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Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment 1
WELCOME Public Information Centre No.1
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Royal Canadian Legion, 45 Lawson Road
Monday, June 16th, 2014
3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
The reason for this Public Information Centre
To inform you about:
Why the City is doing this study
The study approach and schedule
The project team
We want your input because:
Minimizing impacts to the
community is a primary goal of this
project
Understanding what is important to
you helps the City to make
decisions
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Please complete a Comment Sheet and leave it here today,
or return it to the City by Friday, July 4, 2014.
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Highland Creek
Treatment Plant
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
What are Biosolids?
Four wastewater treatment plants in the City collect and treat wastewater generated in households, businesses and institutions
The residual material that remains is processed to generate biosolids.
Biosolids is a stable, nutrient-rich material that is high in organic content. Biosolids can be managed in a number of ways.
Every household in the City could fill a large swimming pool with wastewater each year - biosolids remaining after treatment would fill 2 wheelbarrows
The City treats over 1.1 million cubic metres of wastewater every day, and generates 226,000 wet tonnes of wastewater biosolids every year
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Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
About the Highland Creek Treatment Plant (HCTP)
The HCTP is situated in the Scarborough
community of West Hill in the City’s Ward 44
It has a rated capacity of 219,000 cubic metres of
wastewater per day
Approximately 41,000 wet tonnes of biosolids are
currently generated each year
Biosolids are managed using two multiple-hearth
incinerators, which combust the organic material in
the biosolids at high temperature
The incinerators are permitted by the Ontario
Ministry of the Environment - emission quality is
better than required by the Ministry
Stable, inorganic ash left from the incineration
process is stored in on-site lagoons, emptied once
per year – ash is reddish in colour due to the use
of iron in the wastewater treatment process
Ash is disposed of at the City’s Green Lane landfill
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Plant photo – showing incineration facility
Incineration Building
Ash Lagoon
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Existing Highland Creek Treatment Plant Process
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GRIT
REMOVAL SCREENS
FERROUS CHLORIDE FOR
PHOSPHORUS PRECIPITATION
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Why is this Class EA study necessary?
The existing multiple hearth incinerators were
commissioned in 1976 and are nearing the end of their
useful life
The incinerator emissions meet all regulatory standards
Urgent repairs to multiple hearth incinerators are
underway, and will extend the life of the incinerators for
a further 10 years
The City needs to plan now, to provide time for design
and construction of a new biosolids management facility
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This study provides an opportunity to consider new technologies and management
approaches to provide biosolids management reliability in the future.
Interior of incinerator building
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Class EA
Process and
Overall Schedule
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
What is the objective of the Class EA study?
The City of Toronto is undertaking a
Schedule B Class EA study to
identify the best way to manage
biosolids at the Highland Creek
Treatment Plant.
The study area has been identified
as Wards 43 and 44, as shown to
the right
Public participation is important to
the Class EA study. Your
participation helps the City
understand the factors that are
important to the community. These
will be considered in selecting the
best biosolids management solution
for the Highland Creek Treatment
Plant.
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Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Overview of the Schedule B Class EA Process and Schedule
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Review existing biosolids management program and prepare Problem/Opportunities Statement.
Identify and document information on feasible biosolids management solutions for the Highland Creek Treatment Plant.
Class EA Report
PIC No. 1
Spring 2014
PIC No. 2
Early Winter 2015
PIC No. 3
Spring 2015
Evaluate feasible solutions considering community, health, environmental and economic factors. Identify the best solution.
30-Day Public
Review Period
Class EA Stage Consultation
Opportunity
Phase 1
Phase 2
Report
The study started in April 2014, and will take approximately 14 months to complete.
