t000277 a 090-140611-pic-poster boards pic no 1 r13 final

Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management

Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment 1

WELCOME Public Information Centre No.1


Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment

Royal Canadian Legion, 45 Lawson Road

Monday, June 16th, 2014

3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.



The reason for this Public Information Centre

To inform you about:

Why the City is doing this study

The study approach and schedule

The project team

We want your input because:

Minimizing impacts to the

community is a primary goal of this

project

Understanding what is important to

you helps the City to make

decisions

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Please complete a Comment Sheet and leave it here today,

or return it to the City by Friday, July 4, 2014.



Highland Creek

Treatment Plant



What are Biosolids?

Four wastewater treatment plants in the City collect and treat wastewater generated in households, businesses and institutions

The residual material that remains is processed to generate biosolids.

Biosolids is a stable, nutrient-rich material that is high in organic content. Biosolids can be managed in a number of ways.

Every household in the City could fill a large swimming pool with wastewater each year - biosolids remaining after treatment would fill 2 wheelbarrows

The City treats over 1.1 million cubic metres of wastewater every day, and generates 226,000 wet tonnes of wastewater biosolids every year

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About the Highland Creek Treatment Plant (HCTP)

The HCTP is situated in the Scarborough

community of West Hill in the City’s Ward 44

It has a rated capacity of 219,000 cubic metres of

wastewater per day

Approximately 41,000 wet tonnes of biosolids are

currently generated each year

Biosolids are managed using two multiple-hearth

incinerators, which combust the organic material in

the biosolids at high temperature

The incinerators are permitted by the Ontario

Ministry of the Environment - emission quality is

better than required by the Ministry

Stable, inorganic ash left from the incineration

process is stored in on-site lagoons, emptied once

per year – ash is reddish in colour due to the use

of iron in the wastewater treatment process

Ash is disposed of at the City’s Green Lane landfill

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Plant photo – showing incineration facility

Incineration Building

Ash Lagoon



Existing Highland Creek Treatment Plant Process

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GRIT

REMOVAL SCREENS

FERROUS CHLORIDE FOR

PHOSPHORUS PRECIPITATION



Why is this Class EA study necessary?

The existing multiple hearth incinerators were

commissioned in 1976 and are nearing the end of their

useful life

The incinerator emissions meet all regulatory standards

Urgent repairs to multiple hearth incinerators are

underway, and will extend the life of the incinerators for

a further 10 years

The City needs to plan now, to provide time for design

and construction of a new biosolids management facility

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This study provides an opportunity to consider new technologies and management

approaches to provide biosolids management reliability in the future.

Interior of incinerator building



Class EA

Process and

Overall Schedule



What is the objective of the Class EA study?

The City of Toronto is undertaking a

Schedule B Class EA study to

identify the best way to manage

biosolids at the Highland Creek

Treatment Plant.

The study area has been identified

as Wards 43 and 44, as shown to

the right

Public participation is important to

the Class EA study. Your

participation helps the City

understand the factors that are

important to the community. These

will be considered in selecting the

best biosolids management solution

for the Highland Creek Treatment

Plant.

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Overview of the Schedule B Class EA Process and Schedule

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Review existing biosolids management program and prepare Problem/Opportunities Statement.

Identify and document information on feasible biosolids management solutions for the Highland Creek Treatment Plant.

Class EA Report

PIC No. 1

Spring 2014

PIC No. 2

Early Winter 2015

PIC No. 3

Spring 2015

Evaluate feasible solutions considering community, health, environmental and economic factors. Identify the best solution.

30-Day Public

Review Period

Class EA Stage Consultation

Opportunity

Phase 1

Phase 2

Report

The study started in April 2014, and will take approximately 14 months to complete.

