As reported by the Toronto Sun, residents in Toronto's west end are breathing a sigh of relief that the largest PCB storage site in Ontario is finally going to be cleaned up after 23 years.
Hundreds living in the Horner Avenue and Browns Line area have been sent letters by Schneider Electric, owners of 445 Horner Ave., notifying them of an "open house" on June 15, 2011 at Franklin Horner Community Centre.
Residents are concerned about the 22,000 tonnes of soil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls that has been stored for more than two decades at the site. It is the largest of 24 PCB storage facilities in Ontario.
Schneider officials, who could not be reached for comment, said in a fact sheet that the PCBs are stored "in a safe manner that minimizes any potential risk to human health."
The company said it will spend "a significant sum" to remove the PCBs safely.
Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes said he's pleased that the PCBs are finally going.
"This is a good news story," Grimes said.
"The situation poses no risk to the community and it is finally getting cleaned up after many years."
Grimes said residents will receive more information on a "remedial program" at this month's meeting.
The site is regularly monitored by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Toronto Public Health, he said. It is scheduled to be cleaned up by the end of 2011.
The contaminated soil is not a threat to the public, said Rod Adams, of the environment ministry.
"The ministry regularly inspects the site with no issues being identified," he said by e-mail.
"The company is putting several measures in place during the removal activities and there should be no risk to the community."
Ministry officials said the contaminated soil is encased in three layers of a durable plastic liner that doesn't degrade when exposed to soil or harsh weather.
The PCB soil will be transported to a facility in Quebec and there will be no on-site treatment of the contaminants.
PCBs were once widely used in inks, lubricants, paints and electrical equipment, such as transformers until it was discovered that high exposure could lead to illness.
The substance was banned across North America in 1977.
Schneider bought Federal Pioneer Ltd. which made and repaired electrical transformers from 1964 to 1977 on the site.