Firm withdraws cleanup offer

Author: Frank Matys

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An Orillia company has pulled the plug on a plan to attempt a clean up a city-owned property littered with contaminants.
BioSafe Environmental owner Don Wilson said an agreement that allowed him to seek ministry approval for the test project was crippled by a clause requiring that the province accept responsibility for his work.
“That is ludicrous,” he told Orillia Today. “The ministry is not going to agree with that.”
Council in March gave Wilson the go ahead to seek environment ministry approval for a pilot project to determine whether he could rid the West Street property of its underground contaminants.
A biodegradable shampoo ingredient and oxidizers would be injected under high pressure into the “hot spot” through a drilled well, and then pumped back to the surface for treatment.
Wilson offered to carry out the test at no cost to the city in the hope of securing a contract to clean the site, should the technology prove workable.
When he received the formal agreement and conditions, Wilson was outraged to learn the city was requiring that the province accept responsibility for any environmental impacts that may result from the pilot test.
“They have nothing to do with that site,” he said. “It is a city site. It is their liability.
“If they are going to insist the Ministry of the Environment has to be part of this equation, the deal is dead,” he said.
Municipal officials argued they were protecting the municipality against potential risks, should the pilot project upset the decades-old chemicals.
Consultants for the city said a drilling program would violate safety measures established for the site to protect human health.
City Manager Ian Brown said the ministry has consistently argued against drilling in the area of the contaminants.
Were the province willing to allow it, “then they should accept the responsibility for what happens, if anything,” he said.
Staff additionally questioned Wilson’s credentials.
“We have not received any information at this time or in the past from you that indicates your relevant experience, expertise, case histories, or any details concerning the qualifications of your firm or methodology for performing this work,” said special projects manager Lori Koughan.
Wilson said he had agreed to purchase an insurance policy for the work.
“The bottom line is, what is it going to cost the city whether I have the expertise or not?” he said.