Technical

Memoranda

TM-1: Current Biosolids Management and Future Needs

TM-2: Long List of Biosolids Management Options

TM-3: Biosolids Transport Mode Review

TM-4: Development of Short-Listed Biosolids Options

TM-5: Cumulative Air Emissions Modeling Results

TM-6: Noise Modeling Results

TM-7: Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Plan

TM-8: Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) Results

TM-9: HIA Screening

TM-10: HIA Scoping

TM-11: HIA In-Depth Assessment Results

TM-12: Selection of Best Comparative Evaluation Model

TM-13: Comparative Evaluation of Biosolids Options

We are here



Potential Impacts of Biosolids Management Options

There will be potential impacts (positive and

negative) from all of the biosolids management

alternatives, compared to the existing situation.

These would be as a result of:

On-site construction of new facilities for

biosolids processing

Construction related traffic

Normal day-to-day operation of biosolids

facilities

Traffic due to haulage of ash, biosolids or

fertilizer material

Possible improvements or impacts may result

from biosolids management alternatives, for

example:

Noise

Odour

Emissions

Traffic

Aesthetics

Greenhouse gas generation

Environmental effects (e.g., risk of spills)

Capital and operating costs

Operational complexity and reliability

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The Class EA study is a systematic process to assess all impacts

(positive or negative) of the alternatives, to identify the best biosolids

management solution for the Highland Creek Treatment Plant.



How will alternatives be assessed in the Class EA Process?

Possible positive and negative impacts

under each category (shown to right) will

be investigated and documented for each

feasible biosolids management option

These will be considered using a decision-

making approach, to compare alternative

biosolids management approaches

To assess human health related impacts,

a specific process called Health Impact

Assessment (HIA) will be followed (refer

to HIA panels)

The best biosolids management approach

for the Highland Creek Treatment Plant

will be the one with the least negative and

most positive impacts

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Environment Community Human Health Economic

Best Biosolids

Management Option

for Highland Creek

Treatment Plant

Short-List of Feasible

Biosolids Management

Options for Highland

Creek Treatment Plant

Decision-Making Categories



Class EA Team

Team Expertise Team Member Project Role

City of

Toronto

Toronto Water Nancy Fleming Represents the interest of the City in providing safe drinking water, collecting and treating

wastewater, and providing stormwater management services to City residents.

Toronto Public Health Josephine Archbold Represents the department of the Medical Officer of Health. Will oversee the Health Impact

Assessment (HIA) of biosolids management alternatives.

Environment and

Energy Division Christopher Morgan

Oversight of the cumulative impact air assessment (CIA) modelling for emissions from the

biosolids management alternatives.

Public Consultation Unit Josie Franch Coordination and facilitation of communications and consultation for the Class EA.

Engineering and

Construction Services Pritish Roy Provides engineering expertise and contract management of consultant.

Consulting

Team

Biosolids Management Deborah Ross Specialist expertise in the development of biosolids management alternatives costs and

impacts.

Health Impact

Assessment Ame-Lia Tamburrini HIA lead to evaluate broad health related impacts of all biosolids management alternatives.

Human Health Risk

Assessment Glenn Ferguson

Human health risk assessment lead, to evaluate specific health related impacts of biosolids

management alternatives due to air contaminant emissions.

Cumulative Impact Air

Assessment Anthony Ciccone

Modelling of cumulative air emission impacts on the air shed surrounding the HCTP to provide

information to support the HHRA and HIA.

Public Consultation and

Facilitation Dave Hardy

Support to project team to facilitate meetings and ensure effective communications and

consultation program.

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The project team for this project includes 5 City departments and several experts to cover all aspects

of this Class EA study.



Future Biosolids

Management Approaches

that will be Considered in

Class EA



Approaches to managing biosolids at the Highland Creek Treatment Plant

There are three general approaches for

biosolids management that will be

considered for the Highland Creek TP

Within each of these approaches, there are

a range of technology and transport options

that will be investigated during the Class EA

process

All biosolids management approaches that

will be reviewed in this EA process can

proceed within Ontario regulations

The next panels present the three

approaches



Description

Thermal treatment (such as incineration) at the Highland Creek TP site would continue to be used, with

new technology to replace the older equipment

Ash would be hauled from the HCTP site once per year to the City’s Green Lane landfill

