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The project
The firm of LDC - Gestion et services environnementaux proposes to establish a technical landfill site (TLS) at Danford Lake in the Municipality of Alleyn-et-Cawood on the territory of the RCM of Pontiac in the Outaouais region. The TLS would be situated on the edge of Route 301 about 8 km west of the village. The landfill area would be 38.5 ha in size. The capacity of the TLS would be on the order of 8 million metric tons of waste. Its useful life would depend on the actual quantity of waste received but would make it possible to meet the territory's waste disposal needs for a minimum period of 30 years, namely about 250 000 metric tons annually. The waste would come from the Outaouais region. The proponent plans notably to put in place systems to make the site impermeable and to collect and treat leach water. Biogases would be collected and valorized, and the run-off water would be intercepted. The cost of creating the TLS was evaluated at $63 million in 2003. The proponent also plans for various waste reclamation and recycling infrastructures.
The repercussions anticipated by the proponent and the mitigation measures proposed in the impact study
The clearing activities that would take place could result in soil erosion and the alteration of the quality of surface water. To deal with this possibility, sediment collection works have been planned. Forest habitats would be lost as would the use of the forest area. The proponent intends to plant vegetation on the site as the final cover of the TLS is put in place. Moreover, following the closure of the site, certain usage rights could be transferred for wildlife conservation purposes.
During the operating period, the leach water from the TLS would be treated and discharged into Picanoc river. The proponent considers that the impact of this discharge would be limited given that the flow rate of the river would be much greater than that of the effluent. Run-off water from the borrow material storage area would be collected and the suspended solid content would be checked before this water is discharged into the river. The putrescible matter present on the site could attract undesirable species such as gulls. As their droppings may present a risk from the standpoint of the alteration of the quality of surface water, measures to scare off such species are planned. A system to make the site impermeable would prevent the infiltration of leach water and the contamination of groundwater. The proponent deems minimal the risk of contamination of the drinking water wells of homes given that the site would be made impermeable and the time it would take groundwater to flow between the TLS and the wells would be about 140 years. Nevertheless, a follow-up would be carried out. According to the proponent, the alteration of the air quality associated with the emission of biogases, often the source of odours, would be negligible because the waste would be covered each day and because the nearest dwellings are located more than 2 km away. Still according to the proponent, the impact for residents of the increase in noise related to the transport of waste would also be negligible.
The main impact likely to remain once all of the mitigation measures have been applied would concern traffic safety due to the increase in traffic associated with the transport of waste.
The operation of the site would result in the creation of some one dozen jobs, four to six of which would be permanent. In addition, this technical landfill site would make it possible to put an end to the disposal of waste in landfills outside the Outaouais region.
Persons wishing to obtain more information can get in touch with Danielle Hawey at 418 643-7447 or toll-free at 1 800 463-4732, extension 533, or by e-mail at the following address:
let-danford-lake@bape.gouv.qc.ca
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