Latest news with #creosote
CBC
17-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Unanimous support from Calgary council for rezoning despite creosote concerns
Calgary city council voted unanimously to rezone a vacant site in the city's northwest, despite concerns from some residents in the area about the environmental impact of potential creosote contamination. Creosote is a chemical that's used as a wood preservative, and is considered a probable carcinogen in Canada. The land use amendment up for debate is a proposal from Anthem Properties to build three apartment buildings, providing more than 250 housing units, at 1706 Westmount Boulevard N.W. in Calgary's Hillhurst neighbourhood. CBC Calgary was headquartered at the site for nearly six decades up until 2017. After the CBC relocated, its former headquarters were demolished. But the land is in an area that's historically been affected by residual creosote contamination, stemming from a former Canada Creosote company site that used to stand across the Bow River. Developers behind the proposal faced questions from council, spurred by some local opposition, about its plans to mitigate the creosote. The plant closed in 1962 after 38 years of operation, but over time, creosote leached under the Bow River and into nearby communities, including Hillhurst. The contaminated soil was walled off in the 1990s, but has proven extremely difficult to clean up in the ensuing decades. Opposition from residents like James Stirling, a petroleum engineer who lives north of the site, raised questions about whether enough care was placed on the environmental assessment of the land and the proposed development's mitigation plan. "We don't think the risk management accounts for the risks associated with venting creosote-related components into the atmosphere," Stirling said. Alberta Environment has accepted the risk management plan for the project, which includes monitoring the site's construction for issues related to creosote contamination. Stirling said he's been frustrated at a lack of communication from the city and province in response to his attempts to reach out about environmental concerns around the development. But developers argue the project won't dig deep enough to disturb the soil and risk the community's health. After debate surrounding the issue began at Tuesday's city council meeting, councillors continued to discuss the matter on Wednesday, where council voted 14-0 in approval. Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian said she supported the development because she's confident appropriate monitoring systems are in place to assess the development's environment impact. "I think there are different tolerances for risk and risk management, and I can appreciate why members of the community might have absolutely zero risk tolerance, but I do think that we have good regulations set out to manage different concerns, and it seems like all of those have been met," said Mian. Opposition to the development from residents expressed various other concerns including increased traffic, the development's height shadowing other buildings and changes to nearby intersections.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Former CBC building site where creosote has been found gets unanimous approval for rezoning
Calgary council has approved rezoning a site where creosote has been found. An environmental assessment says it's safe, but residents don't buy it.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Site where creosote has been found is approved for rezoning
Calgary Watch Calgary council has approved rezoning a site where creosote has been found. An environmental assessment says it's safe, but residents don't buy it.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
‘Risk not fully managed': West Hillhurst residents concerned about creosote
Testing has confirmed that creosote from an old wood treatment plant on the south banks of the Bow River has seeped to the north side, creating concern for residents in Hillhurst and West Hillhurst. A public meeting was held in West Hillhurst on Tuesday night to voice concerns about creosote contamination in the community, something they say has been ignored for several years. Creosote was identified as a problem for residents in the community, a leftover from a wood treatment plant that operated south of the Bow River for 40 years, closing in the mid-1960s. Contamination levels have been monitored ever since by the provincial government but, while officials say levels are considered safe, the readings are higher than in other location where creosote contaminations have occurred. Owners of the Canada Creosote Plant are long gone, complicating the process of clean up given that no one has assumed responsibility. Issue ignored for years At Tuesday evening's meeting, community members say they haven't heard anything about the issue since 2018, when a five-year monitoring project was launched. That was supposed to determine how much of the toxic chemical, which has been linked to cancer, seeped under the Bow River. Residents are worried that the construction of a condo building in the community could stir up deposits of creosote. 'We think there is continue migration across the river and onto the north side, so the risk is not fully being managed by the city and the developer,' said Jim Sterling, a resident of the community who is also a petroleum engineer. Whether or not the development happens, residents say the city needs to take a closer look. Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong attended the meeting but, while residents invited representatives from Alberta Environment and Parks, no officials made an appearance. 'Risk not fully managed': West Hillhurst residents concerned about creosote Latest report published in 2022 The conclusions from province's latest report, issued on Feb. 25, 2022, suggest the contamination remains generally localized to the southwest corner and southern central portion of the site, between 18 and 20 Streets and south of Broadview Road N.W. as well as the junction of Westmount Boulevard and 17 Street N.W. 'The measured (contaminants of potential concern) concentrations in groundwater, soil vapour, indoor air and sub-slab vapour samples collected before 2021 from homes in the southwest portion of the site do not appear to represent a risk to human health via the indoor air inhalation exposure scenario,' the report said. It also indicated that indoor air and sub-slab monitoring would be suspended but could be reinstated based on future findings. CTV News has reached out to Alberta Environment and Parks for comment and any updates on monitoring at the site.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2 fires at abandoned WWII ammunition storage bunkers in Arden Hills deemed arson
The Brief Two fires at an abandoned World War II ammunition storage bunker in Arden Hills are being allowed to burn out. Fire officials say the fires were the result of arson. The fires were in two underground storage bunkers built out of creosote-coated timber. ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (FOX 9) - Two fires started Saturday at an abandoned World War II (WWII) ammunition storage bunker in Arden Hills are being considered arson. What we know According to the Johanna Fire Department, two fires started at underground storage bunkers in Arden Hills. The storage bunkers are abandoned and were used for ammunition storage in WWII. The two bunkers are built out of creosote-coated heavy timber, and due to no hydrants, the fires will be allowed to burn out, fire officials said. The fires are contained, but are expected to smolder for the next few days with fire crews monitoring. Fire officials say the fires are deemed arson. The area was once part of the Twin Cities Ammunition Plant, built in 1943. The property is in the process of being sold to a private company, officials said. What we don't know The motive behind the fires is unclear. It's also unclear if investigators have identified any suspects. The Source A social media post from the Johanna Fire Department.
