Cherokee, Domtar to appeal soil sample, cleanup orders

Two companies in a dispute with the Alberta government over former industrial lands in northeast Edmonton say they plan to fight new demands to conduct extensive soil sampling and clean up any contamination on the site.

Cherokee Canada Inc. and Domtar both confirmed Friday they are filing appeals to the Alberta Environment enforcement orders announced on March 16.

The lands in question, just north of Yellowhead Trail near 44 Street, served as a Domtar wood-treatment operation from 1924 to 1987.

Cherokee bought the property in 2010 with the intention of building a residential subdivision. Dozens of homes have already been constructed and occupied in the western portion of the site.

The government’s orders pertain to uninhabited sections of the property, including a berm and lands earmarked for future development. Alberta Environment has said that based on its own tests, it wants the firms to conduct additional soil sampling, develop plans to remove contaminants and assess the risks to human health.

Cherokee’s response is that the demands are unreasonable since extensive testing has already taken place, while the lands in question have been declared safe or are scheduled for future remediation.

The firm said it also plans to appeal public health orders that require fences and warning signs around uninhabited sections of the site.