Frequently Asked Questions

Landfill

Is this a new landfill?

• No. Upland Excavating is updating an existing Waste Discharge Permit.

How will this new landfill benefit the community?

• The new landfill will provide economic, social and environmental benefits to the community. The new landfill will be environmentally more solid, safe and sustainable thereby providing further protection. Upland believes in the development of skills and providing training to the members of the local community. The new landfill will open up a lot of opportunities for local contractors and talent.

Has Upland done any environmental studies to check for negative impacts?

• Yes. Upland completed an extensive field work program to characterize the site’s hydrogeological, hydrological, and geologic conditions. Furthermore, preparation of a landfill design, operation and closure plan, and an environmental effects monitoring plan were also developed.
• All technical reports can be found here.

Has Upland consulted community members for their concerns?

• Upland has conducted several community consultation meetings to understand concerns and receive feedback. We have also engaged local groups, First Nations and local Environmental NGOs to discuss how the upgraded facility would be constructed and how it would benefit the area. All concerns and feedback was further investigated and analyzed to make relevant amendments to the studies and designs.

Will this landfill receive a lot of hazardous waste that can harm the nearby community?

• No. The landfill will only receive non-hazardous solid waste such as:
  • Construction and demolition waste
  • Land clearing debris
  • Non-hazardous contaminated waste soil

Can the leachate spill or overflow onto the ground?

• No. The leachate will be treated completely prior to discharge. There can be no accidental release. The system is not automatic.

Will the landfill remain uncovered and start overflowing during rainfall?

• The landfill will mostly remain covered, only the area being worked open will stay open. Landfill contents will not overflow as there is enormous capacity for storage within leachate ponds and liners.

Can groundwater flow from the proposed lined landfill into Rico Lake?

• No. There are two major reasons for this – Rico Lake is located at a higher level than the excavated landfill. Water does not flow uphill through bedrock. If this bedrock did not exist, Rico Lake would not exist. Secondly, all water collected from within the leak protected liner will be properly treated. It cannot accidentally spill.

What waste materials are categorized as creosoted timbers at the Upland Landfill?

• The timber at the landfill is things like old railway ties, hydro pole bottoms and retaining walls.

Where did this creosoted timber come from?

• Timber placed into the Uplands landfill came from a dam demolition project on the Salmon River. It had been submerged in the Salmon River for more than 60 years.

Where is this creosoted timber being stored?

• These timbers were deposited into a lined landfill cell on the Upland properties.
• They are in a dry secure location and pose no threat to the drinking water supply.