BIGHORN – A Bow Valley-based construction company has been ordered to clean up sludge found on its leased Crown land in the MD of Bighorn.
In an Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act enforcement order released last May by Alberta Environment and Parks, Bremner Engineering and Construction Ltd. (BECL) was ordered to remediate areas in the MD of Bighorn where grey materials were found – fluid releases from heavy equipment and a sludge-like substance that was found on the surface of a pit road.
"Contaminated areas were identified and addressed, and now [Bremner] is moving forward with remediation on site ... the enforcement order will remain in effect until all aspects of the order have been confirmed," Alberta Environment and Parks director of communications John Muir said in a statement.
Outlined in the document, Bremner Construction confirmed via written statement to AEP that the local company had instructed a subcontractor to dispose of the waste on land Bremner leases from the province along Highway 1A and near Gap Lake.
"BECL accompanied [the sub-contractor] in most cases, and had shown [the sub-contractor] where to dump the waste, which was within the hydro-vac dump sites," the enforcement order stated.
The lands in question had all rights and interests assigned to BECL in 1994. AEP conducted site inspections in 2015 and 2016, when four areas were identified as possible contamination sites.
AEP said it did not issue approval or authorization for disposal of waste on those lands. The enforcement order was issued in 2019.
"Regretfully, illegal and inappropriate dumping isn't uncommon in Alberta's rural municipalities. It isn't taken lightly when it occurs," MD of Bighorn Reeve Dene Cooper said in a written statement.
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The Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act regulates how air, water, land and biodiversity are managed within the province. The goal is to support and promote protection, enhancement and wise use of the environment.
BECL is now required to identify and remove any contamination. AEP said it required a remediation plan by February 2020, which the company has complied with.
Outlined in the enforcement order is a list of mandatory sampling to be tested post-remediation, including soil, subsoil, bedrock, surface water and groundwater.
"Once the work is complete, a written report will be submitted to the department describing the work completed. This will include documentation showing that the contaminated soils were taken to an approved waste management facility," Muir wrote.
BECL did not respond to request for comment.
