Decommissioning FAQs

When was the plant`s final unit shut down?

TransAlta's operating licence for the Wabamun plant expired on March 31, 2010 and the plant`s last unit was retired that day.

What will the land be used for when the power plant is decommissioned?

TransAlta will leave the land in a condition suitable for a combination of industrial, wildlife and residential use. What we are proposing leaves land use options open for the area municipalities to consider.

Will TransAlta build a new power plant on the Wabamun site?

TransAlta currently has no plans to build a new power plant on the Wabamun site. The company is building Keephills 3, a 450 megawatt coal-fired power plant adjacent to the existing Keephills plant, in the Lake Wabamum region.

The existing infrastructure lends itself to future industrial development on part of the site. Whether that might be a new power plant, or any other industry, is unknown at this time. The existing infrastructure includes:

• A substation, now owned by AltaLink, that is integral to the electricity grid
• transmission lines
• a natural gas pipeline
• an oil pipeline
• an adjacent coal mine
• access to rail and the highway

Is TransAlta going to sell any of the land on the site? If so, how can I buy it?

If the decision is made to sell any land, the company will use the services of a realtor, so that all interested parties will have an opportunity to participate. TransAlta is committed to fair and honest business dealings in all of its operations.

Is there any contamination on the site? What was found through your research?

TransAlta's environmental assessment, conducted by scientific experts Golder Associates, determined there were no areas of widespread contamination on the Wabamun site. The assessment did find waste deposits on the surface and buried in the ground, which will be removed and appropriately disposed of during remediation. In some areas, soil samples contained salts, hydrocarbons and trace metals. Those areas will also be dug up and appropriately disposed of, with clean fill replacing the removed soil.

How will TransAlta ensure the land is properly cleaned up after this decommissioning?

The company is working with independent environmental experts to determine appropriate decommissioning, remediation and reclamation processes, and is committed to meeting all regulatory standards.

What is the plan for the canals?

Stakeholder feedback was considered in determining the best solution for the canals. Ecologically, the best option for the reclamation of the inlet and outlet canals south of the railroad tracks is for both canals to remain in place to ensure no impact on existing fish and wildlife habitats. The inlet and outlet canals north of the railroad tracks will be filled in.

When will decommissioning activities begin?

Decommissioning activities began in 2005 following approval from Alberta Environment. The reclamation and ash removal from one of the plant's original ash lagoons to the north east (APEC 5) of the plant site was finished in early 2009. More than 300,000 tonnes, or 13,000 truck-loads, of ash have been removed and hauled to a collector site (APEC 3) to the west, adjacent to the plant's existing ash lagoon, and stock-piled before being sold to and removed by cement companies.

Phase 3 of asbestos abatement from Units 1, 2 and 3 involving the safe removal, encapsulation and transportation of the material to a registered landfill was scheduled for completion in mid-2009. Any asbestos in the plant that is remaining on Unit 4 will be safely removed as part of the final building demolition project.

The reclamation of APEC 4 (north-west of the plant) began in November 2008. The area will be reclaimed as wild land per the end land-use suitability assessment. This mature ash lagoon will be covered with fill from TransAlta’s Whitewood Mine and re-vegetated.

It is likely that decommissioning activities will carry on until 2015, four to five years after the final unit is shut down.

What was submitted to Alberta Environment? Are copies available?

Following extensive environmental research, stakeholder consultation and analysis, TransAlta submitted a detailed remediation and reclamation plan to Alberta Environment in December 2005. An executive summary is available in the Related Documents section 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).

What is the next step in the process with Alberta Environment?

TransAlta submitted an application to Alberta Environment in September 2008 for approval to proceed with the final phase of the decommissioning. The company has met with neighbouring communities and other stakeholders, including holding a public open house in May 2008. We continue to work with independent environmental experts and Alberta Environment to develop detailed planning for the final phase of decommissioning.

What is the cost of the decommissioning? Who is paying for it?

TransAlta will develop detailed estimates of the decommissioning, remediation and reclamation costs of the Wabamun site once the final plan is submitted to and approved by Alberta Environment. The cost is expected to be in the tens of millions of dollars.

Wabamun was a regulated power plant for most of its operating life, so the fiscal responsibility for the decommissioning is shared between TransAlta's shareholders and Albertans, with decommissioning funds collected as part of electricity rates.

Funds have been set aside with the Balancing Pool to cover some risks, including the possibility that decommissioning could cost more than had been collected. Additionally, the company is entitled to apply to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) to recover some decommissioning costs from the Balancing Pool. TransAlta has reached a negotiated settlement agreement with the Balancing Pool to recover costs.

Are employees being laid off as the plant shuts down?

TransAlta is committed to offering all employees impacted by the Wabamun decommissioning alternative employment within the company. No layoffs are expected as a result of shutting down the Wabamun plant.

How will TransAlta keep the public informed throughout the decommissioning process?

TransAlta is committed to ongoing and transparent communication throughout the Wabamun decommissioning process. The company will continue to use a variety of means to keep people informed, including regular updates on this project website, open houses, articles in Kilowatt Connection, , and meetings with stakeholders. There is a comprehensive plan in place to ensure regular communication with all concerned and affected parties. More information on our public consultation program is available here. Anyone with questions can also contact the project team by emailing wabamun_decommissioning@transalta.com.