Technical
Memoranda
TM-1: Current Biosolids Management and Future Needs
TM-2: Long List of Biosolids Management Options
TM-3: Biosolids Transport Mode Review
TM-4: Development of Short-Listed Biosolids Options
TM-5: Cumulative Air Emissions Modeling Results
TM-6: Noise Modeling Results
TM-7: Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Plan
TM-8: Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) Results
TM-9: HIA Screening
TM-10: HIA Scoping
TM-11: HIA In-Depth Assessment Results
TM-12: Selection of Best Comparative Evaluation Model
TM-13: Comparative Evaluation of Biosolids Options
We are here
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Potential Impacts of Biosolids Management Options
There will be potential impacts (positive and
negative) from all of the biosolids management
alternatives, compared to the existing situation.
These would be as a result of:
On-site construction of new facilities for
biosolids processing
Construction related traffic
Normal day-to-day operation of biosolids
facilities
Traffic due to haulage of ash, biosolids or
fertilizer material
Possible improvements or impacts may result
from biosolids management alternatives, for
example:
Noise
Odour
Emissions
Traffic
Aesthetics
Greenhouse gas generation
Environmental effects (e.g., risk of spills)
Capital and operating costs
Operational complexity and reliability
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The Class EA study is a systematic process to assess all impacts
(positive or negative) of the alternatives, to identify the best biosolids
management solution for the Highland Creek Treatment Plant.
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
How will alternatives be assessed in the Class EA Process?
Possible positive and negative impacts
under each category (shown to right) will
be investigated and documented for each
feasible biosolids management option
These will be considered using a decision-
making approach, to compare alternative
biosolids management approaches
To assess human health related impacts,
a specific process called Health Impact
Assessment (HIA) will be followed (refer
to HIA panels)
The best biosolids management approach
for the Highland Creek Treatment Plant
will be the one with the least negative and
most positive impacts
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Environment Community Human Health Economic
Best Biosolids
Management Option
for Highland Creek
Treatment Plant
Short-List of Feasible
Biosolids Management
Options for Highland
Creek Treatment Plant
Decision-Making Categories
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Class EA Team
Team Expertise Team Member Project Role
City of
Toronto
Toronto Water Nancy Fleming Represents the interest of the City in providing safe drinking water, collecting and treating
wastewater, and providing stormwater management services to City residents.
Toronto Public Health Josephine Archbold Represents the department of the Medical Officer of Health. Will oversee the Health Impact
Assessment (HIA) of biosolids management alternatives.
Environment and
Energy Division Christopher Morgan
Oversight of the cumulative impact air assessment (CIA) modelling for emissions from the
biosolids management alternatives.
Public Consultation Unit Josie Franch Coordination and facilitation of communications and consultation for the Class EA.
Engineering and
Construction Services Pritish Roy Provides engineering expertise and contract management of consultant.
Consulting
Team
Biosolids Management Deborah Ross Specialist expertise in the development of biosolids management alternatives costs and
impacts.
Health Impact
Assessment Ame-Lia Tamburrini HIA lead to evaluate broad health related impacts of all biosolids management alternatives.
Human Health Risk
Assessment Glenn Ferguson
Human health risk assessment lead, to evaluate specific health related impacts of biosolids
management alternatives due to air contaminant emissions.
Cumulative Impact Air
Assessment Anthony Ciccone
Modelling of cumulative air emission impacts on the air shed surrounding the HCTP to provide
information to support the HHRA and HIA.
Public Consultation and
Facilitation Dave Hardy
Support to project team to facilitate meetings and ensure effective communications and
consultation program.
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The project team for this project includes 5 City departments and several experts to cover all aspects
of this Class EA study.
