Lakefield Herald Special Report

Douro-Dummer develops policy for closed landfill sites

by Terry McQuitty

The Township of Douro-Dummer is taking precautions to avoid future liabilities.

A report was submitted to council at the September 2 council meeting setting out procedures dealing with proposed developments in the proximity of closed landfill sites.

Three landowners have approached the Township with plans to create new lots bordering on closed landfill sites. Council directed staff to prepare a policy that could possibly allow these developments to take place.

The purpose of the policy is to meet the requirements of Section 5.8.7 of the Township’s Official Plan and to reduce the potential for liability for the Township when development is approved in areas within a 500 metre proximity of closed landfill sites.

The definition of development takes into account the creation of a new lot, a change in land use or the construction of buildings and structures requiring approval under the Planning Act.

Prior to council considering a development application for a parcel of land within 500 metres of a closed landfill site the applicant must provide the following information:

• A well report of a well that has been drilled or dug by a person licensed to construct a well;

• The location of the well on the applicant’s property shall be in a location that is as close to the closed landfill site as possible on the applicant’s property;

• A well monitoring report for two sampling regimes (spring and fall of the same year), prepared by a qualified person that would state that there has been no impact from the closed landfill site on the applicant’s property;

• All wells constructed pursuant to this policy should be down gradient from the closed landfill sites. Property owners proposing development up gradient from the closed landfill sites shall be required to provide a report from a qualified person confirming that there would be no impact from the closed landfill site. If such a report is available, then the requirement for a well may not be necessary.

• The water quality assessment package shall, as a minimum requirement include: Conductivity, Saturation pH, pH, Alkalinity, Biocarbonate, Carbonate, Colour, Turbidity, TOC, Hydroxide, Hardness, Ammonia as Nitrogen Bromide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Floride, Chloride, Sulfate, Orthophosphate, Calculated TDS, Cation/Anion Ratio, Total Phosphorus, Langelier Index, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Aluminum, Arsenic, Barium, Boron, Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Selenium, Silver, Strontium, Thallium, Titanium, Uranium, Vanadium, Zinc, Reactive Silica, plus TKN (total Kjeldahl Nitrogen), BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and TOC (Total Organic Carbon).

• If a well already exists on the applicant’s property in a location that is suitable for the testing requirements, then such can be used for doing the required assessment. If current (less than one year old) testing information and reports are already available for existing wells, then that information can also be used. The decision as to whether a well location and testing information is suitable shall be that of the municipality, not the applicant.

If the report listed above shows that there is no impact from the closed landfill site council can consider development on the property.

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