Environmental Remediation – Dew Line, Cape Dyer, Nunavut

CHALLENGES

DYE-Main Cape Dyer was part of the DEW Line Site, built in the 1950’s as part of the effort to protect North America of potential attacks during the cold war. New technologies arrived and the DEW Line was eventually transitioned to the North Warning System.

The main challenge of this project was to work in very remote conditions, in often harsh weather conditions with a very short work season (June to September).

The DYE-M Site in Cape Dyer, Nunavut, presented several environmental issues such as the presence of:

• Soils contaminated by petroleum products, metals and PCBs;
• Drums and tanks of petroleum products;
• Contaminated water;
• Buildings containing asbestos and lead-based paint;
• Former landfill sites filled with materials from activities that took place at the Site.

BACKGROUND

SOLUTION

Qikiqtaaluk Environmental was awarded a contract to provide the necessary expertise and work force to carry out the following work:

• Management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste;
• Asbestos abatement and disposal;
• Management and closure of on-site landfills;
• Treatment of 1,400,000 L of water;
• Excavation and management of contaminated soils;
• On-site biotreatment/landfarming of hydrocarbon contaminated soils;
• Excavation of debris located at former landfill sites;
• Quality control of camp drinking water;
• Cleaning, demolition and off-site disposal of tanks;
• Decontamination and demolition of 12 buildings;
• Decontamination and demolition of 4 communication towers;
• Airstrip resurfacing, including granular material production;
• Management and operation of a 100-person camp, including domestic waste management and incineration.