The City of Kamloops evaluated the extent of soil and groundwater contamination on a portion of the municipally-owned site of the former provincial Rayleigh Correctional Centre. Previously a Department of National Defence munitions depot, the site had also been used for waste oil drum and coal storage, an incinerator, a fire pit and a landfill.

The study identified contaminants in 5,000 cubic metres of soil and outlined a remediation plan. The contaminated soil was used for road construction, buried on site or removed. Sampling determined that the groundwater did not require remediation, as its quality was comparable to water elsewhere in the valley.

The city built the Tournament Capital Ranch on the site in 2011. It features eight baseball diamonds and two rugby fields. Future development may include an exhibition/agri-plex building and equestrian facilities. The Tk'emlups First Nation is making plans for an RV park, and a portion of the land has been retained for agricultural use.

Results

Environmental Economic Social
  • 5,000 m3 of soil remediated

  • 80 ha of land remediated

  • 300,000 honey bees successfully relocated

  • Habitat along North Thompson River protected

  • 44 ha of land available for agricultural use

  • Potential development of exhibition/agri-plex and equestrian facilities

  • RV park planned by Tk'emlups First Nation

  • Weekly tournaments drawing hundreds of spectators and participants

  • Gathering place for agricultural exhibitions

  • 5 km of walking paths

  • Opportunities for health-promoting recreational activities

Challenges

  • The city found munitions-related debris from the World War II era. Removal of this material required the involvement of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces.
  • Additional work was required to meet stringent agricultural and water-quality standards.
  • Provincial Ministry of Environment standards, guidelines and regulations changed during the project.
  • Some waste was deemed hazardous and had to be taken to a more distant landfill at additional cost to the city.

Lessons learned

  • Allocate time and resources for unanticipated issues, particularly with large, complex projects.
  • Deal with issues as they arise, and don't take short-cuts.
  • Ensure that all stakeholders-including city council, senior management, staff, project team members and the public-understand the remediation process.
  • Work with local consultants to reduce travel costs and provide flexibility for the project team.
  • Use city staff for tasks such as soil removal, to save time and money.

Resources

Project Contact

Nick DeCicco
Parks Project and Planning Supervisor
Parks, Recreation & Culture
City of Kamloops, British Columbia
T. 250-828-3518

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