Yellowhead County Tervita Carrot Creek site tour.

Tervita Corporation applied for the creation of a new cell for the purpose of repairing the damage of an already existing cell. Yellowhead County is coordinating on-site tours with Tervita to provide an overview of the site.

Tervita Corporation has made an application to Yellowhead County for the creation of a new cell (Cell #7) at the existing Tervita industrial waste site for the purpose of repairing the damage that was discovered within the high-density polyethylene liner of an already existing cell.

Although the site is safety-engineered with a secondary clay liner, Alberta Environment and Parks requires that Tervita repair the damaged liner.

The Tervita site, located at NW 27-53-13-W5M (Carrot Creek), has not accepted industrial waste in over two years, and the company is working with Alberta Environment and Parks on developing a plan in order to make the repairs to the containment system.

One of the goals of the community and the County is to see this site closed and capped as soon as possible. Approving the creation of a new cell on the current site is the most efficient way (economically and fastest) to move the existing materials to a new cell in order to facilitate the repairs in the damaged cell lining.

Once the repairs are completed, Tervita with the support and oversight of Alberta Environment will be permitted to bring in waste materials to fill the void left from moving materials from the damaged cell to Cell #7. Once the existing cells are filled, the site will be closed and capped.

If this new cell is not permitted, the closure of the current site would be prolonged for a number of years while a new location is investigated and constructed. Significant time and expenses would also be required to transport the materials to a new site before the liner can be repaired. As the community wishes to see this site closed as soon as possible, the off-site transfer option is not deemed in the best interests of the community.

It is felt that the creation of a new cell to hold the material onsite to accommodate the necessary repairs is the best option for all stakeholders and will lead to the capping and closure in the quickest and most efficient manner.

For anyone interested in learning more about the Tervita operation and management of the site, the County is coordinating on-site tours with Tervita to provide an overview of the various aspects of the site operations, containment and leachate systems, and on-site monitoring programs.

The tour is a walking tour, so participants would be required to bring their own appropriate safety footwear. Other personal protective-equipment will be supplied. If you are interested, please register with the County by calling 780-723-4800 and request to be included on the ‘Tervita Tour.’

In summary, to bring this development to a conclusion, the County will:

•Issue a permit to Tervita to allow for the construction of cell #7 on the existing site of Tervita.

•Require Tervita to complete appropriate landscaping along the north side of the NW & NE 27-53-13-W5M.

•Allow materials from the existing cells that have a damaged liner to be moved to cell #7.

•Ensure Air monitoring reports will be submitted on an annual basis to Alberta Environment and Parks and Yellowhead County. The monitoring of air quality will continue until the entire landfill has been capped.

•Ensure stock piling of only clean material on the adjacent quarter to the east (NE 27-53-13W5M).

•Ensure ground monitoring reports shall be submitted on an annual basis to Alberta Environment and Parks and Yellowhead County.

•Permit Tervita to bring in additional waste materials to re-fill the existing cells once the liner issue is repaired and approved by Alberta Environment and Parks.

•Ensure the landfill is capped in stages and completely capped in 10 years after the waste material has been relocated to new cell #7.

•Ensure no new waste material will be permitted on this site after December 31, 2025.

•Ensure the height of cell #7 and the existing cells (1-6) shall not exceed 887m above sea level as required by Alberta Environment and Parks.

•Ensure that at no time, shall waste material be tracked or deposited onto the public roadway.

•Have a Councillor and administrative person attend the quarterly community advisory meetings held by Tervita.