Giant Mine Ambient Air Monitoring Program
What are the air quality monitoring programs?
The Giant Mine remediation project is conducting two air quality monitoring programs, to provide data on atmospheric emissions during remediation activities:
- Air quality monitoring around the Roaster Decontamination and Deconstruction project
- Site-wide Air Quality Monitoring Program (includes fenceline monitoring and community monitoring stations)
FAQ
Air quality monitoring around the Roaster Decontamination and Deconstruction project
When did monitoring take place?
June 2013 – November 2013
May 2014 – November 2014
Why was monitoring being done?
Air quality is being monitored around the work perimeter of the roaster decontamination and deconstruction activities as a dust management tool specific to the roaster work. The monitoring takes measurements to make sure dust and contaminants are not being released into the air at unacceptable levels, and triggers the appropriate actions if the issue were to arise.
Where are the monitoring stations?
Four monitoring stations sit around the perimeter of the roaster complex, positioned based on wind conditions to capture downwind effects.
The stations are moved daily based on wind direction, with the exception of one fixed station location, where roaster station 2 and roaster station 6 remain fixed and located close to each other.
How is the monitoring being done?
The instruments monitor for particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) continuously, in lieu of real-time arsenic monitoring. This is known as the surrogate method. Real-time data is used to trigger dust management actions at the roaster site if the levels are unacceptable. More information on the surrogate method can be found in the document Real-time Fenceline Monitoring Risk-based Action Level (RBAL) for PM10, available from the Giant Mine Remediation Joint Project Office.
During deconstruction work, integrated sampling is being conducted at two locations; one at a fixed monitoring location (collocated with a continuous monitoring instrument), and one downwind. Duplicates and field blanks are integrated as part of the quality assurance/quality control process.
The integrated sampling program collects a sample that is sent to a lab for a rush analysis of arsenic and particulate. This information is used to verify the surrogate method.
Who conducts the air quality monitoring?
Williams Engineering conducts the air quality sampling as a subcontractor to Parsons Canada, the lead contractor on the roaster decontamination and deconstruction project.
AECOM Technology Corporation conducts quality assurance testing and reports on the data weekly.
Where can I view monitoring results?
The continuous roaster data is used for site dust management purposes. If criteria are exceeded at any station, air monitoring actions are carried, and could include investigation of the source, dust mitigative measures, and stop work orders. The integrated sampler results are used to compliment the real-time data.
Updated data from roaster stations 2 and 6 is posted weekly on the GNWT Air Quality Monitoring Network website and can be polled for review and analysis through the Data Reports feature. You can generate cumulative data tables or graphs, and conduct searches based on station, parameter, and time period-specific variables.
The weekly data reports compiled by the quality assurance contractor, including data summaries and analyses and quality assurance/quality control summaries, are presented under Information / Giant Mine PDF Reports on the GNWT Air Quality Monitoring Network website. Use this guide to view and download date from the site.
The roaster air quality monitoring data will be used as part of the longer term trend analysis and program review conducted according to the Additional and Adaptive Approach to Air Quality Monitoring at the Marina Area and Giant Mine Remediation Project Air Quality Monitoring Data Analysis and Review Plan.
Site-wide air quality monitoring program
The site-wide air quality monitoring program is made up of:
- Fenceline Air Quality Monitoring Program
- Community Air Quality Monitoring Program
Fenceline Air Quality Monitoring Program
When will monitoring take place?
Monitoring will take place from May to November every year until three years after the end of Giant Mine Remediation Project.
Why is monitoring being done?
Air quality is being monitored as a dust management tool along the project fenceline, to ensure dust and contaminants are not released from the project site at unacceptable levels.
Where are the monitoring stations located?
Six stations are around the fenceline of the Giant Mine property, positioned in fixed locations to ensure consistent coverage of various wind directions.
How is the monitoring being done?
The instruments monitor for particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), in lieu of real-time arsenic monitoring, and total suspended particulate (TSP), continuously throughout the active site work day from approximately 7 am to 7 pm. This is known as the surrogate method. More information on the surrogate method can be found in the document Real-time Fenceline Monitoring Risk-based Action Level (RBAL) for PM10, available from the Giant Mine Remediation Joint Project Office. Real-time data is used to trigger dust management actions at the roaster site if the levels are unacceptable.
Who is doing the air quality monitoring?
SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. conducts the air quality monitoring for the Site-wide Program, including data quality assurance and weekly reporting. SLR incorporates AECOM’s weekly report to generate a single weekly Air Quality Monitoring Report for residents.
Community Air Quality Monitoring Program
When will monitoring take place?
