(a) A progress report on the cleanup of the sites that are covered under a separate co-operation agreement reached in February 1996: The cleanup of Tuktoyaktuk, BAR-3, and of Cape Parry, PIN-M, is substantially complete. The cleanup of a fuel farm and two landfills in the Tuktoyaktuk area is planned to begin in 1999. The cleanup of Nicholson peninsula, BAR-4, started in 1998 and will continue in 1999. The cleanup of Komakuk beach, BAR-1, is planned to begin in 1999. The progress of cleanup in the Inuvialuit settlement region has met the work start-up and completion dates shown in the co-operation agreement.
(b) The accumulated and estimated cost of cleanup: The estimated cost for the sites in the Inuvialuit settlement region is $73.4 million, a figure established in May 1997 which takes into account escalation according to the economic model established by the Department of National Defence, DND. The accumulated cost is $24.3 million, actual expenditures April 1, 1996 when the first site cleanup was started until September 30, 1998. The latter expenditures include project overhead and administration. They also include project management costs that are not part of the contract values listed at (e). For example, some of the major costs included in the accumulated cost total, and not in the contract values, are the scientific delineation of contaminated soil, engineering survey of upcoming sites and project adminstration costs.
(c) The source of environmental contaminants which have contributed to any environmental degradation: Scientific studies between 1989 and 1994 showed that the environmental contaminants at the sites were the result of waste disposal practices that followed the standards of the day. PCBs and inorganic elements such as copper, lead and zinc, are the contaminants of primary concern in soils and surface waters. Copper, cadmium and zinc have been generally confined to sewage outfalls and landfills. Lead has been found in petroleum, oil, and lubricant spills. PCB, although detectable in virtually every sample collected in the vicinity of the sites, are present at elevated concentrations primarily in outfalls and to a lesser degree in landfills and stained areas near pallet lines, storage areas, and site buildings. The source is transformer and hydraulic fluids. Leachate waters, and soils near the base of some landfills, contain detectable concentrations of contaminants, indicating drainage from a more concentrated source within the landfills. The remaining contamination appears to be restricted to isolated spills within the area of station operations.
(d) The health hazards caused by the environmental contamination: The cleanup strategy places special emphasis on preventing the movement of chemical contaminants from sources at the DEW Line sites into other parts of the Arctic ecosystem. There are no immediate health risks. The cleanup is designed to prevent migration of contaminants in to the arctic food chain and is therefore more stringent than normal protocols in the south. The work will prevent any potential chronic or long-term impact on human health and the environment.
(e) The list of companies which have received federal governement contracts for cleanup, and for what amounts: Tuktoyaktuk, BAR-3, has been cleaned up by Inuvialuit Projects Incorporated of Inuvik. The value of the contract is $2.8 million. Cape Parry, PIN-M, has been cleaned up by Inuvialuit Projects Incorporated of Inuvik. The value of the contract is $6.2 million. In 1998 the cleanup of Nicholson peninsula, BAR-4, was awarded to Inuvialuit Projects Incorporated and the present value of the contract is $9.5 million. The contract value of $2.8 million for cleanup of Tuktoyaktuk, BAR-3, and the contract value of $6.2 for Cape Parry, PIN-M, have been spent. The contract total of $9.5 million for cleanup of the Nicholson peninsula, BAR-4, has not been completely spent as another year of cleanup through 1999 remains.
(f) The structure of the process used to award contracts: All of the contracts have been publicly tendered through MERX, formerly the open bidding system. Economic provisions form part of the co-operation agreement for the project and are included as part of the contracts. Within the terms of the Inuvialuit final agreement and the co-operation agreement for the project the department will strive for openness, fairness and best value in contracting.
Question No. 216—