Wabamun Environmental Site Assessment

As part of the phased decommissioning of the Wabamun power plant, we conducted a thorough Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). This provided TransAlta with information to develop a remediation and reclamation plan for the site. TransAlta submitted this plan to Alberta Environment in December 2005, as required in the operating approval for the plant.

Stage 1 - Background Information Review

Completed May 2004 - The background information review comprises documentation pertaining to the site. This can include operating practices, any previous studies or assessments, aerial photographs, historical drawings and plans, and even anecdotal information from employees, retirees and area residents. This helps identify areas of potential concern, including chemicals. This stage involves planning the scope of work for Stage 2, and the development of a data management system to handle soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater and spatial data.

Stage 2 - Preliminary Site Investigation

Completed November 2004 - The preliminary site investigation involves the collection of chemical, physical, observational and spatial data to identify the nature and potential extent of chemical impacts, identifies any data gaps, and leads to recommendations for additional investigation or assessment in Stage 3.

Stage 3 - Detailed Site Investigation

Completed March 2005 - During the detailed site investigation, further data is collected to address data gaps and new data requirements. This helps to detail the extent and magnitude of any contamination. At this stage, it is important to determine what the land will be used for in the future and what might it look like. This information helps determine the appropriate screening criteria. Stage 3 also involves determining any requirements for environmental simulations and risk assessments, which will be used in Stage 4 to assess the feasibility of the proposed end land use and end land forms.

Stage 4 - Remediation and Reclamation Management Options

Completed October 2005 - During this stage, various options for remediation and reclamation are examined. A variety of tools, including computer simulations, risk assessment and risk analysis are used to determine the feasibility of a variety of approaches. Costs and schedules are estimated for those that are feasible, and then preferred options are selected, in consultation with key stakeholders, for each area of the site.

Stage 5 - Develop Remediation and Reclamation Plan

Completed December 2005 - In Stage 5, everything is pulled together in a plan to be submitted to Alberta Environment. This plan includes an outline of key environmental issues requiring management, end land use and end land form descriptions, selected options for managing remediation and reclamation, an implementation schedule, and any additional monitoring or studies to be conducted.

For more information

An executive summary of the plan submitted to Alberta Environment can be downloaded from the Related Documents area of this page. The complete submission is available on CD.

If you would like a copy, please contact us via email at wabamun_decommissioning@transalta.com (be sure to include your mailing address in the body of your message).

Proposed End Land Use Map: Wabamun Plant Site

For the purpose of the ESA, the Wabamun plant site has been divided into 10 areas as illustrated on the Proposed End Land Suitability map. This was done based on past and current use of the areas, as well as a proposed end land use. The map also shows the proposed end land suitability for each area and was developed in consultation with the Village of Wabamun and Parkland County. It can be downloaded from the Related Documents area of this page.