Expert Reviewer Raises Concerns about Leachate Contamination at Richmond Landfill
October 18 | Posted by Heather | NewsA detailed report by an expert hydrogeologist retained by local citizens has raised serious concerns about leachate contamination at the Richmond Landfill Site near Napanee, Ontario. The report was prepared by Wilf Ruland, P. Geo., and it has been forwarded to the Ministry of the Environment. Mr. Ruland’s report scrutinizes existing monitoring data collected by Waste Management (WM), and, among other things, Mr. Ruland concludes that:
- “There are potential groundwater quality problems evident on all sides of the Richmond Landfill, with anomalous water quality results at distances of up to hundreds of meters from the landfill” (page 4);
- “In my professional opinion, the most likely cause for many of the cases of anomalous water quality is leakage from the nearby Richmond Landfill” (page 18); and
- “Table 2a confirms that the landfill was certainly impacting surface water quality in 2006-2008… Iron and copper exceeded the [Provincial Water Quality Objectives] level in the 2006-2008 period, and in previous years as well. Un-ionized ammonia was over the PWQO limit in November 2006 and occasionally in prior years” (page 6).
“We are alarmed and shocked by Mr. Ruland’s findings, which substantiate our grave concerns about leachate leakage, detection and remediation at this vulnerable setting,” stated Mike Bossio, Chair of the Concerned Citizens – Tyendinaga & Environs (CCTE), which retained Mr. Ruland to conduct his independent review of recent WM documentation.
“Our clients are calling upon the Ministry of the Environment to immediately act upon Mr. Ruland’s 17 recommendations regarding the Richmond Landfill,” said Richard Lindgren, an environmental lawyer who represents the CCTE. “Moreover, it is our opinion that Mr. Ruland’s report raises serious questions about whether WM should be proceeding with its proposed Beechwood Road Environmental Centre landfill beside the existing Richmond Landfill.”
For more information, please contact:
Richard Lindgren – CELA (613-385-1686)
Mike Bossio – CCCTE Chair (613-396-6784)
Related Information:
Nov 03 2008
Richmond Landfill: Chronology of Environmental Concerns
Media Release By: Canadian Environmental Law Association
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