SASKATCHEWAN CLEANED UP FOR THE PROVINCE'S CENTENNIAL

Saskatchewan Environment's four-year program to clean up contaminated sites funded through the Provincial Centenary Fund has successfully concluded.

"I'm pleased to acknowledge the clean-up work carried out under the Centenary Fund, which recognizes the province's 100th anniversary and government's commitment to a green and prosperous economy," Environment Minister David Forbes said.

The $6.5 million program remediated six high-risk contaminated sites and implemented a program to clean up abandoned service stations. The six sites are:

· Shragge Steel site in Regina. The department worked with the City of Regina and achieved complete remediation of the site during the first year of the Centenary Program.

· IPCO site in Saskatoon. This clean-up was completed in the spring of 2003.

· NWR Salvage in 2002-2003. All contaminated material at this site west of Saskatoon was encapsulated on site to prevent contamination leaching into the environment.

· Sask Forest Products/Domtar site located within the City of Prince Albert. Centenary funded clean-up began in the early winter of 2002, continued in 2002 and early 2003. The department is currently meeting with the City of Prince Albert to determine what additional monitoring and/or subsequent remediation will be carried out in the future.

· Inland Steel site in Saskatoon. In conjunction with the City of Saskatoon, a site investigation was carried out to identify the area of contamination and in 2003 the site was remediated.

· Northern Petroleum Refinery site located on the west side of Kamsack. Work began in 2002-2003 and continued in 2003-2004. The remaining fuel contaminated soil is scheduled to be cleaned up during the 2004 work season.

The Orphaned Fuel Storage and Sales Facility Clean up Program provided for the remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated properties, which municipalities have typically acquired through tax enforcement proceedings. All clean-ups have benefited from "in-kind" contributions from local governments. Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and the province formed a management board to deliver the program in conjunction with local governments. Industry has signed agreements to provide funding assistance for clean-ups contingent on provincial government funding. The program has focused on cleaning up "high risk" to "moderate risk" sites resulting in the assessment of 436 sites and the clean up of 103 sites.

Work carried out under the Centenary program has removed contamination protecting groundwater and surface water supplies and local infrastructure (natural gas, telephone, water, sewer) from being damaged by hydrocarbon contamination. Clean sites may generate tax revenue for municipalities and positive economic revenue for municipalities.

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For More Information, Contact:

Joe Muldoon Environment Regina Phone: (306) 787-6178