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Cleanup at airport training area Contracts being put to tender for contaminated soil to be excavated
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, August 1, 2013
INUVIK
Plans are afoot to clean up a contaminated site at Inuvik's Mike Zubko Airport.
On behalf of Transport Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is looking to issue a contract for a cleanup of the former fire training area at the airport.
The PWGSC will be "overseeing environmental remediation activities at the former fire training area of the Mike Zubko Airport," corporate communications spokesperson Tom Corrigan said.
Over the years it was in service, the fire training area became contaminated with gasoline and other products which were used in the programs.
"The remediation work consists of excavating the soil, backfilling the excavation with material from a nearby quarry, and remediating the contaminated soil in a lined containment unit on site," Corrigan said.
"The contaminated soil will then be turned and physically manipulated over a period of several seasons, which will enable the hydrocarbons in the soil to naturally biodegrade, a technique commonly used to decontaminate impacted soils.
"All excavation and remediation activities will be performed on site, away from public areas, and with no impact to airport operations, or health and safety," Corrigan said. "We anticipate awarding the contract in early August, with excavation work to be performed over a three-week period. The overall remediation project is expected to be completed by 2015."
He didn't have an estimate of what the work would cost. That will only be available after the contract bids are made.
Interestingly, local officials didn't seem to be aware of the need for the cleanup or that it had gone out for contract proposals.
Inuvik Fire Chief Jim Sawkins said he didn't know anything about the project. The only work he was aware of happening at the facility was a new hanger for Aklak Air.
The Inuvik Fire Department responds to all incidents at the airport, and likely trained at the site at some time or another.
Corrigan said he didn't know how long training had been carried out at the site or when it had ended.
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