Environmental Study of
A Military Installation at
Resolution Island, BAF-5
Volume Three
Prepared by
Environmental Sciences Group
Royal Military College
Kingston, Ontario
Analytical Services Group
Royal Military College
Kingston, Ontario
Analytical Service Unit
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
Department of Indian and Northern Affairs
Environmental Sciences Group
March 1966
RMC-CCE-ES-96-10
Background:
The main station site at Cape Warwick was vacated as a Polevault communications station by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1972, and finally abandoned by the Canadian Coast Guard as a LORAN site in 1974. The site was passed on to DIAND (Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) in 1976 along with all assets, buildings and liabilities; some of the removable assets were purchased by the GNWT (Government of the Northwest Territories).
In 1985, portions of the old site were negotiated to be used as a military reserve by the Department of National Defence (DND) for the construction of a new automated Short Range Radar Station (SRR) designated as BAF-5, as part of the new, updated North Warning System (NWS). Under a Memorandum of Understanding between DIAND and DND signed in 1989, DND was only required to clean up the area of the BAF-5 site that was to be used for the SRR construction. Preliminary investigations were initiated in 1987 to determine the extent of chemical contamination at the site and the demolition work required for the project. During the investigations, PCB-containing electrical equipment, unused transformer fluid and PCB-stained soils were found. Asbestos and miscellaneous chemicals were also present at the old station. This prompted additional environmental studies and inspections by various federal agencies. The cleanup requirements for SRR construction were subsequently established, including the containerization of PCB-contaminated soils and other hazardous materials.
In 1989, PCB-contaminated material was removed from the construction area by sub-contractors of PCL-Foundation Ltd. And stored in a secure building, B2, on site at the beach. Asbestos was bagged and landfilled at the summit, and hazardous chemicals were stored in vaults outside the PCB storage facility. A large quantity of unsecured PCBs and asbestos still remained on site outside of the SRR construction area. Construction of the new station began in 1990 following the demolition of a selected number of old buildings at the summit, and was completed in 1994.