Phase 2 initial borehole drilling and testing, South Bruce: WP01: air quality study for SB_BH01 and SB_BH02

Geofirma Engineering Ltd. (Geofirma) has been contracted by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to implement several components of the NWMO Phase 2 Geoscientific Preliminary Field Investigations within the South Bruce area, near Teeswater, Ontario as part of the NWMO's Adaptive Phased Management (APM) Site Selection Phase. One component completed by Geofirma included a drilling and testing program for two deep bedrock boreholes (SB_BH01 & SB_BH02). Borehole SB_BH01 was drilled to a total depth 880.82 metres below ground surface (mBGS) between April and September 2021. Borehole SB_BH02 was drilled to a total depth 900.57 mBGS between August 2021 and March 2022. Boreholes SB_BH01 and SB_BH02 are located approximately 4 km northwest of the community of Teeswater, Ontario (Figure 1). To observe best practices under relevant provincial legislations, Geofirma was tasked with completing due diligence studies related to the potential for air emissions and noise emissions associated with the drilling program. Geofirma subcontracted Cambium Inc. (Cambium), based in Peterborough, Ontario to assist with the scoping and completion of this work. The scope of work Cambium was assigned included: · Site visit to survey work site as well as nearby potential receptors; · Background air quality measurements; · Review of equipment specifications and site activities (schedule of use) to identify sources of contaminants; · Assess the significance of sources and contaminants and establish significant sources of contaminant emissions and calculated emission rates summary; · Modelling the impact of contaminant emissions using current Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks approved version of the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) AERMOD dispersion model; and, · Provide a summary of emissions, predicted impact on surrounding land, and conclusions based on the air quality study. Appendix A includes the Cambium report that contains all of the technical data, modelling, discussions, and conclusions. (author)