 |
|
|
|
|
  
|
Access denied at Giant pond Clean-up team fences off popular multi-use area until underground stability ensuredDanielle Sachs Northern News Services Published Friday, May 11, 2012 Precautionary, but semi-permanent.
During this past winter, the area was evaluated as part of ongoing safety checks and inspections. The inspections deemed there to be a potential risk, and in March 2012, orange snow fencing and danger signs were installed near the boat launch. Access to many of the open air mining displays and equipment by the NWT Mining Heritage Society surrounding the pool have been blocked.
There are no risks of contamination, according to the remediation team. Reports show there is absolutely no arsenic trioxide below the fenced-off area.
"We have a very good idea of how much arsenic trioxide is there because it was due to the production process," said Adrian Paradis, project manager for the remediation project. But the area has been closed to the public and will remain closed until the underground has been evaluated and stabilized.
"We need to limit access until stabilization is complete," said David Colbourne, consultant from DXB Projects.
Colbourne has been working with the conveyor gallery and underground stabilization.
Stephen Clark, co-ordinator of the NWT Mining Heritage Society, is not too concerned about the stability.
"Common sense says those spokes have been underground for 30, 40 years and nothing has fallen yet," he said. 'But I understand why the government has to be careful and not take any chances. They'll measure to see how deep the rock is and depending on that, they may have to do some fill," Clark said.
But according to the most recent tentative site stabilization schedule, the engineering review for the underground stabilization will only be completed near the end of 2013, indicating that the site will remain restricted for more than one summer season.
|
