Yellowknife (Oct 25/06) - Officials with the City of Yellowknife are still looking into where private companies can dump snow from capital parking lots said Greg Kehoe, director of public works.

And, according to Kehoe, the dump's new contaminated soil remediation site -built by the Quebec-based company Biogenie- will not be able to handle loads from private snow-removal contractors.

"We're talking about a tremendous amount of snow, and the Biogenie wouldn't be able to accommodate it," Kehoe said.

The treatment centre breaks down hydrocarbons in contaminated soil. "The Biogenie is set up mostly for contaminated soil and not necessarily for snow," Kehoe said.

On Sept.11, city hall announced that private contractors would have to find other alternatives other than the dump to discard snow.

"Regulatory agencies...indicated that it is no longer desirable to have large amounts of snow melting and possible leaching through the waste," officials said.

Since then, contractors have been waiting to hear where they will dump the snow.

Kehoe said the city is looking at two locations, but adds he doesn't want to name them until a site is chosen.

However, in September, Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the city was looking at possible locations in the Kam Lake industrial park and the rock quarry near the landfill.

When the snow dumping ban was first announced many contractors in the city raised concerns about whether or not a location would be found before winter time.

Claude Mailloux, owner of Camco Construction, said he is confident the city will find a place where his company can dump the snow.

"I think the city will have an answer soon...hopefully they are working on it," he said.

Mailloux said a site is needed because his company can't pile snow in some of the smaller parking lots they are contracted to clean because there isn't the room.