BC Ministry of Environment Creosote Log Removal Pilot Project in Tsawwassen causeway Vasiliki S....
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Transcript of BC Ministry of Environment Creosote Log Removal Pilot Project in Tsawwassen causeway Vasiliki S....
BC Ministry of Environment
Creosote Log Removal Pilot Project in
Tsawwassen causeway
Vasiliki S. Karpouziprepared for the Shared Waters Alliance Meeting
January 28, 2009
outline
1. background what is creosote? how is it
identified?2. creosote log remediation projects
in WA partners, funding, results
3. 2007 field survey in Boundary Bay area, approach, results
4. 2008 pilot project rationale, logistics, results, next
steps
Creosote is used as wood preservative for railway ties, bridge timbers, pilings, and large-sized lumber.
Creosote acts as pesticide, herbicide and fungicide, killing wood-boring animals and micro-organisms.
In BC, creosote is regulated by the Integrated Pest Management Act, and the Environmental Management Act.
In BC, creosote accounts for ~ 70% of the total quantity of pesticide used (~ 6,000 tonnes; source: British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, 1995).
Waste products are generated when structures are decommissioned.
creosote facts
Creosote has been shown to be toxic.
To humans: Long-term exposure may be linked to eczema,
lung cancer, mutations, teratogenesis, and DNA damage.
To marine life: Creosote may cause reduced survival, growth
and reproductive success to mussels, oysters. Creosote may cause reduced growth and
survival, morphological deformities and oedema, abnormal behavioural patterns to fish.
To habitat: Creosote slowly works its way downward in
the sediment, where it persists until degraded, re-suspended, bio-accumulated, or removed by dredging.
creosote facts, cont’d
creosote clues
Tar-like substance.
Ring of black around knots in wood.
Ring of black at the ends of log/piling.
Treated logs will usually rot from the inside first.
Injection marks throughout the wood (look like slash marks).
Dry or old wood may have a grey coloring. Peel a layer off, you may see or smell the creosote inside (scratch and sniff test).
transboundary issue
In 2007, Governor Gregoire and Premier Campbell signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the commitment to take action together on our shared Pacific Ocean.
The MoU established the BC – WA Coastal Ocean Task Force to coordinate and act on coastal and ocean issues of transboundary relevance in the shared waters of Puget Sound and Georgia Basin.
Creosote-treated log removal (habitat restoration) was one of the activities identified WA and BC can undertake together.
creosote remediation in WA
2002-2003:WA Department of Ecology, Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee (MRC), City of Bellingham
Whatcom County Marine Creosote Piling Remediation Project.
~ 100 t creosote logs removed. ~ USD $ 70,000 spent.2005-2007:
NorthWest Straits Commission, WA Department of Natural Resources, local MRCs
Removal efforts expanded to all seven Northwest Straits Counties.
> 1,100 t creosote logs removed. ~ USD $ 600,000 spent.2007-2009: Governor Gregoire has offered USD $ 4 million to fund
removal efforts. Ministry of Transportation and WA Ferries are funding
removal of creosote-treated timber from 19 ferry terminals in Puget Sound.
creosote remediation in WA, cont’d
Remediation projects in WA have demonstrated that creosote is easily identified and removal is clearly achievable.
The logs can be systematically identified, measured, and recorded using trained volunteers.
Project success is attributed to the partnerships that have been developed with local government, industries, non-profit groups and individuals.
BC pilot project was modelled after the Whatcom County Marine Creosote Piling Remediation Project.
BC’s Pilot Project in Boundary Bay
In 2002-2003, the Whatcom County MRC inventoried the shores of Blaine.
321 m3 of debris was found, 181 m3 was removed.
In 2007, Friends of the Semiahmoo Bay Society surveyed:
Tsawwassen, south beach of the causeway.
Crescent Beach, from 1001 Steps to Blackie Spit.
White Rock, from Peace Arch Park to 1001 Steps.
In 2008, Ministry of Environment staff and Friends of the Semiahmoo Bay Society surveyed:
Same areas as in 2007. Mud Bay.
Site selection: Accessibility, Recreational, and Ecological Value.
Whatcom County 2002/03 creosote debris inventory
Boundary Bay 2007
survey
Pilot Project: rationale
Why remove creosote from selected sites? 6 great reasons… Boundary Bay is an Important Bird Area with mudflats,
eelgrass beds and salt marshes that support over 1 million birds every year.
Tsawwassen hosts one of the three Great blue heron rookeries of Boundary Bay. Extensive eelgrass beds are also present.
Sites are important recreation areas. There are a number of effective stewardship programs in
place. Beaches are accessible by road and/or water. Creosote remediation is underway south of the border in
Semiahmoo Bay.
Pilot Project: logistics
Partners: Cities of Surrey, Delta, and White Rock
First Nations: Tsawwassen, Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwantlen FNs
Fraser River Estuary Management Program:http://bieapfremp.org/fremp/projectreview/index.html
Minimize disturbance. No harmful alteration of
fish and habitat. Operation of heavy
machinery above the intertidal zone.
Pilot Project: logistics, cont’d Concord Excavating & Contracting Ltd. was hired to haul
and dispose of the debris. Debris was disposed of at the Ecowaste Industries
Landfill site in Richmond BC. Tools: GPS, data sheets, stake flags, drills,
cameras Safety gear: gloves, sunglasses, hats,
sunblock!!!
Pilot Project: 2008 data collectionInformation included in the creosote log inventory: date and location of field survey. lat/long coordinates of logs and debris. description of debris (i.e., beam/pole/plank, light/heavy soak,
size). description of the area where debris was found (e.g., local
landmarks). suggested removal method (by hand or crane). Reference photographs for each piece of debris.
2008 creosote debris removal
Video of creosote debris removal from Tsawwassen causeway
2008 creosote debris removal, cont’d In September 2008, 9.95 tonnes of creosote-treated
debris were hauled and disposed of from the south beach of the Tsawwassen causeway.
The overall cost for the Tsawwassen pilot project was CAD $ 5,986.50 (CAD $ 602 per tonne of debris).
operating the excavator, renting the disposal container, labourCAD $ 3,802.50
disposal of debrisCAD $ 2,184.00
2009 outlook
The Ocean and Marine Fisheries Branch will continue removal efforts in high priority areas that have already been identified (i.e., Boundary Bay).
MoE’s objective is to expand creosote-treated log and wood debris removal initiatives to other sensitive marine habitats in BC (e.g., Fraser estuary).
Rationale: Creosote is toxic. Beach-goers climb on creosote-treated logs/poles and
haul them around to build forts. Adults sit on them and burn them for campfires.
Danger to fish, wildlife, and habitat. Danger to human health. Many people are unaware of
the dangers of handling creosote or of ingesting smoke from the fires.
Acknowledgements
Washington State Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society Concord Excavating & Contracting Ltd.
Thank you for your time and attention!