Town of Shelburne preparing to officially decommission first-generation landfill
Funding applications submitted to the Government of Canada to support decommissioning
Shelburne, NS – The Town of Shelburne has submitted a funding application to the Government of Canada’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) to support its efforts to ensure its first-generation landfill, closed since 1996, conforms to Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (NSECC) requirements.
The proposed work, including installing testing wells and setting up a monitoring program, will build upon the closing work conducted in 1998, which included reshaping of the slopes with geotextile silt fencing installation followed by hydroseeding, then some 5,000 metric tonnes of fill covering was added.
“Town Council unanimously supports officially decommissioning the landfill,” said Harold Locke, Mayor, Town of Shelburne. “Some residents have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact of landfill, and we are taking the necessary steps to address any issues that may exist. Official decommissioning of the landfill is the right thing to do.”
As part of the official decommissioning, water samples from the testing wells and nearby residents’ wells will be submitted for laboratory analysis and, if necessary, additional work will be performed to achieve a NSECC requirements. NSECC must approve the decommissioning plan and the proposed engineering, biological and environmental considerations.
Once formally decommissioned, the land will create opportunities for future site use to benefit the community.
The project will take over five years to complete and is estimated at $468,000 to which the town has applied for a $297,000 grant from ICIP. “The ICIP grant will allow us to move forward with this project without needing to use much of the operating reserves, but we are committed to this project nonetheless and will use the reserves to make it happen, if we have to,” said Locke.
The first-generation landfill operated from 1946 to 1996 and was used by the residents and businesses of the Town of Shelburne and the Municipality of the District of Shelburne, along with the Department of National Defence and Roseway Hospital and Manor, and others. After the landfill officially closed in 1996, the site served as a transfer station for white metals for a short period of time. Subsequently, NSECC allowed the placement of downed trees and shrubs from Hurricane Dorian and Hurricane Juan on top of the closed landfill.
The Town of Shelburne will update residents on its funding application and the decommission as it proceeds, including making the water analysis synopsis publicly available.