Alternative uses of the ash will be evaluated within the Class EA

Energy recovery will be investigated

Approach 1 – On-Site Thermal Treatment

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Ash Storage

Lagoons

Ash Processed

Sludge or

Biosolids

On-site thermal treatment

(organics in sludge/biosolids are

combusted)

Ash dredged from

lagoons and hauled

once per year

At Highland Creek Treatment Plant



Description

The City would retain a contractor to haul the biosolids from the Highland Creek Treatment Plant

A new biosolids vehicle loading facility would be constructed at the site with some storage capacity

Normally, 4 to 6 large tanker trucks (with 40 cubic metre capacity) would haul biosolids from the plant

every day

Hauled biosolids would be stored, managed or disposed of (off-site) by the contractor

Approach 2 – Transport Biosolids Off-Site

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New On-Site Vehicle Loading Facility

Biosolids

Biosolids managed by contractor.

Examples of approaches include:

- Beneficial use on land

- Further processing, distribution as

fertilizer product

- Landfill disposal


Biosolids hauled

daily and managed

off-site



Description

New facilities would be constructed at the Highland Creek Treatment Plant to process biosolids to

generate material that can be distributed as a fertilizer product

A new truck loading facility for the processed material would be constructed at the Highland Creek

Treatment Plant

Normally, 2 to 10 large tanker trucks (with 40 cubic metre capacity) would haul biosolids from the plant

every day, depending on the processing method selected

The City would retain a contractor to haul and find outlets for the fertilizer material

Approach 3 – Process Biosolids On-Site and Transport Processed Material Off-Site

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Biosolids

Processed material

distributed as a fertilizer

product by contractor

New Biosolids

Processing Facility New Vehicle Loading Facility


Fertilizer material

hauled daily and

managed off-site

Processed

Biosolids

(Fertilizer

Material)



Biosolids Management Approaches 2 and 3 would require daily transport of biosolids or processed material off-site

Within the Class EA, a full analysis of transportation modes to haul biosolids or processed material will be conducted

All potential haul routes from the Highland Creek Treatment Plant to Highway 401 (Macdonald Cartier Freeway) will be assessed, taking into consideration:

• Emissions

• Noise

• Odour

• Safety

The best route to Highway 401 will be used in the evaluation of Approaches 2 and 3

Transportation Mode and Route Assessment

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Health Impact

Assessment



Health Impact Assessment

Impacts of biosolids management alternatives will be considered in each of the four categories (human

health, environment, community, economic)

To specifically evaluate the potential health impacts or benefits for each feasible alternative, a Health Impact

Assessment (HIA) will be completed

The HIA will assess a full range of possible health impacts of each alternative to determine impacts and

benefits to the individuals in the Highland Creek Treatment Plant community, as shown below

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Health

Impact

Assessment

(HIA)

Environment

Community

Human Health

Economic

Class EA Evaluation

Categories Health Impact Assessment

Environmental Access to

Services

Lifestyle Factors Social and Economic

Conditions

• Noise

• Odours

• Air quality

• Soil quality

• Water quality

• Land use

• GHG emissions

• Emergency vehicles

• Hospitals and

health care centres

• Public transport

• Education

• Workplaces

• Parks and

recreation

• Stress levels

• People’s belief in

their future and sense

of control of their

lives

• Personal safety/traffic

safety

• Personal behaviours

• Reputation of community

• Property values

• Employment and income

• Income distribution

• Availability and quality of

employment/ training

Equity

Equity will be a lens through which all health areas will be examined to determine whether potential

effects are equitably or inequitably distributed amongst the population

Possible Health Effects to be Considered in HIA




A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a procedure

used to identify how a specific project could

potentially affect health in human populations

For this study, the HIA will use the following key

sources of information to evaluate health impacts

from biosolids management options:

• Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment

• Human Health Risk Assessment – which will

evaluate the potential for health impacts from

emissions

• Noise assessment

• Odour assessment

• Traffic assessment

• Other health related impacts, as identified through a

HIA Stakeholders Group that represents the

community, City and subject experts

The HIA Stakeholders Group will meet at two

points in the HIA process as illustrated

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Screening Confirm that an HIA is appropriate for this project

