PROPONENT:
CRYSTAL SPRING HOLDING CO. LTD./CRYSTAL SPRING COLONY FARMS LTD.
PROPOSAL NAME:
CRYSTAL SPRING COLONY WASTEWATER TREATMENT LAGOON
CLASS OF DEVELOPMENT:
Two
TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT:
WASTE TREATMENT AND STORAGE AND SCRAP PROCESSING - WASTEWATER TREATMENT LAGOON
CLIENT FILE NO.:
164.10
OVERVIEW:
On April 4, 1996, the Department received a Proposal prepared by Cochrane Engineering Inc. on behalf of the proponent, Crystal Spring Holding Co. Ltd./Crystal Spring Colony Farms Ltd., to operate a wastewater treatment lagoon. The lagoon is located on the southwest quarter of Section 34-6-3 EPM in the Rural Municipality of De Salaberry.
The wastewater treatment lagoon was constructed in the mid 1960's. A licence was issued by the Provincial Sanitary Control Commission (PSSC) on January 3, 1967. Since the licences issued by the PSSC are no longer valid, the owner was requested to file a Proposal pursuant to The Environment Act.
The Proponent proposes to discharge treated effluent into the Rat River between June 15 and October 31 of each year.
The Department, on July 9, 1996, placed copies of the Proposal in the Public Registries located at Building 2, 139 Tuxedo Avenue; the Centennial Public Library; and the Steinbach Public Library and provided copies of the Proposal to the Interdepartmental Planning Board and TAC members. As well, the Department place public notification of the Proposal in the Steinbach Carillon on July 17, 1996. The newspaper and TAC notification invited responses until August 8, 1996.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
No public responses were received.
COMMENTS FROM THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Highways - No concerns.
Natural Resources - The lagoon is within the natural floodplain of the Rat River and this area was flooded during the 1979 flood. A high water mark corresponding to that flood is not available, however the 100 year flood level is approximately 776.8 feet above sea level at the lagoon. If flood levels are an important element of this proposal the proponent should provide plans of the structure related to Geodetic Survey of Canada Datum.
Discharges should not occur before June 15 and an appropriate release delay should be considered wherever chlorine is used in the treatment process.
Disposition:
Draft Licence include clauses which address these concerns.Historic Resources - No concerns.
Rural Development - No concerns.
Manitoba Environment-Water Quality Management - The lagoon is located downstream of Lake Malo therefore there are no concerns with respect to impacting domestic water use from this reservoir;
Once a year fall discharges would be preferred to minimize the impact of nutrient loading on the Rat River.
Disposition:
Draft Licence does require once a year fall diacharges. The Proposal is to discharge during the period between June 15 and October 31 in any year. The draft licence does include a clause that requires the submission of a study plan to determine and a report on the impact of nutrient loading on the Rat River be submitted in five years.Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency - CEAA has indicated that application of The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act with respect to this proposal will not be required. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans stated that there is an interest in the project and therefore it would like to participate in the provincial review. The Department indicated that serious consideration should be given to relocating the lagoon away from the river. If relocation is not feasible the DFO recommends the following mitigation measures to minimize potential impacts:
- No instream construction between April 1 and June 15. Ideally, construction should take place during low flow conditions and should be halted during precipitation events.
- The following actions should be taken to reduce sediment run off:
- clearing should be minimized
- rip rap should be used to protect the bank
- disturbed areas should be seeded with suitable grass
- the site should be monitored to evaluate the success of erosion control measures.
- "Manitoba Stream Crossing Guidelines for the Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat" should be followed for all instream construction activities
- Refuelling and servicing of construction equipment should be conducted at least 100 metres away from water courses and deleterious substances should not be allowed to enter the Rat River.
PUBLIC HEARING:
A public hearing is not required.
RECOMMENDATION:
A Licence be issued in accordance with the attached draft. Enforcement of the Licence should be assigned to the Approvals Branch until the soils sampling results are received.
PREPARED BY:
Mike Van Den Bosch, P. Eng.
Environmental Engineer
Municipal & Industrial Approvals
September 19, 1996
Amended by:
Doug Peterson, P. Eng.
September 27, 1996