All year round, every year until three years after the end of Giant Mine Remediation Project.
Why is monitoring being done?
Air quality data is being collected during remediation activities at Giant Mine to determine effects on the local airshed. Air quality is being monitored at specific locations in NWT communities, to determine receptor exposure and confirm that Yellowknife residents are not being exposed to unacceptable levels of contaminants from remediation activities at the Giant Mine site.
Where are the monitoring stations located?
There are three community stations in fixed locations: at the Great Slave Cruising Club (near the Giant Mine public dock), in N’Dilo, and near downtown Yellowknife.
How is the monitoring being done?
The instruments monitor for particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) continuously, and integrated sampling is conducted every 3rd day at each station for lab analysis of metals, asbestos, and particulate (TSP, PM10). This information is used to verify the effectiveness of the fenceline program.
Who is doing the air quality monitoring?
SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. conducts the air quality monitoring for the Site-wide Program, including data quality assurance and weekly reporting. SLR incorporates AECOM’s weekly report to generate a single weekly Air Quality Monitoring Report for residents.
Where can I view monitoring results?
Community air quality monitoring data helps us understand receptor exposure. If criteria are exceeded at any community station, there is an investigation into the source. This includes investigating any connection to the fenceline monitoring data. If necessary, mitigative options are investigated put into place.
Community station PM data is streamed in near real time to the GNWT Ambient Air Quality Monitoring website, under Current Air Quality on the left menu. You can search for cumulative data tables or graphs, and time-period specific variables based on station, parameter, under Data Reports on the left menu. Use this guide to view and download date from the site.
The weekly data reports compiled by the air quality contractor, containing data summaries and analyses and quality assurance/quality control summaries, are presented in Giant Mine PDF Reports on the GNWT Ambient Air Quality Monitoring website under Information on the left menu. Use this guide to view and download date from the site.
The community air quality monitoring data will be used as part of the longer term trend analysis and program review conducted according to the Additional and Adaptive Approach to Air Quality Monitoring at the Marina Area and Giant Mine Remediation Project Air Quality Monitoring Data Analysis and Review Plan. For more information about this plan, please contact the Giant Mine Remediation Joint Project Office.
What about meteorological data?
Meteorological data is an important subset of information used as part of air quality monitoring programs. Horizontal wind speed and wind direction help determine likely sources of particulate, while temperature, precipitation and relative humidity contribute to understanding site wide conditions.
A meteorological station, operated by the Contaminants and Remediation Directorate of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), is located near the North Pond on-site and is operated on a continuous basis throughout the year. Air quality program contractors extract data from the on-site meteorological station for their program needs.
What documents are available on air quality monitoring programs?
The following documents are available from the Giant Mine Remediation Joint Project Office:
|
Document Title |
Document Short Form |
Author, Date |
Summary |
|
Giant Mine Remediation Project Air Quality Monitoring Plan |
Site Wide AQMP |
AECOM |
Outlines methods for measuring, documenting and responding to potential airborne contaminants during the remedial activities. Includes action levels, their derivation, appropriate mitigation measures, QA/QC requirements, and reporting requirements. |
|
Roaster Complex Deconstruction Dust Management Plan for Giant Mine Roaster Complex Deconstruction |
Roaster Dust Management Plan |
Parsons |
Outlines the program requirements for measuring, documenting and responding to potential airborne contaminants during the Roaster decontamination and deconstruction activities. |
|
Real-time Fenceline Monitoring Risk-Based Action Level (RBAL) for PM10 |
RBAL |
AECOM |
Provides the derivation of site-specific particulate action levels as a surrogate for arsenic using the Health Canada Unit Risk factor approach. |
|
Additional and Adaptive Approach to Air Quality Monitoring at the Marina Area and Giant Mine Remediation Project Air Quality Monitoring Data Analysis and Review Plan |
Adaptive Approach |
ARCADIS, July 16, 2013 |
Presents the approach for analysis, summary and review of the air quality monitoring data for dust budget and longer term trend purposes, and program adaptation. |
|
Speciation of Arsenic During Air Monitoring |
Speciation Memo |
ARCADIS April 16, 2013 |
Outlines scientific assessment of the various species of As, and recommendations for As species monitoring requirements at the Giant Mine site. |
|
Proposed Air Quality Criteria for Arsenic Giant Mine Remediation Project |
Criteria Evaluation Memo |
ARCADIS, April 17, 2013 |
Presents a jurisdictional scan of arsenic criteria across Canada and the U.S., the respective associated scientific justification, and resulting recommended arsenic criteria for the Giant Mine site. |