Scoping Identify the health areas relevant to this project

Status of Health in the Community This sets a baseline against which to compare effects

Assessment & Recommendations Describe and characterize health effects, both positive and

negative for each alternative, and identify measures enhance

positive impacts and minimize negative impacts

Evaluation & Monitoring Determine the effectiveness of the HIA and monitor health

outcomes or other decision points over time

HIA

Stakeholders

Group Meeting

HIA

Stakeholders

Group Meeting

Steps in the Health Impact Assessment



Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment

and

Human Health Risk Assessment




Air quality in Toronto is influenced by activities,

meteorology and land use

Sources of emissions that affect air quality in the

Toronto air-shed, include:

• Traffic, such as vehicles, trains, airplanes

• Land uses, such as industries, homes,

businesses, institutions

The impact on the air quality in any specific area is

also significantly affected by

meteorology, including:

• Winds

• Temperature

• Solar Radiation

• Topography

Activities outside Toronto also contribute to the City’s

air quality

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Studies (using numerical modelling) will be used to

predict changes in air quality concentrations due to

each of the feasible biosolids management

alternatives

Studies will consider:

• Emissions rates for the biosolids management

alternatives from processing and transport

• The physical environment: meteorology,

topography and land use

• Locations of receptors (such as schools, hospitals,

community centres and parks)

Study results will be combined with existing

background air quality levels to show the combined

effects on the study area

The assessment will consider the replacement of the

existing multiple hearth facility with each biosolids

management alternative

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Contaminant

Emissions



Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)

The potential for an increase (or decrease) in airborne

contaminants from biosolids management options will be

determined from the Cumulative Air Emissions

Assessment

What those changes mean to human health will be

determined by a Human Health Risk Assessment

The HHRA will specifically evaluate positive and negative

health effects as a result of particular chemical emissions

from each of the biosolids management alternatives

The objectives of an HHRA are:

• Identify pathways for exposure to airborne contaminants

• Assess exposure and potential effects on people in the

community

• Propose measures to reduce impacts

The results of the HHRA will be used in the Health Impact

Assessment as part of the overall assessment of health

impacts for each of the feasible biosolids management

alternatives

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Next Steps

Please complete a Comment Sheet and leave it here

today, or return it to the City by Friday, July 4, 2014

A second public information centre will be held in early

winter 2015 to present the biosolids management

options being evaluated, as well as some of the potential

impacts being assessed

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For more information about this project, or to view the Public Information Centre displays

online, please visit the project website:

http://www.toronto.ca/hctpbiosolidsea



Project Schedule and Work Plan

Evaluation of

Alternatives

2014 2015 Jul Aug Sep Apr May Jun Jan Feb Mar Oct Nov Dec Jul Aug Sep Apr May Jun



Identification of Biosolids

Management Approaches

EA

Report

1

2

3

30-day Review Period

1

2

PIC No.

PIC No.

PIC No.

HIA Stakeholder Meeting No.

HIA Stakeholder Meeting No.

Development of Environmental, Social, Health, and Economic Effects

TM-1: Current Biosolids Management and Future Needs

TM-2: Long List of Biosolids Management Options

TM-3: Biosolids Transport Mode Review

TM-4: Development of Short-Listed Biosolids Options

TM-5: Cumulative Air Emissions Modeling Results

TM-6: Noise Modeling Results

TM-7: Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Plan

TM-8: Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) Results

TM-9: HIA Screening

TM-10: HIA Scoping

TM-11: HIA In-Depth Assessment Results

TM-12: Selection of Best Comparative Evaluation Model

TM-13: Comparative Evaluation of Biosolids Options

Project Work Plan:

Technical Memoranda

Project Schedule

We are here

t000277 a 090-140611-pic-poster boards pic no 1 r13 final

Government & Nonprofit

year biosolids

year biosolids

schedule b class ea

schedule b class ea

wet tonnes of biosolids

plant photo

wastewater treatment

class ea study necessary