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Future Biosolids
Management Approaches
that will be Considered in
Class EA
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Approaches to managing biosolids at the Highland Creek Treatment Plant
There are three general approaches for
biosolids management that will be
considered for the Highland Creek TP
Within each of these approaches, there are
a range of technology and transport options
that will be investigated during the Class EA
process
All biosolids management approaches that
will be reviewed in this EA process can
proceed within Ontario regulations
The next panels present the three
approaches
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Description
Thermal treatment (such as incineration) at the Highland Creek TP site would continue to be used, with
new technology to replace the older equipment
Ash would be hauled from the HCTP site once per year to the City’s Green Lane landfill
Alternative uses of the ash will be evaluated within the Class EA
Energy recovery will be investigated
Approach 1 – On-Site Thermal Treatment
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Ash Storage
Lagoons
Ash Processed
Sludge or
Biosolids
On-site thermal treatment
(organics in sludge/biosolids are
combusted)
Ash dredged from
lagoons and hauled
once per year
At Highland Creek Treatment Plant
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Description
The City would retain a contractor to haul the biosolids from the Highland Creek Treatment Plant
A new biosolids vehicle loading facility would be constructed at the site with some storage capacity
Normally, 4 to 6 large tanker trucks (with 40 cubic metre capacity) would haul biosolids from the plant
every day
Hauled biosolids would be stored, managed or disposed of (off-site) by the contractor
Approach 2 – Transport Biosolids Off-Site
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New On-Site Vehicle Loading Facility
Biosolids
Biosolids managed by contractor.
Examples of approaches include:
- Beneficial use on land
- Further processing, distribution as
fertilizer product
- Landfill disposal
At Highland Creek Treatment Plant
Biosolids hauled
daily and managed
off-site
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Description
New facilities would be constructed at the Highland Creek Treatment Plant to process biosolids to
generate material that can be distributed as a fertilizer product
A new truck loading facility for the processed material would be constructed at the Highland Creek
Treatment Plant
Normally, 2 to 10 large tanker trucks (with 40 cubic metre capacity) would haul biosolids from the plant
every day, depending on the processing method selected
The City would retain a contractor to haul and find outlets for the fertilizer material
Approach 3 – Process Biosolids On-Site and Transport Processed Material Off-Site
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Biosolids
Processed material
distributed as a fertilizer
product by contractor
New Biosolids
Processing Facility New Vehicle Loading Facility
At Highland Creek Treatment Plant
Fertilizer material
hauled daily and
managed off-site
Processed
Biosolids
(Fertilizer
Material)
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Biosolids Management Approaches 2 and 3 would require daily transport of biosolids or processed material off-site
Within the Class EA, a full analysis of transportation modes to haul biosolids or processed material will be conducted
All potential haul routes from the Highland Creek Treatment Plant to Highway 401 (Macdonald Cartier Freeway) will be assessed, taking into consideration:
• Emissions
• Noise
• Odour
• Safety
The best route to Highway 401 will be used in the evaluation of Approaches 2 and 3
Transportation Mode and Route Assessment
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Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Health Impact
Assessment
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Health Impact Assessment
Impacts of biosolids management alternatives will be considered in each of the four categories (human
health, environment, community, economic)
To specifically evaluate the potential health impacts or benefits for each feasible alternative, a Health Impact
Assessment (HIA) will be completed
The HIA will assess a full range of possible health impacts of each alternative to determine impacts and
benefits to the individuals in the Highland Creek Treatment Plant community, as shown below
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Health
Impact
Assessment
(HIA)
Environment
Community
Human Health
Economic
Class EA Evaluation
Categories Health Impact Assessment
Environmental Access to
Services
Lifestyle Factors Social and Economic
Conditions
• Noise
• Odours
• Air quality
• Soil quality
• Water quality
• Land use
• GHG emissions
• Emergency vehicles
• Hospitals and
health care centres
• Public transport
• Education
• Workplaces
• Parks and
recreation
• Stress levels
• People’s belief in
their future and sense
of control of their
lives
• Personal safety/traffic
safety
• Personal behaviours
• Reputation of community
• Property values
• Employment and income
• Income distribution
• Availability and quality of
employment/ training
Equity
Equity will be a lens through which all health areas will be examined to determine whether potential
effects are equitably or inequitably distributed amongst the population
Possible Health Effects to be Considered in HIA
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Health Impact Assessment
A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a procedure
