Environmental Assegsrnent SpillResponse Site and Petrolerum Products Division TankFarm Facility, Resoluts, Nunavut Drafr Report Section

Discussion 8:

DTSCUSSTON
-*-d'tavt JoLD La-)

Basedon our currentundenttanding the Siteandthe information of gathered duringthis assessrnent, Nunami offersthe following discussion aboutthe results.

SoillCatchmentBasin Duringthe site visit, productwas observedon top of the ice in the spill catchmentbasin. Several fissureswer, observed withinthe snowand ice in the basin. Basedon the comparison reference to (as standards discussed Section in 6.6),the product similar a type of gasoline is to and is not sign ificantlyweathered. Initially smallamount product a of was observed the northemportionof the basin;hotever, afier on a two day storm,largeramountsof fudwerc observedon top of the ice. Withoutthe additionof nerr productto the cell, one explanation to the differences the amountof fuel atop of the ice coutd as in be dueto the additional weightof the snowof the storm;causing any of the product lloatingbetween pushedup throughthe fissures. the water/ ice interface be to Dueto the absenceof a protectivelayerof gravelabovethe liner,Nunamidid not adrrance bore holesto et/eluate presenceof water or fuel underthe ice.As a result,Nunamicalculated the the buoyancy requiredfor the ice to be displaced downward and for the productto be pushedup through the fissuresin the spillcatchment basin. Basedon thesecalculations spillcatchment the basin wouldneedto containa minimumof 0.53 m of water Basedon our field measurements with respectto the fuel on top of the ice, and our calculatione of volumeof fuefunderand'within the estimated fissures thc ice,approximately in 19,000L to 67,600L of gasolinemay havebeen containedwithinthe spillcatchmentbasinat the time of the assessmeril. A summaryof the estirnated rangeof gasoline volumeswithinthe spill catchmentbasinare provided in Tablel-1 in Appendh l. Soil lmoactr Threernainareasof soil impads were identified on-site,as illustrated Dr:awing 3 in in No. AppendixA. Theseincludc areaimmediately the adjacent the release to area(TP11-01, TP11-05, TP1 1-06, TPI 1-08andTP11-09) TP11-07, andturoareaseastof the spillcatchrnent 1-20 basin(TP1 A and TPI 1-121. determination the contaminant in the majority soilsamples of type of collected could not be madeas the samples contained PHCsconsistent bothgasoline with and diesel. However, in comparison the prcductsamplecollected to fromthe spillcatchment basin,it was concluded the that

|/tY
t?,"

'

I{UNAMI

December 19,2011 Project 110218593 No.

8-1

(*,

Environmental Assessrnent SpillResponse Site and Pefoleum Products Division TankFarm Facility, Resolute, Nunavut DraftReport Seclion Discussion 8:

soilsamples containEd mainlygasoline componenls. Twoexceptions thisconclusion rilere to identified.Firstly, sampleg the collected fromTP11-01 contained heavier end PHC irnpacts in addition the gasoline to components. Secondly, although soil sampleTP11-08 the contained mainty gasolinecomponents, samplehad significant the reduction the earlypeaks in its chrornatograrn. of Two areaseaetof the spillcatchment basin(TP11-12 and TP11-20) hadelevated concentnations of PHC9exceeding applicable the regufatory criteria. Basedon the comparison the sample of chromatogEms thc refcrencc to standard, impacts the sharedsimilarities gasoline.Howevcr, to Nunamiis unableto determine whentha contamination occuned;it is possible the impacts that are associated with previousspillsat the Site. Dueto the presence hydrocarbon of impactsin Tp1 1-,12, horizontal delineation impacts thigareawag not achiewd. of in Due to the size of the spiltreported, type of materialonsite(coarsecompac{ed the gravel)and subzero temperatures resulting frozengroundconditions, in product ponding shouldhavEoccurred. However, limitedponding was reported withinthe containment cellhousing Tanks103and 104. to Due to the presenceof snowcoveron-site,Nunamicouldnot confirma definitepathwaythat would enablethe transport produc{ of fromthe containment cellto the spillcatchment basin.ln addition, no linerwas observed thisarea.A linerwas observed the areaof TP11-08 in in located approximately 40 m eastof Tank 1(X. Considering the product that frornthe catchment basinis similarto the impacts foundin the soil samples, is possible the fuelfromthe spitlcatchment it thd basinoriginated fronrthe release site. Therefore, possiblepathwaysof flowwould liketybe east by southeast which is consistent the with the topographyof the Site as observedduringthe Site visit (iltustrated Drawingl{o. 6 in in Appendh A). Product couldhaveflqred overfand wilhinthe surfrcial graveltothe bermon which or the fuel manifolds supported thenpreceded are and through underthe berm. or Furtherinvestigation required confirm presence a potentialtransport is to the pathway, limited of as work couldbe canied out in the area duringthe site assessment to the frozengroundand heavy due snow cover. Additionally, analysescouldhavebeenassistedwilh accuratedesigndrawingsof our the Site and facilities. Evaoorationof Fuel Statemenls rnadeby Mr. Kheraj,Mr. Alamgir and the RCMPofficernotedthatthe spilloccuned between12:00am on October 27,2011 and 7:00am on October28,2011. Less than24hourslater, gasoline was observed the spillcatchment in basin. As no evidenceof impactsto the top of the snow layerwas obseryed, gasolineis speculated the to havetraveledbetweenthe permafrost the snow layersfrom the spilllocationto the spill and catchment basin. The product wouldthenhavecoltected the spiltcatchment in basinwhereit was coveredby snow(1.5m of snowin somesections the spillcatehment of basin). such,the As gasoline was exposed directly the atmosphere a veryshorttimetine.Sonreevaporation to lor would haveoccurred the fuelexiledthe tankvent and dropped the surface as to belowthe tank;however, the volumethat potentially evaporated estimated to be significant. is not

8-2 I

tjecember 201t 19, ProjedNo. 110218593

'vtY ' - t?tt NUIAMI

^-:L;

Environmentaf Assessment SpillResponse Site and Petroleum Producb Division TankFarm Facility, Resolute, Nunavut DraftReport Section Discusslon 8:

Evaporation ratesof gasolinevarieedependent the temperature: to with increasedratesof evaporation higherternperatures. at Nunami calculated evaporation for gasoline the rate considering an ambienttemperature -20oCat the time of the release(proddedin Table l-2 providedin of Appendlx l). Nunamihas cabulated evaporation the ratesrangebetween to 30 L of per hourper 2 squaremeterof spill area (|../h/rn';.Girrenthe fact that the gasolinewas incorporated a matrixof in soil and/orsnowand not an open pool of gas exposedto the atmosphere, believethat the lower we rateof evaporation wo.tH be a moreaccuratevalue. Usingthe lorer rateof evaporation and an approximate area of 50 m2of impactedsurfaceexposedto the atmosphere approximately 2,400 L of fuef couldevaporate a24 hour period. in

'}/at.,
* trrn

\u:{Alil

December 19.2011 Projeci 110218593 No,

i a-r

/-)49

Environrnental Assessment SpillResponse Site and Petroleum Productrs Division TankFarm Facility, Resolute, Nunavut DraltReport
Section9: Conclusions

CONCLUSIONS

Basedon our reviewof the environmental reports,the Gorremment the Northweet of Tenitories Hazardous MaterialsSpillsDatabase and thc rcsultgof the site investigation, is apparentthat it significant hydrocarbon impactsexist in soilat the Tank Farm Fac1ity.Severalsenificant hydrocarbon releaseshaveoccurredat the facilitysinceat teaetthe 1970s(the Government the of Northwest Tenitorieerecordsgo back to the 1g70s).

9.1

GeneralConditions

At the time of our arrivalto the site the areawas snowcoveredand the temperatures vyergbelow 0oC. Day lightwas limiledto a few hoursof twilightbetween10 am and 1 pm. Trrvo stormsoccuned duringout sitevisitand a significant volumeof snowaccumutated across studyarea and in the the spillcatchment basin. This limited abilityto carryout a visualinspection the soil through the of test pitsor othersubsurface assessment technique.

