Worrying signs of contaminants at torched scrapyard

An environmental assessment of a north Transcona scrapyard that was razed by fire in May found higher-than-acceptable levels of several chemicals and concluded the plot requires remediation work.

Soil samples collected from 568 Gunn Rd. exceeded the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Tier 1 soil-quality guidelines for xylenes, naphthalene and petroleum hydrocarbons, says a report submitted to the province in August.

One sample found nearly 4,000 per cent of the commercial limit of naphthalene, a chemical compound used in a variety of industrial uses, including solvents and fuel additives.

Once released into the environment, the chemical takes a long time to break down and can contaminate soil and water. It can be toxic to humans if inhaled over a long period of time.

The site assessment, conducted by JD Environmental of Winnipeg, recommended the land be excavated to a minimum depth of four metres or until future tests show no detectable vapour concentrations.

On May 12, a grass fire ripped through the yard, formerly home to Oluspe Autos and Parts Inc., and affected several other businesses in the area. The business rented out plots for customers to store and salvage old cars.

At least 100 cars were on the lot when the fire ripped through. The cause remains under investigation.

Francis Zvomuya, a professor of soil science at the University of Manitoba, said the contaminants found on the site are common in such places, but he worries about the future of the site in the event remediation work isn’t done properly.

Xylenes and naphthalene are considered possible carcinogens, while petroleum hydrocarbons are a mixture of multiple chemical compounds and can form new, unpredictable compounds when they break down in soil.

“If you have these chemicals in the soil, because many of them are very soluble, they can kill some microorganisms in the soil and therefore disrupt nutrient cycling,” he said.

A provincial spokesperson said remedial work identified in the assessment has been completed and a remediation report is expected by mid-November.

After the fire, the provincial environment department issued an order under the dangerous goods law to the property owner to hire a qualified environmental professional to assess the site, which included soil sampling.

Soil testers dug 16 boreholes across the parcel of land to test for contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and petroleum hydrocarbons.

The chemicals detected are used in crude oil and manufacturing and have negative impacts on health in high concentrations.

Levels in two of the boreholes were found to be above the allowable threshold for commercial land use, the report said, suggesting the site may require further remedial action or risk management prior to being redeveloped.

Levels in one borehole suggest the presence of heavier petroleum hydrocarbons typically associated with diesel or lubricating oil contamination.

“Although commercial criteria were not exceeded at this (hole) location, it represents a potential concern if the site is intended for residential or mixed-use development,” the report said.

At the time of the fire, Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt called on the province to order an environmental assessment of the property, citing environmental and water contamination concerns.

Wyatt said the city has failed to enforce bylaws for industrial areas, including the Gunn Road lot, which he said was the subject of numerous complaints months before the blaze.

He alleged the fire spread through the yard so quickly because there was no proper egress for emergency crews to attack the flames when it got to the back of the lot.

The owner of the property could not be reached for comment.

At the time of the blaze, a provincial spokesperson said an inspection of 568 Gunn Rd. was conducted in November 2024 following a complaint about improper disposal of automotive fluids, but the complaint was ruled unsubstantiated.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca