate where one ends and the other begins, said Geoff Baker, manager of engineering services for the city.

A long-time point of contention, it was only in May when a site management plan was formed after the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development raised concerns over contaminated gravel being laid in the city. The site had been closed temporarily while that dispute continued.

The city has identified a new quarry, located about six kilometres northwest of the existing site.

It's expected that the new gravel pit will be in use by early next summer after a road is in place, Baker said.