LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Fort Simpson's public works yard will soon be asbestos-free, if an upcoming tender passes legal review.

Fort Simpson's public works yard has been the home of asbestos concrete pipes since 2008. The village is now moving to dispose of those pipes. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

As early as 2008, the village began storing old asbestos cement pipes behind the public works shop. The pipes were originally part of the village's distribution and collection system but were removed when the village upgraded to plastic pipes.

The public works yard was intended to be a temporary dumping ground until the pipes could be buried in the landfill but a lack of space at the landfill turned the yard into a more permanent location.

Different forms of asbestos, including cement pipes, have been linked to respiratory illnesses and other health concerns when located in buildings.

Senior administrative officer Beth Jumbo said the Workers Safety and Compensation Commission issued a compliance order to the village to properly dispose of the pipes.

In its asbestos abatement code, the commission states asbestos must be inhaled to cause disease and that intact and undisturbed asbestos presents no direct health hazards.

"The (commission) gives us compliance orders when they come by and have a look at things. They wanted us to have a plan in place by March 31," Jumbo said. "At that point, we were already working toward removing it."

In 2011, the village began discussions with Arctic Environmental about disposal.

In 2014, councillors agreed to put $5,000 toward the proper disposal of the pipes for the 2015 budget.

However, the work was never started and in 2015 the village received an updated quote of $50,000 for disposal.

After the election and swearing-in of a new mayor and council, councillors agreed a project costing that much should go out to tender instead of being given to Arctic Environmental.

"The entire job needs to be completed by the end of February so it needs to happen quite quick," Jumbo said.

The tender will likely be out for a month and is currently in the hands of the village's lawyers. Once it gets legal approval, the tender will go out immediately instead of coming back to council for review.

Cost could come in above $50,000

When the village first approached Arctic Environmental, the company quoted $44,000 for the pipe disposal. However, that amount climbed to $50,000 last year.

An Oct. 30 letter to Jumbo from Arctic Environmental representative Robert Valleau stated the price increase is due to "increases in costs for disposal, fuel and wages."

That letter was presented at a Nov. 25 meeting of council, at which point Mayor Darlene Sibbeston said the project needed to go to tender.

Although the budget for the project is $50,000, Jumbo said she believed tenders would come back above that.

"If you put anything out (to tender) it may cost more," she said.

When passing the village budget earlier in January, councillors agreed to defer $50,000 from the 2015 budget to 2016 in order to cover the costs.

"We have (that money) but ... can spend more," Jumbo said.