Thegrcund surface thes e andsunounding comisted compecld on ata grawr,the surfaca of of<cli7y-) as c i\) which wasfrozenard gnolvcovrred.,
Giventhe frozensurfacesoil conditions is expecledthat therewould be significant it overlandflow of fuel, impactinga targe surfacearea. '

9.2

Environmental lmpacts

duringthe initialresponse the spillit was notedthatthisareacontained significant to a vofumeof surficiaf snowwhich was impacted wilh fuel from the tank overflowing of the vent. A large out spraypattemwas evidenton the snov. Hydrocarbon impactsat the locationof test pits TP11-06 and TPI 147,locatedwithinthe containment exceeded applicabfe cell, the criteria.No linerwas foundin thigarea. the Siteand ResoluteBav.a sensitive marineenvircnment.Anatytical resultsof soilsamples collectedin this area confirmthe presnce PHC impactsaboveguidelines this area. of in The majority the impadsappearto havemigrated the spillcatchment of to basin;however, soil samples fromtestpilsTP11-01, TP11-09, TP11-',2 TP11-20 and levelsof hydrocarbon contain impacts whichexceedthe applicable guirlelines.Horizontal delineation the hydrocarbon of impacts identified TP11-09 in (approximately m northof Tank 1O4) TP11-i2 (located 40 and betweenthe accessroad east of Site and Resofute 8ay) was not achieved.A linerwas detected at the location TP11-08 of whilea linerwas notdetected the location Tp11-0S. at of o Gasoline impac{s confirrned be present the spillcatchment are to in basin.

rr'9 . * .rr.
\LI{AMI

December 19,2011 Projecr 110218593 No.

j s-r

&5

Environmental Asso$ment SpillResponse Site and Peuolzum ProductDivision Farm Tank Facirity, Resolute, Nunavut DraftReport Section Conclusions 9:

Area3' The soill catchmant basintrcated eastof theotd tankfarm.Visual,offactoryand laboratory analysishas conflrmedthe presence gasolineimpactcadsorbed the snow, lying of to on the ice and in the fissuresin the icE. Fuelfromthe release appears havemigrated least to at in part to the spillcatchment basin.The exac't routethrough wtrichthe gas tookto achbve this is not confirmed. lt wouldapparthat the surfcial flor on the site from the area at Tanks 103 and 1O4is to the east and southeast towardsthe catchment basin.In addition,there is evidenceto suggestthat the surfaceflow has impacledgravelsin test pits to the east of the spifl location furtherreinforcing the'directionalvector the spill. Fuelandfuel impacted of snowfrom Area 1 was reportbdly collected and placedin thEsouthwest end of the spillcatchment basin. However, the volumeof fuel in the snowand the faa thatfudoriginatedfrom Tank 1(X couldnot be confirmed the fieH. in

9.3
'

Uncertainties

Therewere severalfactorsthat resultedin a levelof uncertainty aboutthe impactsof the fuel reportedto havebeenreleased. The lack of as'builtdrawingsof the facilityprevented Nunamifromfully understanding potential pathways full investigation someareas(e.g.,the spillcatchment transport and of basin).Nunami did not wentto drillthrough linerin the catchment the basinand possibly causemore impactto the environment thanalready occuned. (boththe gravelsubstrate frozenconditions) significant Soilconditions and and snor cover made it difficultto excavatetest pits and understrand detailedsite topographyand drainage. Cofdtemperatures, limiteddaylight and blizard conditiona limitedavailability eguipment and of reducedthe amounlof investigation couldbe completed that whilc on site.

r '

9-2

December 19,2011 Prolect 110218593 No.

tv*t
.f-'..t

NU}IAMI

b4,

N
i20.000t CAPA(iITY

TANK 103 T^lr( tn (otEsEL)- , (c^soltr,tE)

tt#' F

li

-EE!

dD'
/.r"'--' l'

oo()oo
\-/ \

\,

(-)
t

'-T---:##jifir-----r

NEW TANX FARTI

a VV
oLDlAt{KFAil

CATCXlll|I !A8tfl

JI

TEST PIT LOCATION PI.AN

1-1