used to identify how a specific project could
potentially affect health in human populations
For this study, the HIA will use the following key
sources of information to evaluate health impacts
from biosolids management options:
• Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment
• Human Health Risk Assessment – which will
evaluate the potential for health impacts from
emissions
• Noise assessment
• Odour assessment
• Traffic assessment
• Other health related impacts, as identified through a
HIA Stakeholders Group that represents the
community, City and subject experts
The HIA Stakeholders Group will meet at two
points in the HIA process as illustrated
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Screening Confirm that an HIA is appropriate for this project
Scoping Identify the health areas relevant to this project
Status of Health in the Community This sets a baseline against which to compare effects
Assessment & Recommendations Describe and characterize health effects, both positive and
negative for each alternative, and identify measures enhance
positive impacts and minimize negative impacts
Evaluation & Monitoring Determine the effectiveness of the HIA and monitor health
outcomes or other decision points over time
HIA
Stakeholders
Group Meeting
HIA
Stakeholders
Group Meeting
Steps in the Health Impact Assessment
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment
and
Human Health Risk Assessment
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment
Air quality in Toronto is influenced by activities,
meteorology and land use
Sources of emissions that affect air quality in the
Toronto air-shed, include:
• Traffic, such as vehicles, trains, airplanes
• Land uses, such as industries, homes,
businesses, institutions
The impact on the air quality in any specific area is
also significantly affected by
meteorology, including:
• Winds
• Temperature
• Solar Radiation
• Topography
Activities outside Toronto also contribute to the City’s
air quality
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Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment
Studies (using numerical modelling) will be used to
predict changes in air quality concentrations due to
each of the feasible biosolids management
alternatives
Studies will consider:
• Emissions rates for the biosolids management
alternatives from processing and transport
• The physical environment: meteorology,
topography and land use
• Locations of receptors (such as schools, hospitals,
community centres and parks)
Study results will be combined with existing
background air quality levels to show the combined
effects on the study area
The assessment will consider the replacement of the
existing multiple hearth facility with each biosolids
management alternative
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Contaminant
Emissions
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)
The potential for an increase (or decrease) in airborne
contaminants from biosolids management options will be
determined from the Cumulative Air Emissions
Assessment
What those changes mean to human health will be
determined by a Human Health Risk Assessment
The HHRA will specifically evaluate positive and negative
health effects as a result of particular chemical emissions
from each of the biosolids management alternatives
The objectives of an HHRA are:
• Identify pathways for exposure to airborne contaminants
• Assess exposure and potential effects on people in the
community
• Propose measures to reduce impacts
The results of the HHRA will be used in the Health Impact
Assessment as part of the overall assessment of health
impacts for each of the feasible biosolids management
alternatives
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Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Next Steps
Please complete a Comment Sheet and leave it here
today, or return it to the City by Friday, July 4, 2014
A second public information centre will be held in early
winter 2015 to present the biosolids management
options being evaluated, as well as some of the potential
impacts being assessed
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For more information about this project, or to view the Public Information Centre displays
online, please visit the project website:
http://www.toronto.ca/hctpbiosolidsea
Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management
Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
Project Schedule and Work Plan
Evaluation of
Alternatives
2014 2015 Jul Aug Sep Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Oct Nov Dec Jul Aug Sep Apr May Jun
Health Impact Assessment
Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment
Identification of Biosolids
Management Approaches
EA
Report
1
2
3
30-day Review Period
1
2
PIC No.
PIC No.
PIC No.
HIA Stakeholder Meeting No.
HIA Stakeholder Meeting No.
Development of Environmental, Social, Health, and Economic Effects
TM-1: Current Biosolids Management and Future Needs
TM-2: Long List of Biosolids Management Options
TM-3: Biosolids Transport Mode Review
TM-4: Development of Short-Listed Biosolids Options
TM-5: Cumulative Air Emissions Modeling Results
TM-6: Noise Modeling Results
TM-7: Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Plan
TM-8: Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) Results
TM-9: HIA Screening
TM-10: HIA Scoping
TM-11: HIA In-Depth Assessment Results
TM-12: Selection of Best Comparative Evaluation Model
TM-13: Comparative Evaluation of Biosolids Options
Project Work Plan:
Technical Memoranda
Project Schedule
We are here